John Anders Johnson

This article is about the Wisconsin legislator from Madison. For the Wisconsin legislator from Brandon, see John E. Johnson (Brandon). For the Wisconsin legislator from Utica, see John E. Johnson (Utica). For the Wisconsin legislator from York, see John Johnson (b. 1833).

John Anders Johnson (April 15, 1832 – November 10, 1901) was a Norwegian American immigrant, businessman, and Republican politician. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly, representing eastern Dane County.^[1]

John A. Johnson
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 7th district
In office January 6, 1873 – January 4, 1875
Preceded by	William M. Colladay
Succeeded by	George E. Bryant
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dane 1st district
In office January 5, 1857 – January 4, 1858
Preceded by	Charles R. Head
Succeeded by	Daniel B. Crandall
Personal details
Born	(1832-04-15)April 15, 1832 Telemark, Sweden–Norway
Died	November 10, 1901(1901-11-10) (aged 69) Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Caroline K. Thompson ​ ​ (m. 1856; died 1860)​ Kaia N. M. Kildahl ​ ​ (m. 1861⁠–⁠1901)​
Children	Caroline Johnson (b. 1860; died 1860) Frederick A. Johnson (b. 1862; died 1908) Ella Josephine Johnson (b. 1864; died 1866) Ida Astella (Fisk) (b. 1867; died 1949) Carl A. Johnson (b. 1870; died 1931) Hobart Stanley Johnson (b. 1873; died 1942) Maurice Ingolf Johnson (b. 1876; died 1935)
Relatives	Ole C. Johnson (brother)

Biography

Johnson was born in Telemark, Norway, on April 15, 1832, as the eldest of the five children of Anders Johnson (1804–1880) and his wife, Aaste Killing Koven (1808–1893).^[2] His family immigrated to the United States in 1844, traveling via New York to reach Milwaukee.^[2] In 1852, the family to Pleasant Springs, Wisconsin.^[2] He married Karen Kristie Thompson in 1856. They had a daughter before her death in 1860. On October 31, 1861, Johnson married Kaia Nicoline Marie Kildahl. They had six children. He died of a stomach ulcer on November 10, 1901, and was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Career

Johnson was a member of the Assembly in 1857. He served as Clerk of Dane County, Wisconsin, from 1861 to 1869.^[2] From 1873 to 1874, he was a member of the Senate.^[2] Other positions Johnson held include Town Clerk and Town Chairman of Pleasant Springs and justice of the peace.

Outside politics Johnson owned Fuller & Johnson, a company that produced farm machinery, having previously been a farmer.^[3]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Senate, 7th District Election, 1872^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, November 5, 1872
	Republican	John A. Johnson	2,903	53.76%
	Liberal Republican	A. R. Cornwall	2,497	46.24%
Plurality			406	7.52%	-3.45%
Total votes			5,400	100.0%	+78.45%
	Republican hold