SYVER JOHNSON, pioneer settler of the Panhandle who has worked hard and overcome all the trial and privations of life on the frontier and today is one of the prosperous farmers of the Big Spring district, was born in Norway, May 12, 1848, the son of John Erickson and Carolina Olson, both natives of Norway. The father came to this country and located in Hamilton county, but remained only five years and then returned to Norway where he spent the remainder of his life. There were eight children in the family, six sons and two daughters, four of whom reside in this country.
Miss Martha Kardesen, daughter of Kardesen Peterson and Gjoren Jensen was born in Norway, February 15, 1852. Her parents, were both natives of Norway. There were six children in the family, one daughter and five sons, all of whom reside in this country and Canada.
On October 3, 1875, Mr. Johnson and Miss Kardesen were united in marriage in the old country, where they had grown to manhood and womanhood, both having been educated in the excellent public schools of that country.
During their residence in Norway Mr. Johnson worked at the mason trade but desiring to own land of his own he migrated with his family to the United States in 1881, locating in Hamilton county, Nebraska, in May, remaining there three years before coming farther west to take up a homestead in Deuel county. In 1884, Mr. Johnson broke a little of his land but did not bring his family out until the following year. When he came to the Panhandle, Mr. Johnson drove across coutry (sic) with a team and wagon behind which were hitched two cows.
The first home was a sod dugout with a brush roof and when it rained out it also rained in. The first two years were exceptionally rainy and everything thrived without but not so well within. There was no water on the place and it was hauled for ten years for family and stock.
Having but a small acreage broken the first year it was planted to melons, crooked neck squash and gourds, the seed having been brought from the east. These grew in abundance and were of enormous size and were stored in cellars or eaves, forming the chief forage crop for the stock the first winter.
Prospects were soon blighted by the dry years that followed. Crops were very poor and Mr. Johnson went east to look for work in order that the family might have the necessities of life. He worked at the mason trade in Hamilton county, also in Omaha and Lincoln. He would often be gone several months at a time while Mrs. Johnson and the children stayed on the homestead and fought against fate for sustenance. Mrs. Johnson also worked for her neighbors whenever she could. She would walk two and one-half miles to town, carying (sic) one youngster and leading another, do a hard day's work, washing clothes or cleaning house and then walk back at night. Often after her return she would have to go a mile and a half to the spring for water. She had nothing to drive except a runaway team hitched to a wagon, and the way they traveled over the black-root knolls wasn't slow. One night when she reached home there was but one spoke left in one wagon wheel.
For years the forage crops had to be cut with a scythe and raked with a hand rake. The brunt of this fell on Mrs. Johnson and the children, as Mr. Johnson was often away in search of work at the harvest time. Many were the times when there was nothing left in the house to eat. Mrs. Johnson would take a muzzle-loading shot gun (which many men wouldn't understand the loading of these days) and go hunting rabbits. Often she would have to walk for miles over the sand hills before she would be able to scare one up, but when bunny made a move he was a dead rabbit. The meal for the bread was ground in a coffee mill which was a long and tedious task.
The rattle snakes were quite a menace in the early days. It was not an uncommon sight to see them disapear (sic) into the walls of the sod house or find them basking in the sunlight on the door step. The older boys would
624
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
go snake hunting and a trophy of two dozen rattles wasn't an unusual day's hunt. A snake spear was used for killing them, which consisted of a spearhead on a long handle. None of the family was ever bitten by a snake, but the oldest daughter was one time bitten by a tarantula. The forethought and quick action of the father saved her life. Centipedes were very numerous and would often drop from the ceiling to the floor.
During the drought years of 1893, 1894 and 1898 the family suffered severely; the father became discouraged but the mother never did. Provisions were sent from the east for the relief of suffering humanity, but through mismanagement very little of it, ever reached the places where it was most needed. Many of the old timers left during the drought years, but through the courage and industry of the mother the Johnson family stuck it out and today are in comfortable circumstances.
For the past ten years Mr. Johnson has raised cattle; but with the loss of the open range finds farming profitable.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson raised a large family, there being eleven children in all, eight of whom are living; Lena, the wife of James Brown, former Commissioner of Deuel county; Johann, deceased; Charles, a farmer of Deuel county; Fred, a farmer of Deuel county; Selma, the wife of Dan Trojan, ranchman of Oregon; John, a merchant of Big Spring; Joseph, a farmer, of Deuel county; Edward, deceased; Nora, postmistress, Big Spring; Morton, ex-service man, Oregon, and George, who gave his life on the battle fields of France in the recent war. Mr. Johnson is a Republican, his wife is a Presbyterian, and they are both members of the Farmers' Union.
