John was born in Selbu, a small community near Trondheim, Norway, on March 19, 1826. He was the youngest son of John Thomason Lien and Sophie Kristensdatter Nordster. On June 18, 1855, he married Anne Fredricksdatter Rosseth(augen) at the church in Selbu. She was the daughter of Fredrick Haftorsen Harstadnegen and his wife, Anne Johnsdatter Rosseth(augen). Anne was born March 19, 1835 in Hytebakken, Norway.
John and Anne emigrated to America in 1857, just after the birth of their first child, Sophia. Norwegians had been coming to America for several years, but they were the first people from the Selbu area to make the voyage. They left Selbu in early April, in the company of Thomas Larsen Krogstad. They traveled by horse and sleigh to Holtaalen, and then to Kristiania (Oslo), staying with relatives on the way. It took two weeks to get to Oslo, and because there were as yet no scheduled trans-atlantic crossings, seven more weeks to find passage aboard a ship bound for America. John worked as a joiner while they waited in Oslo. Once aboard the "Avgik", they spent eight weeks at sea, finally arriving in Quebec. They continued their journey by water up the St. Lawrence River and through Lakes Erie, Ontario, Huron and Michigan, all the way to Chicago. They found that land near Chicago was scarce, having been taken by earlier settlers, so they traveled further west. They reached Decorah, Iowa at the end of August, nearly five months after they had left Selbu. John and Anne's second child Anna was born there in 1858. Decorah was one of the favorite destinations for Norwegians, and now every summer there is a large Nordic Festival there.
John's older brother Thomas came to America the next year and settled in Dodge County, Minnesota, just North of Decorah. Thomas offered to sell some of his land to John, and John took him up on the offer. Once in Minnesota, John kept buying more land until he had a farm of about 200 acres, some in Dodge County and some in neighboring Olmstead County. The tax assessment records of Dodge County in 1863 show that John owned farmland in Canisteo Township. In 1865, John's name was on a draft list, but he apparently never served in the Civil War.
Many of the immigrants wrote letters to Norway, praising Minnesota, and more families from Selbu followed the brothers. Even John's father, John Thomassen Lien, came to live with John and his family. The elder John died in Dodge County at 93 years of age in 1877. The 1880 census for Canisteo Township, Dodge County lists J. Johnson, 55, born Norway; wife Anna, 44, born Norway; Anna, 22, born Iowa; John, 19, Betsey, 18 and Frederick, 15, the last three born in Minnesota. Daughter Sophia was married by then.
Sophie also described their first home in Canisteo Township. An earth cabin, sixteen feet square, dug into the south side of a hill. In front were two windows and a door, the roof was made of earth. They had a Norwegian chest for a table and an oven to make food on. Their first beds were of straw. They lived in the sod house until 1862, when her father built a real house.
In 1869, John built a well drilling machine and drilled a well on the farm of the parents of Rev. Olai Bergh. Bergh mentions this in his autobiography.
For the first few years after coming to America, John used the Norwegian patronymic method of taking his father's first name and adding -son to it, so his name in early records is John Johnson. In fact, that is the name on the land patent issued by the U. S. government on October 5, 1870, for his farm. The Lien name shows up later, perhaps there were too many John Johnsons in Minnesota. Lien was the name of the home farm in Norway, and his father also used that last name infrequently, as did his maternal grandfather. The 1876 plat map of Dodge County shows John owning land in sections 24 & 25 of Canisteo Township.
The family belonged to the South Zumbro Lutheran Church, just east of Canisteo Township in Olmstead County. Meetings were held in homes and the school while the church was being built. The church was completed in 1868 at a cost of $2200, including furnishings. The first name of the church was Norsk Lutheran Church in Salem. John was a founder of that church, a member of the parish council and the churchsinger, or songleader, for many years. The family also took in several young men who were studying to be ministers over the years. The History of Dodge County says that John was a staunch Republican. He supposedly owned considerable stock and even some thoroughbred horses.
