My Genealogy Hound

Christ. Johnson, farmer, stock raiser and hotel keeper at Gray’s Summit, was born in the Island of Yutland, Denmark, October 1, 1836. He is the eldest of the fourteen children of Sharon C. and Engorberg (Nelson) Johnson, natives of Denmark. Sharon C. Johnson, a son of Christ, and Ann Elizabeth Johnson, was a soldier in the Danish army for sixteen years, being colonel and a great favorite of his regiment. He died about 1867, aged fifty years; his widow is still living in Denmark, at the age of eighty-two years. When seven years of age Christ. Johnson, subject of this sketch, left home and hired himself to a farmer in the neighborhood for seven years, for his board and clothes, receiving, at the expiration of that time, $25 as a reward for his faithfulness and industry. The next two years he received his board and $18 per year, after which for four years he worked for $36 per year and board, the last year receiving $65. He subsequently drove a Government stage, worked at stone-cutting some time, and then enlisted in the war against Prussia and Austria, serving eighteen months. After the close of the war he learned the carpenter’s trade, at which be worked two years, and then went to Horsens, where, with the exception of three months, he drove a freight wagon for one man nine years. About 1868 he married Katie Peterson, a daughter of Nelson Peterson. They emigrated to the United States in 1870, landing in New York City September 10, where Mrs. Johnson worked in a hotel until 1871, her husband working on a farm and in a mine. They then removed to St. Louis, Mr. Johnson obtaining work on the steamboat “Paulena Carl,” and Mrs. Johnson working in the “Tremont House.” They rented a home, but, being unfortunate through sickness, they were obliged to give up house-keeping and separate, drifting here and there until July 22, 1882, when, with their united savings, they purchased and moved to their present farm of 165 acres of well-improved land. They have had six children, viz.: Sharon C. (deceased), Emma, Wilhelm, Katie and Eddie. For several years Mr. Johnson had the contract to do all the draying for Jay Haynes & Co., general agents for the Walter A. Wood harvester and binder.