-------------------------
Miss Martha Kardesen, daughter of Kardesen Peterson and Gjoren Jensen was born in Norway, February 15, 1852. Her parents, were both natives of Norway. There were six children in the family, one daughter and five sons, all of whom reside in this country and Canada.
On October 3, 1875, Mr. Johnson and Miss Kardesen were united in marriage in the old country, where they had grown to manhood and womanhood, both having been educated in the excellent public schools of that country.
During their residence in Norway Mr. Johnson worked at the mason trade but desiring to own land of his own he migrated with his family to the United States in 1881, locating in Hamilton county, Nebraska, in May, remaining there three years before coming farther west to take up a homestead in Deuel county. In 1884, Mr. Johnson broke a little of his land but did not bring his family out until the following year. When he came to the Panhandle, Mr. Johnson drove across coutry (sic) with a team and wagon behind which were hitched two cows.
The first home was a sod dugout with a brush roof and when it rained out it also rained in. The first two years were exceptionally rainy and everything thrived without but not so well within. There was no water on the place and it was hauled for ten years for family and stock.
Having but a small acreage broken the first year it was planted to melons, crooked neck squash and gourds, the seed having been brought from the east. These grew in abundance and were of enormous size and were stored in cellars or eaves, forming the chief forage crop for the stock the first winter.
Prospects were soon blighted by the dry years that followed. Crops were very poor and Mr. Johnson went east to look for work in order that the family might have the necessities of life. He worked at the mason trade in Hamilton county, also in Omaha and Lincoln. He would often be gone several months at a time while Mrs. Johnson and the children stayed on the homestead and fought against fate for sustenance. Mrs. Johnson also worked for her neighbors whenever she could. She would walk two and one-half miles to town, carying (sic) one youngster and leading another, do a hard day's work, washing clothes or cleaning house and then walk back at night. Often after her return she would have to go a mile and a half to the spring for water. She had nothing to drive except a runaway team hitched to a wagon, and the way they traveled over the black-root knolls wasn't slow. One night when she reached home there was but one spoke left in one wagon wheel.
For years the forage crops had to be cut with a scythe and raked with a hand rake. The brunt of this fell on Mrs. Johnson and the children, as Mr. Johnson was often away in search of work at the harvest time. Many were the times when there was nothing left in the house to eat. Mrs. Johnson would take a muzzle-loading shot gun (which many men wouldn't understand the loading of these days) and go hunting rabbits. Often she would have to walk for miles over the sand hills before she would be able to scare one up, but when bunny made a move he was a dead rabbit. The meal for the bread was ground in a coffee mill which was a long and tedious task.
The rattle snakes were quite a menace in the early days. It was not an uncommon sight to see them disapear (sic) into the walls of the sod house or find them basking in the sunlight on the door step. The older boys would
624
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
go snake hunting and a trophy of two dozen rattles wasn't an unusual day's hunt. A snake spear was used for killing them, which consisted of a spearhead on a long handle. None of the family was ever bitten by a snake, but the oldest daughter was one time bitten by a tarantula. The forethought and quick action of the father saved her life. Centipedes were very numerous and would often drop from the ceiling to the floor.
During the drought years of 1893, 1894 and 1898 the family suffered severely; the father became discouraged but the mother never did. Provisions were sent from the east for the relief of suffering humanity, but through mismanagement very little of it, ever reached the places where it was most needed. Many of the old timers left during the drought years, but through the courage and industry of the mother the Johnson family stuck it out and today are in comfortable circumstances.
For the past ten years Mr. Johnson has raised cattle; but with the loss of the open range finds farming profitable.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson raised a large family, there being eleven children in all, eight of whom are living; Lena, the wife of James Brown, former Commissioner of Deuel county; Johann, deceased; Charles, a farmer of Deuel county; Fred, a farmer of Deuel county; Selma, the wife of Dan Trojan, ranchman of Oregon; John, a merchant of Big Spring; Joseph, a farmer, of Deuel county; Edward, deceased; Nora, postmistress, Big Spring; Morton, ex-service man, Oregon, and George, who gave his life on the battle fields of France in the recent war. Mr. Johnson is a Republican, his wife is a Presbyterian, and they are both members of the Farmers' Union.