John and Anne had six children, five born in America, their last 4 children were born in Canisteo Township on the homeplace. They farmed from 1860 to 1898 in Dodge County. Their daughter and son-in-law, Sophie and Gunerius Anonby, purchased the farm in 1898 when John retired. John died on October 12, 1900. He was very respected in the community, and there were hundreds of teams in his funeral procession. Anne stayed with her daughter on the farm after John's death, and died in 1911. Both John and Anne are buried in the graveyard of the South Zumbro Lutheran Church.
John and Anne emigrated to America in 1857, just after the birth of their first child, Sophia. Norwegians had been coming to America for several years, but they were the first people from the Selbu area to make the voyage. They left Selbu in early April, in the company of Thomas Larsen Krogstad. They traveled by horse and sleigh to Holtaalen, and then to Kristiania (Oslo), staying with relatives on the way. It took two weeks to get to Oslo, and because there were as yet no scheduled trans-atlantic crossings, seven more weeks to find passage aboard a ship bound for America. John worked as a joiner while they waited in Oslo. Once aboard the "Avgik", they spent eight weeks at sea, finally arriving in Quebec. They continued their journey by water up the St. Lawrence River and through Lakes Erie, Ontario, Huron and Michigan, all the way to Chicago. They found that land near Chicago was scarce, having been taken by earlier settlers, so they traveled further west. They reached Decorah, Iowa at the end of August, nearly five months after they had left Selbu. John and Anne's second child Anna was born there in 1858. Decorah was one of the favorite destinations for Norwegians, and now every summer there is a large Nordic Festival there.
John's older brother Thomas came to America the next year and settled in Dodge County, Minnesota, just North of Decorah. Thomas offered to sell some of his land to John, and John took him up on the offer. Once in Minnesota, John kept buying more land until he had a farm of about 200 acres, some in Dodge County and some in neighboring Olmstead County. The tax assessment records of Dodge County in 1863 show that John owned farmland in Canisteo Township. In 1865, John's name was on a draft list, but he apparently never served in the Civil War.
Many of the immigrants wrote letters to Norway, praising Minnesota, and more families from Selbu followed the brothers. Even John's father, John Thomassen Lien, came to live with John and his family. The elder John died in Dodge County at 93 years of age in 1877. The 1880 census for Canisteo Township, Dodge County lists J. Johnson, 55, born Norway; wife Anna, 44, born Norway; Anna, 22, born Iowa; John, 19, Betsey, 18 and Frederick, 15, the last three born in Minnesota. Daughter Sophia was married by then.
Sophie also described their first home in Canisteo Township. An earth cabin, sixteen feet square, dug into the south side of a hill. In front were two windows and a door, the roof was made of earth. They had a Norwegian chest for a table and an oven to make food on. Their first beds were of straw. They lived in the sod house until 1862, when her father built a real house.
In 1869, John built a well drilling machine and drilled a well on the farm of the parents of Rev. Olai Bergh. Bergh mentions this in his autobiography.
For the first few years after coming to America, John used the Norwegian patronymic method of taking his father's first name and adding -son to it, so his name in early records is John Johnson. In fact, that is the name on the land patent issued by the U. S. government on October 5, 1870, for his farm. The Lien name shows up later, perhaps there were too many John Johnsons in Minnesota. Lien was the name of the home farm in Norway, and his father also used that last name infrequently, as did his maternal grandfather. The 1876 plat map of Dodge County shows John owning land in sections 24 & 25 of Canisteo Township.
The family belonged to the South Zumbro Lutheran Church, just east of Canisteo Township in Olmstead County. Meetings were held in homes and the school while the church was being built. The church was completed in 1868 at a cost of $2200, including furnishings. The first name of the church was Norsk Lutheran Church in Salem. John was a founder of that church, a member of the parish council and the churchsinger, or songleader, for many years. The family also took in several young men who were studying to be ministers over the years. The History of Dodge County says that John was a staunch Republican. He supposedly owned considerable stock and even some thoroughbred horses.
