Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1190

 1032 HISTORY OF GOODHIK COUNTY to become a candidate for the high office of state senator. Over- whelmingly elected, he soon made himself a power in the senate, and the people of the county returned him to his seal two times. his services covering the three terms of 1881, 1883 and 1885. In addition to this he has served ten years on the state board of equal assessments, has been chairman of the township eleven years, and treasurer of school district 12 for over thirty years. In business, religious and fraternal circles he has been no less prominent, having been president of the Farmers'' -Mutual Insur- ance Company, of Vasa, seven years; president of the Farmers' Elevator at Cannon Falls many terms; treasurer of the Spring Garden church twelve years; trustee of the Orphans' Home at Vasa twelve years and a director in the Scandinavian Relief Association thirty years. Mr. -Johnson was horn in Sweden. De- cember 25, 1840, son of John Carlson and his wife. Carrie John- son, also natives of that country. It was in 1858, at the age of eighteen years, that the subjed of this sketch firsl came to the shore of the country of which he was later to become so promi- nent a citizen. Alter working on the St. Croix, Apple and Snake rivers as a lumberman, with Stillwater. Washington county. .Minnesota, as headquarters, he enlisted in Company ('. Eighth Minnesota A T olunteer Infantry, Augusl 11. 1862. This company was sent on the Indian expedition, and was stationed at Ft. Snel- ling, at Ft. Abercrombie or on the frontier until the spring of 1864. commanded by that valiant old warrior, General Sibley. After spending some time in the Bad Lands and on the hanks of the Yellowstone river, as well as in Idaho, the company returned with the regiment to Ft. Snelling and was then ordered south, to Murfreesboro, later participating in the battle of West Nash- ville. January 1, 1865, found them at Washington, after which they were attached to the Twenty-third Army Corps, and ordered to Ft. Fisher. This fori, however, w;is captured before their ar- rival, and they accordingly went to Xewhern. X. ('.. and subse- quently to < Kingston, X. ('.. where the army engaged in battle with the command of General Johnson. At Gouldsboro, N. ('., the regiment took part in another engagement and then partici- pated in a part of Sherman's march to the sea. Remaining with Sherman until the time of Lincoln's assassination, the company was ordered to Kingsboro, X. ('., and then to Charlotte, N. C, where the mustering out took place July 11, 1865. On August 1, 1865, the soldiers received their honorable discharge at Ft. Snel- ling. After the Avar. Mr. Johnson returned to Vasa and lived until 1868, when he moved to Leon township, where he has since conducted general farming on 255 acres in section 1, Leon town- ship. Of late years the son has rented the place from his father and has general charge of the farming operations. The house