JOHNSON, Lewis, county auditor Kandiyohi Co.; born in Sweden, Sept. 17, 1859; son of J. M. and Karin (Olson) Johnson; came to America, 1869; educated in public schools of Minnesota. Employed in post office at Willmar, 1881; entered store as clerk, 1883; appointed deputy county auditor by Auditor Olof Olson; formed partnership with L. Fridlund in general merchandise business; started first creamery in Willmar; became connected with Willmar Brick Co.; was elected county auditor of Kandiyohi Co., 1896, and has been reelected at each succeeding election. Partner Johnson, Fridlund, Norman Co. (mercantile corporation); director and treasurer, Scandinavian Colonization Co.; member Willmar Brick Co. Republican. Lutheran. Married at residence of R. O. Mattson, town of Kandiyohi, Kandiyohi County, April 24, 1885, to Miss Annie Mattson. Club: Commercial. Address: Willmar, Minn. (The Book of Minnesotans, A Biographical Dictionary of Leading Living Men of the State of Minnesota, Edited by Albert Nelson Marquis, A. N. Marquis & Company, 1907, Page 265)
For fifteen years Lewis Johnson and Lewis Moline have been in business in Willmar as dealers in general merchandise. Both have served the public in official capacity, the former as county clerk, and the latter as member of the city council. (The Saint Paul Globe, Monday, August 24, 1903, Volume XXVI, Number 236, Page 3)
Lewis Johnson. Lewis Johnson was born in Mockfjard, Dalarne, Sweden, Sept. 17, 1859. His parents were J. M. Johnson, born July 30, 1820, and Karin Olson, born July 8, 1824, both of the same parish. In the spring of 1869 the family came to this country. The St. Paul & Pacific railroad was then completed as far west as Smith Lake. From that point the party went of foot to their destination. Lewis was then a boy ten years old and he has vivid recollections of the fatigue of this long tramp from the "big woods" out upon the prairie. They spent the first year in Kandiyohi township. The following year they settled on a homestead claim in town of Fahlun, where Johnson grew to manhood. After getting what education he could in the common schools of that day he studied for some time in the high schools at Willmar and Morris. In the fall of 1880 he worked for a time for Clark & Frost. During the following winter he served as clerk in the post office under Ole Selvig. In the spring his health failed and on the advice of a doctor he went out in the country. He taught school in district 68 during the years 1881 and 1882. In the fall of the latter year he went to his old home in Sweden, where he spent the winter.
Returning in the spring of 1883, he again taught school. In the fall of that year he obtained a position in Rodlun & Johnson’s store in Willmar, where he worked about a year. He then became deputy auditor under Olof Olson. About the same time he formed a partnership with Lewis Fridlund and opened a small general store on Benson avenue, the business being in charge of Mr. Fridlund. In a couple of years the business had increased so that Mr. Johnson had to resign his position in the courthouse and go into the store. Some time after, in partnership with several others, he started the first creamery business in Willmar. Cream was bought from the farmers and taken to Willmar to be made into butter. After some time Johnson & Fridlund retired from the creamery company. They had also become interested in the Willmar Brick Manufacturing Company, and still retain their interest. The merchandise business increased so that in 1898 the firm had to seek larger quarters, and moved to the Bonde block. A large addition was built in 1903 to accommodate the still increasing business. The firm has undergone several changes in the years gone by, and is now incorporated under the name of the Johnson, Fridlund, Norman Company. In 1896 Mr. Johnson was elected auditor of Kandiyohi county, and has been re-elected at every subsequent election to date.
On April 24, 1885, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Annie Mattson. She was born in Mockfjard, Sweden, July 30, 1863. Her parents were R. O. Mattson, born Aug. 16, 1835, and Karin Olson, born April 28, 1841. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson: Melvin Joseph, born Oct. 11, 1886; Albert Eugene, born April 8, 1888, died Aug. 7, 1889; Lillie Magnhild, born Aug. 8, 1890; William Julius, born Feb. 9, 1893; Myrtle Elvira, born June 28, 1895; Robert Bernard, born Jan. 14, 1898; Hazel Mathilda, born Feb. 11, 1900; Pearl Adeline, born Sept. 6, 1903. (Illustrated History and Descriptive and Biographical Review of Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, Published by Victor E. Lawson and J. Emil Nelson of the Willmar Tribune, The Pioneer Press Manufacturing Departments, 1905, Page 423)