John and Anne had six children, five born in America, their last 4 children were born in Canisteo Township on the homeplace. They farmed from 1860 to 1898 in Dodge County. Their daughter and son-in-law, Sophie and Gunerius Anonby, purchased the farm in 1898 when John retired. John died on October 12, 1900. He was very respected in the community, and there were hundreds of teams in his funeral procession. Anne stayed with her daughter on the farm after John's death, and died in 1911. Both John and Anne are buried in the graveyard of the South Zumbro Lutheran Church.
John was born in Selbu, a small community near Trondheim, Norway, on March 19, 1826. He was the youngest son of John Thomason Lien and Sophie Kristensdatter Nordster. On June 18, 1855, he married Anne Fredricksdatter Rosseth(augen) at the church in Selbu. She was the daughter of Fredrick Haftorsen Harstadnegen and his wife, Anne Johnsdatter Rosseth(augen). Anne was born March 19, 1835 in Hytebakken, Norway.
John and Anne emigrated to America in 1857, just after the birth of their first child, Sophia. Norwegians had been coming to America for several years, but they were the first people from the Selbu area to make the voyage. They left Selbu in early April, in the company of Thomas Larsen Krogstad. They traveled by horse and sleigh to Holtaalen, and then to Kristiania (Oslo), staying with relatives on the way. It took two weeks to get to Oslo, and because there were as yet no scheduled trans-atlantic crossings, seven more weeks to find passage aboard a ship bound for America. John worked as a joiner while they waited in Oslo. Once aboard the "Avgik", they spent eight weeks at sea, finally arriving in Quebec. They continued their journey by water up the St. Lawrence River and through Lakes Erie, Ontario, Huron and Michigan, all the way to Chicago. They found that land near Chicago was scarce, having been taken by earlier settlers, so they traveled further west. They reached Decorah, Iowa at the end of August, nearly five months after they had left Selbu. John and Anne's second child Anna was born there in 1858. Decorah was one of the favorite destinations for Norwegians, and now every summer there is a large Nordic Festival there.
John's older brother Thomas came to America the next year and settled in Dodge County, Minnesota, just North of Decorah. Thomas offered to sell some of his land to John, and John took him up on the offer. Once in Minnesota, John kept buying more land until he had a farm of about 200 acres, some in Dodge County and some in neighboring Olmstead County. The tax assessment records of Dodge County in 1863 show that John owned farmland in Canisteo Township. In 1865, John's name was on a draft list, but he apparently never served in the Civil War.
Many of the immigrants wrote letters to Norway, praising Minnesota, and more families from Selbu followed the brothers. Even John's father, John Thomassen Lien, came to live with John and his family. The elder John died in Dodge County at 93 years of age in 1877. The 1880 census for Canisteo Township, Dodge County lists J. Johnson, 55, born Norway; wife Anna, 44, born Norway; Anna, 22, born Iowa; John, 19, Betsey, 18 and Frederick, 15, the last three born in Minnesota. Daughter Sophia was married by then.
Sophie also described their first home in Canisteo Township. An earth cabin, sixteen feet square, dug into the south side of a hill. In front were two windows and a door, the roof was made of earth. They had a Norwegian chest for a table and an oven to make food on. Their first beds were of straw. They lived in the sod house until 1862, when her father built a real house.
In 1869, John built a well drilling machine and drilled a well on the farm of the parents of Rev. Olai Bergh. Bergh mentions this in his autobiography.
For the first few years after coming to America, John used the Norwegian patronymic method of taking his father's first name and adding -son to it, so his name in early records is John Johnson. In fact, that is the name on the land patent issued by the U. S. government on October 5, 1870, for his farm. The Lien name shows up later, perhaps there were too many John Johnsons in Minnesota. Lien was the name of the home farm in Norway, and his father also used that last name infrequently, as did his maternal grandfather. The 1876 plat map of Dodge County shows John owning land in sections 24 & 25 of Canisteo Township.
