Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/803

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 697 mark. January 10, 1850, and at the age of twenty years de- termined to seek his fortunes in America, having already secured a good education in his native country. His first position was in a bank in Chicago., where he clerked from 1870 to 1876. From 1876 to 1879 he ran a book and stationery store in the same city. Deciding that the opportunities for advancement were greater in a smaller place, he came to Red Wing, shortly before 1880, and entered the employ of the Boxrud Brothers as bookkeeper for three years. Subsequently he filled the same position in the Red Wing office of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, until 1886. when he became interested in the company of which he has since been the manager. Under his management the busi- ness has prospered and is now one of the leading business houses of the city. Mr. Jorgensen is a Democrat in politics and has been too busy with his business to seek public office. He is a member of the Masons and the Knights of Pythias and attends the Episcopal Church. Mr. Jorgensen was married in May, 1881, at Chicago. 111., to Nanny Danielson, who came from Denmark that year, her husband having gone back to the old country for the purpose of bringing her to America to share his fortunes. Her father, Christian, died in 1904, and her mother is still liv- ing in Denmark. To Mr. and Mrs. Jorgensen have been born nine children. Hans P. is dead and Marie is Mrs. F. D. Putnam, of Red Wing. Harriet, Nanny, Eva, Ruth, Esther, George and Elna are at home. well known in Belvidere township, where he was a prominent citizen and farmer, and where he occupied many important posi- tions of trust and honor during the days of his activity. Mr. Johnson was born in Norway, June 15, 1839, son of Christian and Carrie (Gulickson) Johnson, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1857 and located in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, later coming to Belvidere township in 1859, where, the father homesteaded 160 acres of land, which he cleared and broke. On this place he built a comfortable home and carried on general farming until his death in October, 1901. His wife died in March, 1899. John C. was educated in the public schools of his native land. He was brought to America by his parents as a lad of eighteen years, and in 1861 he decided to start farming for himself. With this resolve in mind he purchased 160 acres in Belvidere township, and to this he soon added eighty more, making in all 240 acres. He broke the land, built a home, and devoted his attention to general farming, making a specialty, however, of grain raising, of which he made a most pronounced success. Tn 1900 lie retired and moved to the city where he now lives at the corner of Norwood and Sylvan streets, in a house.
 * John C. Johnson, now retired and living at Red Wing, is still