-------------------------
SYVER JOHNSON, pioneer settler of the Panhandle who has worked hard and overcome all the trial and privations of life on the frontier and today is one of the prosperous farmers of the Big Spring district, was born in Norway, May 12, 1848, the son of John Erickson and Carolina Olson, both natives of Norway. The father came to this country and located in Hamilton county, but remained only five years and then returned to Norway where he spent the remainder of his life. There were eight children in the family, six sons and two daughters, four of whom reside in this country.
Miss Martha Kardesen, daughter of Kardesen Peterson and Gjoren Jensen was born in Norway, February 15, 1852. Her parents, were both natives of Norway. There were six children in the family, one daughter and five sons, all of whom reside in this country and Canada.
On October 3, 1875, Mr. Johnson and Miss Kardesen were united in marriage in the old country, where they had grown to manhood and womanhood, both having been educated in the excellent public schools of that country.
During their residence in Norway Mr. Johnson worked at the mason trade but desiring to own land of his own he migrated with his family to the United States in 1881, locating in Hamilton county, Nebraska, in May, remaining there three years before coming farther west to take up a homestead in Deuel county. In 1884, Mr. Johnson broke a little of his land but did not bring his family out until the following year. When he came to the Panhandle, Mr. Johnson drove across coutry (sic) with a team and wagon behind which were hitched two cows.
The first home was a sod dugout with a brush roof and when it rained out it also rained in. The first two years were exceptionally rainy and everything thrived without but not so well within. There was no water on the place and it was hauled for ten years for family and stock.
Having but a small acreage broken the first year it was planted to melons, crooked neck squash and gourds, the seed having been brought from the east. These grew in abundance and were of enormous size and were stored in cellars or eaves, forming the chief forage crop for the stock the first winter.
Prospects were soon blighted by the dry years that followed. Crops were very poor and Mr. Johnson went east to look for work in order that the family might have the necessities of life. He worked at the mason trade in Hamilton county, also in Omaha and Lincoln. He would often be gone several months at a time while Mrs. Johnson and the children stayed on the homestead and fought against fate for sustenance. Mrs. Johnson also worked for her neighbors whenever she could. She would walk two and one-half miles to town, carying (sic) one youngster and leading another, do a hard day's work, washing clothes or cleaning house and then walk back at night. Often after her return she would have to go a mile and a half to the spring for water. She had nothing to drive except a runaway team hitched to a wagon, and the way they traveled over the black-root knolls wasn't slow. One night when she reached home there was but one spoke left in one wagon wheel.
For years the forage crops had to be cut with a scythe and raked with a hand rake. The brunt of this fell on Mrs. Johnson and the children, as Mr. Johnson was often away in search of work at the harvest time. Many were the times when there was nothing left in the house to eat. Mrs. Johnson would take a muzzle-loading shot gun (which many men wouldn't understand the loading of these days) and go hunting rabbits. Often she would have to walk for miles over the sand hills before she would be able to scare one up, but when bunny made a move he was a dead rabbit. The meal for the bread was ground in a coffee mill which was a long and tedious task.
The rattle snakes were quite a menace in the early days. It was not an uncommon sight to see them disapear (sic) into the walls of the sod house or find them basking in the sunlight on the door step. The older boys would
624
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
go snake hunting and a trophy of two dozen rattles wasn't an unusual day's hunt. A snake spear was used for killing them, which consisted of a spearhead on a long handle. None of the family was ever bitten by a snake, but the oldest daughter was one time bitten by a tarantula. The forethought and quick action of the father saved her life. Centipedes were very numerous and would often drop from the ceiling to the floor.
During the drought years of 1893, 1894 and 1898 the family suffered severely; the father became discouraged but the mother never did. Provisions were sent from the east for the relief of suffering humanity, but through mismanagement very little of it, ever reached the places where it was most needed. Many of the old timers left during the drought years, but through the courage and industry of the mother the Johnson family stuck it out and today are in comfortable circumstances.
For the past ten years Mr. Johnson has raised cattle; but with the loss of the open range finds farming profitable.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson raised a large family, there being eleven children in all, eight of whom are living; Lena, the wife of James Brown, former Commissioner of Deuel county; Johann, deceased; Charles, a farmer of Deuel county; Fred, a farmer of Deuel county; Selma, the wife of Dan Trojan, ranchman of Oregon; John, a merchant of Big Spring; Joseph, a farmer, of Deuel county; Edward, deceased; Nora, postmistress, Big Spring; Morton, ex-service man, Oregon, and George, who gave his life on the battle fields of France in the recent war. Mr. Johnson is a Republican, his wife is a Presbyterian, and they are both members of the Farmers' Union.
