Peter and Kari Johnson

     The chronological list from Norway indicates that Peter Johannesson and his wife Kari with their son Ole emigrated on April 18, 1866 at the same time as Peter's sister, Guro, her family, and his parents, Johannes and Brita (Hansdatter] Lasseson, whose Americanized names became John and Betsy Louison.

     The 1870 Federal Census for the Town of Havana, Steele County, Minnesota, done August 22, 1870, lists the Peter Johnson family as farming next door to Peter's older brother, Louis. Peter is 32, a laborer with $500 in personal value. He was born in Norway of foreign-born parents. He can read and write. His wife, Carrie is 34 years old and keeping house. She was born in Norway of foreign-born parents. She cannot write English. Ole is their 6-year-old son, who was born in Norway of foreign-born parents. He can read and write. John is their 4-month-old son, who was born in March in Minnesota. Living on the farm with them are John and Betsy Louison, Peter's parents. John is 63, a laborer, who was born in Norway of foreign-born parents. He cannot read nor write. Betsy is his 65-year-old wife. She was born in Norway of foreign-born parents, and she cannot read nor write (page 7/224, #16-21).

     Norwegians in the 1875 Minnesota State Census for Havana and Aurora Townships, Steele County, Minnesota lists Peter Johnson and family as family #109 living in Havana. Peter is a white male who is 36 years old. He was born in Norway of parents born in Norway. Also listed with him are his wife, Carrie, his sons, Peter and John, his daughter, Lula, and Betsey Hanson, age 70 on page 16 (Information obtained from Chris Larson's website @ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/`norskmom/1875.html).

     The 1880 Federal Census for the Town of Havanna, Steele County, Minnesota, done June 7, 1880, lists Peter Johnson as a 42 year-old farmer with his wife, Carrie, who is 44 and keeping house. They have a son, Ole P., age 15, born in Norway, who is a farmer; a son, John, age 10, born in Minnesota; a daughter, Lulu, age 7, born in Minnesota, and a twin son, Charles, age 1, born in Minnesota, and a twin daughter, Fanny, age 1, born in Minnesota. (ED 239, page 8, #37-43].

     Norwegians in the 1885 Minnesota State Census for Havana and Aurora Townships, Steele County, Minnesota includes his family as family #54 in Havana. He is not listed with his wife, Carrie, and children: Ole, John, Lulu, and Hanah (Fanny?)(Information obtained from Chris Larson's website @ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~norskmom/1885.html).

     The 1900 Federal Census for Havana Township, Steele County, Minnesota, done June 21, 1900, shows Peter and Carrie living alone on their farm. Peter is listed as being 61, and Carrie is listed as being 63. It indicates they had been in the United States since 1866. They had 7 children, 4 of whom were alive. [ ED 128, Sheet 7, #37-38].

     The 1910 Federal Census for Havana Township, Steele County, Minnesota, done April 29-30, 1910, lists Peter as the Head of Household. He is 71 years old and has been in his first marriage for 47 years. He was born in Norway of parents born in Norway. He came to the United States in 1866 and is an alien. He speaks English, and his occupation is Farmer. Listed with him is his wife, Carrie. No children are living with them (Ed 127, Sheet 6A, #11).

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The Norwegian Community in Havana and Aurora Townships

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