William B. Johnson

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

William B. Johnson

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

The life history of Charles August JOHNSON, father of William B. JOHNSON, a contracting painter at Dover, New Jersey, is worthy of mention in this work, for along honorable and straightforward lines he has won the success which crowns his efforts and which makes him one of the substantial residents of Morris county. He is the owner of some fine property in Dover and has a beautiful home in this city. A native of Sweden, Mr. JOHNSON was born in the city of Stockholm, July 1, 1856. He is a son of George P. and Frederica JOHNSON, both of whom spent their entire lives in their native land of Sweden. The father was a farmer by occupation and reared to maturity a large family of children.

Charles A. JOHNSON was educated in Stockholm and continued to reside in that place until his thirty-fourth year. In 1890, with his wife and family, he immigrated to the United States, and settled in Dover, New Jersey. Here he set to work and learned the trade of painter and for eleven years he was employed in the Dover Car Works. Since 1901 he has worked for different contractors in Dover and Morristown, and he has met with marked success in his various business ventures. He erected a substantial residence at No. 92 German street in 1892 and there the family home was maintained for several years. This house is now owned by his son William B. In 1908 Mr. JOHNSON purchased the property at Nos. 45 and 47 Richards avenue, the former is occupied by the JOHNSON family and the latter is rented. Mr. JOHNSON is a member of the Swedish Baptist Association and he and his wife attend and give their support to the English Baptist Church. Politically, he is independent.

In Sweden, in 1881, occurred the marriage of Mr. JOHNSON to Emma PETERSON. They have seven children and concerning them the following data are incorporated: William B., mentioned below; Fred, a boilermaker by trade and is now traveling for the Bartly Company; Charles, a painter, married and resides in Dover; Emma, unmarried, resides at home with her parents; Lillie, wife of Arthur FISHER, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; Mary, at the parental home. Mr. JOHNSON is a man of high ideals, strong moral fiber, fine judgment and keen foresight. His citizenship has been a valuable adjunct to Dover and here he is held in high esteem by all with whom he has come in contact.

William B. JOHNSON, first in order of birth of the seven children of Charles August and Emma (PETERSON) JOHNSON, was born in Stockholm, Sweden, February 25, 1883. He passed the first seven years of his life in Stockholm and in 1890 accompanied his parents to America. For one year he attended school in Stockholm and he completed his educational training in the public schools of Dover, New Jersey. At the age of fourteen years he left school and began to work. In his seventeenth year he entered the factory of the RICHARDS & BOYNTON Stove Company, in Dover, and began to learn the trade of moulder. He has been in the employ of the above concern since 1900 and has made splendid progress in his work. He owns the old JOHNSON residence at No. 92 German street and in connection with his work is a member of the moulders union. He is connected with a sick benefit society and in a fraternal way is affiliated with the Order of Moose and with Fritjof Lodge, No. 63, a Swedish organization. In politics he maintains an independent attitude, always voting for the man regardless of party adherence.

In 1901 Mr. JOHNSON married Mathilda JOHNSON, daughter of Carl and Anna JOHNSON, the latter of whom is now living on Belmont avenue, Dover. Carl JOHNSON was for many years employed in the blast furnace at Oxford; he was born in Sweden and died in 1896. Mrs. JOHNSON, wife of the subject of this review, was born at Oxford, New Jersey. She and her husband have five children: Carl William, attending school in Dover, as are also Helen Elizabeth and Clarence Emery; Hazel Mathilda, Harry Edward.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)