Lewis K. and Dora Johnson
by Carol Johnson stevej@ix.netcom.com
The 1850 Federal Census for Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin, done October 29, 1850, shows Lewis Johnson as the head of household. He is 27 years old, a laborer owning $300 worth of real estate, and born in Norway. Living with him is his wife, Dorthea, age 30, and born in Norway. Also living with Lewis and Dorthea is their son, Sebert, (probably should be Sever), age 2, who was born in Wisconsin (page 377 # 35-37). Thus, it can be assumed that Lewis and Dora Johnson came to the United States from Norway prior to 1848.
The 1860 Federal Census for Dover, Post Office Owatonna, Steele County, Wisconsin, done July 3, 1860, shows Dortesia Johnson as head of household. She is 40 years old, has real estate valued at $600 and $150 in personal value, and was born in Norway. Listed with her are Sever Johnson, age 12, born in Wisconsin, and John Johnson, age 8, who was also born in Wisconsin (page 29, #12-14). Lewis is not listed with them.
The 1870 Federal Census for Havana, Steele County, Minnesota, done August 18, 1870, shows Lewis Johnson as the head of household. He is a 47-year-old farmer who has $2500 in real estate value and $1200 (?) in personal value. He was born in Norway of parents of foreign birth. Listed with him is his wife, named Bertina, age 49, keeping house, born in Norway of foreign-born parents, and John, their 17-year-old son who is at home and was born in Wisconsin of foreign-born parents. Living on the Harvey farm next door is their other son, Severt, age 22, who is a farm laborer born in Wisconsin (page 7/223, #29-32).
The 1880 Federal Census for Havanna [sic], Steele County, Minnesota, done June 9, 1880, does not list Lewis Johnson as the head of household. His wife, Doritha is listed as being married and keeping house. Listed with her are her son, John; John's wife, Bertha; John and Bertha's son, Luander [sic] (should be Leander), and John and Bertha's daughter, Gertrude (ED 239, page 13/15, #26-30). It is interesting to note that Lewis is not with them, but he was not dead. The family has always said that Lewis Johnson was an Indian fighter in Montana. For his efforts in alerting the settlers of an Indian uprising, Lewis Johnson was awarded a medal from the state of Montana. This is confirmed in a book called Clay and Norman Counties, Minnesota, published in 1918, in which it says, "Louis Johnson was living in Montana at the time of the Indian uprising, and for the valuable service he rendered in giving warning to other settlers of the uprising, was awarded a medal by the state" (page 99). The 1880 Federal Census for Fort Benton in the County of Choteau, Territory of Montana, done June 9, 1880, lists a Lewis Johnson as 56, employed as a steamboat man, who cannot read nor write, and who was born in Sweden of parents born in Sweden [ED3, page 21/42, #37].
The 1894 newspaper obituary for Louis K. Johnson states: "Death of Louis K. Johnson.
Last Sunday morning, August 5th, at 2 oclock [sic], Mr. Louis K. Johnson died at the home of his son in the eastern part of this city (Havana), of Bright's disease of the Kidneys, aged 70 years 10 months and 21 days. The deceased began to fail March 1st last and steadily grew worse until the end came which was without a struggle. The deceased was born near Bergen, Norway, immigrated to this country in 1847 and settled in Dane county, Wis. In 1856 he removed to Havana, Steele county where he has lived most of the time since. The funeral, which was largely attended, took place from the house at 2 o'clock last Monday afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. Geo. Crum, pastor of the Universalist church, of this city. The remains were interred at the cemetery near Havana station. Mr. Johnson was a good American citizen and a strong temperance man. He was a careful thinker and a well informed [sic] man. Mr. Johnson liked to travel and about twenty years ago spent six years in Montana and traveled over most of the western states and territories. About twelve years ago he returned to Norway where he spent several months. Last year he visited the World's Fair in Chicago and came back greatly pleased and delighted. The bereaved family have the sympathy of all their neighbors in their bereavement."
Havana News Items for August 6, 1894 states: "Louis K. Johnson, Esq., an old settler of Havana but for the past two or three years a resident of Owatonna, was buried in the Havana Cemetary [sic] last Monday. The funeral services services [sic] were held at his home in Owatonna. A number of old neighbors and friends were present. Mr. Johnson was a good citizen and leaves a large circle of friends."
Lewis K. Johnson was buried in the Havana Cemetery, Steele County, Minnesota. There is an unmarked grave by his, and Chris Larson assumes that it belongs to Dora, his wife. Buried with them is their second son, John L. Johnson.
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Notes on Dora Johnson The 1850 Federal Census for Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin, done October 29, 1850, lists Dorthea as the wife of Lewis Johnson. She is 30 years old and was born in Norway. Living with her are her husband and her son, Sebert[sic] [page 377 #36).
The 1860 Federal Census for Dover, Owatonna Post Office, Steele County, Minnesota, done July 3, 1860, lists Dortesia Johnson as the head of household. She was 40 years old and born in Norway. She has real estate valued at $600, and personal value of $150. Listed with her are Sever, age 12, who was born in Wisconsin, and John, age 7, also born in Wisconsin (page 29, #12-14.) Lewis may have been in Montana at the time of the census.
The 1870 Federal Census for Havana, Steele County, Minnesota, done August 18, 1870, lists Bertina (sic) as the wife of Lewis Johnson. She is 49 years old, keeping house, and born in Norway of foreign-born parents. Listed with her are her husband and her son, John, who is 17. Living on the farm next door where he works as a Farm Laborer is their son, Severt [sic] [page 7/223, #31).
The 1880 Federal Census for the town of Havana, Steele County, Minnesota, done June 9, 1880, shows Doritha as the head of household. She is 60 years old, married, and keeping house. She was born in Norway of parents born in Norway. Living with her are John Johnson, age 27, a farmer, who was born in Wisconsin of parents born in Norway. Bertha is his wife, age 24, keeping house, born in Norway of parents born in Norway. Leander is John and Bertha's 3-year-old son, who was born in Minnesota of parents born in Norway, and Gertrude is their daughter who is 1 year old, born in Minnesota of parents born in Norway (ED 239, Page No. 13, #26-30). Leander and Gertrude had a father born in Norway; yet, John, their father, was born in Wisconsin.
The 1900 Federal Census for the town of Havana, Steele County, Minnesota, done June 26, 1900, shows John L. Johnson as the head of household. Dora is not living with them; thus perhaps she, too, like Lewis, died before 1900. (ED 128, Sheet 8B, #69).
According to Chris Larson, Dora's husband, Lewis K. Johnson, is buried in the Havana Cemetery. Nearby is an unmarked grave, and that may well be the grave of Dora. Buried with them is their second son, John L. Johnson.
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