Peter D. Johnson

Peter D. Johnson was born at Christiania (Oslo) Norway, on February 9, 1812. He was the second child in a large family of brothers and sisters, and was the first of his family to emigrate to the United States, having arrived at Rochester, New York, in 1840. He remained there three years, and assisted in the construction of the railroad between Albany and Rochester. He also engaged in the building of canal boats for use on the Erie Canal. This was his trade in Norway. He then removed to New Orleans, Louisiana, and worked there three years. In the summer of 1846, he returned to his native Norway, and was married in October of that year to Anna Maria Anderson, the daughter of Anders Gilbertson. They came to the United States together in 1847, to New Orleans, where Mr. Johnson built boats both there and at Galveston, Texas. While there, four children were born to them--two girls and twin boys. All of these children died as infants from a deadly fever. Mrs. Johnson was so depressed, that they decided to move to a new location. They concluded to try farming, and settled at Smithfield, Kentucky in 1854. With them was their only remaining child, a daughter, Louisa Catherine, who was born at New Orleans on November 26, 1852. Another daughter, Anna Matilda, was born in Kentucky on February 22, 1856. Early in 1857, the Johnsons concluded to settle in Nebraska. They took up a homestead located on New York Creek, north of present-day Blair, in Washington County. Another daughter, Clara Casandra, was born there, on December 15, 1858. Clara was the first white child born in this area of Washington County. Two additional daughters were born to them on the farm, Josephine on October 29, 1860, and Minnie Sophia, on July 21, 1862. In 1863, Peter Johnson decided to sell his farm on New York Creek and relocate closer to the railhead. He then bought a farm of 160 acres, just north of present-day Blair, and constructed a small home there. Later, he built a large two-story frame house, to house his growing family. Their last daughter, Leatsey Jane, was born on this farm September 5, 1864. We always called her Aunt Letty. Melvin Hewitt is her grandson. For many years, Mr. Johnson had engaged in the business of freighting supplies over-land by wagon, to Denver, Colorado, to supplement his farm earnings. This proved to be a very successful, but dangerous business. It required three months to make this round-trip by ox team. Many times, the Indians, who were still plentiful in the area around Blair, would come up to the Johnson house, to get food from the Johnson family., Mrs. Johnson would hide her small daughters under large wooden washtubs, and give the Indians whatever they wanted. She was very afraid, as her husband was gone for very long periods of time. Mr. Johnson was a firm supporter of the Methodist Church, and was a well-respected member of the pioneer community of Blair. He died on January 20. 1885. His wife continued to operate the farm for another 10 years, until she moved into town in 1895, to a home on East Colfax Street, in Blair. Mrs. Johnson survived her husband by many years, and died at the age of 84 years, in Blair, on March 3, 1906. Both she, and Mr. Johnson, rest in the Blair Cemetery. Submitted by Clare Johnson

Source: Washington County Nebraska History 1980, page 220. The Washington County Historical Association.Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas, 1980.