-------------------------
Miss Martha Kardesen, daughter of Kardesen Peterson and Gjoren Jensen was born in Norway, February 15, 1852. Her parents, were both natives of Norway. There were six children in the family, one daughter and five sons, all of whom reside in this country and Canada.
On October 3, 1875, Mr. Johnson and Miss Kardesen were united in marriage in the old country, where they had grown to manhood and womanhood, both having been educated in the excellent public schools of that country.
During their residence in Norway Mr. Johnson worked at the mason trade but desiring to own land of his own he migrated with his family to the United States in 1881, locating in Hamilton county, Nebraska, in May, remaining there three years before coming farther west to take up a homestead in Deuel county. In 1884, Mr. Johnson broke a little of his land but did not bring his family out until the following year. When he came to the Panhandle, Mr. Johnson drove across coutry (sic) with a team and wagon behind which were hitched two cows.
The first home was a sod dugout with a brush roof and when it rained out it also rained in. The first two years were exceptionally rainy and everything thrived without but not so well within. There was no water on the place and it was hauled for ten years for family and stock.
Having but a small acreage broken the first year it was planted to melons, crooked neck squash and gourds, the seed having been brought from the east. These grew in abundance and were of enormous size and were stored in cellars or eaves, forming the chief forage crop for the stock the first winter.
Prospects were soon blighted by the dry years that followed. Crops were very poor and Mr. Johnson went east to look for work in order that the family might have the necessities of life. He worked at the mason trade in Hamilton county, also in Omaha and Lincoln. He would often be gone several months at a time while Mrs. Johnson and the children stayed on the homestead and fought against fate for sustenance. Mrs. Johnson also worked for her neighbors whenever she could. She would walk two and one-half miles to town, carying (sic) one youngster and leading another, do a hard day's work, washing clothes or cleaning house and then walk back at night. Often after her return she would have to go a mile and a half to the spring for water. She had nothing to drive except a runaway team hitched to a wagon, and the way they traveled over the black-root knolls wasn't slow. One night when she reached home there was but one spoke left in one wagon wheel.
For years the forage crops had to be cut with a scythe and raked with a hand rake. The brunt of this fell on Mrs. Johnson and the children, as Mr. Johnson was often away in search of work at the harvest time. Many were the times when there was nothing left in the house to eat. Mrs. Johnson would take a muzzle-loading shot gun (which many men wouldn't understand the loading of these days) and go hunting rabbits. Often she would have to walk for miles over the sand hills before she would be able to scare one up, but when bunny made a move he was a dead rabbit. The meal for the bread was ground in a coffee mill which was a long and tedious task.
The rattle snakes were quite a menace in the early days. It was not an uncommon sight to see them disapear (sic) into the walls of the sod house or find them basking in the sunlight on the door step. The older boys would
624
HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA
go snake hunting and a trophy of two dozen rattles wasn't an unusual day's hunt. A snake spear was used for killing them, which consisted of a spearhead on a long handle. None of the family was ever bitten by a snake, but the oldest daughter was one time bitten by a tarantula. The forethought and quick action of the father saved her life. Centipedes were very numerous and would often drop from the ceiling to the floor.
During the drought years of 1893, 1894 and 1898 the family suffered severely; the father became discouraged but the mother never did. Provisions were sent from the east for the relief of suffering humanity, but through mismanagement very little of it, ever reached the places where it was most needed. Many of the old timers left during the drought years, but through the courage and industry of the mother the Johnson family stuck it out and today are in comfortable circumstances.
For the past ten years Mr. Johnson has raised cattle; but with the loss of the open range finds farming profitable.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson raised a large family, there being eleven children in all, eight of whom are living; Lena, the wife of James Brown, former Commissioner of Deuel county; Johann, deceased; Charles, a farmer of Deuel county; Fred, a farmer of Deuel county; Selma, the wife of Dan Trojan, ranchman of Oregon; John, a merchant of Big Spring; Joseph, a farmer, of Deuel county; Edward, deceased; Nora, postmistress, Big Spring; Morton, ex-service man, Oregon, and George, who gave his life on the battle fields of France in the recent war. Mr. Johnson is a Republican, his wife is a Presbyterian, and they are both members of the Farmers' Union.
-------------------------
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
