johnsonc
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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