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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",  published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     CHARLES F. JOHNSON came west and settled on a homestead in Adams county in 1885.  Later he purchased a tract of railroad land and the first year he broke eighty acres of native sod.  Later on, from time to time, he has added to his holdings in Big Bend real estate until he now owns fifteen hundred and forty acres, twelve hundred acres of which he has under cultivation.  All his land is fenced and improved in the best modern style, with a fine orchard, good buildings, etcetera, and he keeps fifty head of livestock on his farm.  His home lies three miles south of Ritzville.
     Mr. Johnson was born in Varmland, Sweden, December 14, 1854, and was the son of Charles and Charlotte (Bast) Johnson, both natives of Sweden who came to America in 1868 and located in Iowa.  They lived in Iowa until 1894, when they removed to Portland, Oregon, and from that city to the state of Washington in 1903.  They now live in Ritzville.  They have been parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only one surviving.  Those deceased were, Sophia, Annie and Emma.
     Until coming to America with his parents, Charles Johnson attended the public schools of his native country.  He lived with his father and mother until arriving at the age of twenty-seven, when he married and started in life for himself.  Prior to his coming to this state he rented the farm of his father in Iowa four years.
     In the year 1892, Charles Johnson was married to Louise Carlen, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Olson) Carlen, who came from Sweden, their native country, to the United States in 1881.  Here the family located in Iowa, where the father died in 1898, after which the mother came west and is now living in Ritzville.  The family originally numbered eight children, of whom only five are still living: Louise, Anna, Albertine, Gustave and Elizabeth.
     Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have four children living, F. W., Emma E., David A., and Ralph C., all at home, and one deceased, George.
     The family maintains a church home with the First Congregational church of Ritzville.  In political affairs Mr. Johnson works in harmony with the Democratic party.  He has ever been an active man in all affairs pertaining to upbuilding the educational facilities of the country, and at this writing he is a member of his local school board.
 
 

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