The family belonged to the South Zumbro Lutheran Church, just east of Canisteo Township in Olmstead County. Meetings were held in homes and the school while the church was being built. The church was completed in 1868 at a cost of $2200, including furnishings. The first name of the church was Norsk Lutheran Church in Salem. John was a founder of that church, a member of the parish council and the churchsinger, or songleader, for many years. The family also took in several young men who were studying to be ministers over the years. The History of Dodge County says that John was a staunch Republican. He supposedly owned considerable stock and even some thoroughbred horses.
John and Anne had six children, five born in America, their last 4 children were born in Canisteo Township on the homeplace. They farmed from 1860 to 1898 in Dodge County. Their daughter and son-in-law, Sophie and Gunerius Anonby, purchased the farm in 1898 when John retired. John died on October 12, 1900. He was very respected in the community, and there were hundreds of teams in his funeral procession. Anne stayed with her daughter on the farm after John's death, and died in 1911. Both John and Anne are buried in the graveyard of the South Zumbro Lutheran Church.
John and Anne emigrated to America in 1857, just after the birth of their first child, Sophia. Norwegians had been coming to America for several years, but they were the first people from the Selbu area to make the voyage. They left Selbu in early April, in the company of Thomas Larsen Krogstad. They traveled by horse and sleigh to Holtaalen, and then to Kristiania (Oslo), staying with relatives on the way. It took two weeks to get to Oslo, and because there were as yet no scheduled trans-atlantic crossings, seven more weeks to find passage aboard a ship bound for America. John worked as a joiner while they waited in Oslo. Once aboard the "Avgik", they spent eight weeks at sea, finally arriving in Quebec. They continued their journey by water up the St. Lawrence River and through Lakes Erie, Ontario, Huron and Michigan, all the way to Chicago. They found that land near Chicago was scarce, having been taken by earlier settlers, so they traveled further west. They reached Decorah, Iowa at the end of August, nearly five months after they had left Selbu. John and Anne's second child Anna was born there in 1858. Decorah was one of the favorite destinations for Norwegians, and now every summer there is a large Nordic Festival there.
John's older brother Thomas came to America the next year and settled in Dodge County, Minnesota, just North of Decorah. Thomas offered to sell some of his land to John, and John took him up on the offer. Once in Minnesota, John kept buying more land until he had a farm of about 200 acres, some in Dodge County and some in neighboring Olmstead County. The tax assessment records of Dodge County in 1863 show that John owned farmland in Canisteo Township. In 1865, John's name was on a draft list, but he apparently never served in the Civil War.
Many of the immigrants wrote letters to Norway, praising Minnesota, and more families from Selbu followed the brothers. Even John's father, John Thomassen Lien, came to live with John and his family. The elder John died in Dodge County at 93 years of age in 1877. The 1880 census for Canisteo Township, Dodge County lists J. Johnson, 55, born Norway; wife Anna, 44, born Norway; Anna, 22, born Iowa; John, 19, Betsey, 18 and Frederick, 15, the last three born in Minnesota. Daughter Sophia was married by then.
Sophie also described their first home in Canisteo Township. An earth cabin, sixteen feet square, dug into the south side of a hill. In front were two windows and a door, the roof was made of earth. They had a Norwegian chest for a table and an oven to make food on. Their first beds were of straw. They lived in the sod house until 1862, when her father built a real house.
In 1869, John built a well drilling machine and drilled a well on the farm of the parents of Rev. Olai Bergh. Bergh mentions this in his autobiography.
For the first few years after coming to America, John used the Norwegian patronymic method of taking his father's first name and adding -son to it, so his name in early records is John Johnson. In fact, that is the name on the land patent issued by the U. S. government on October 5, 1870, for his farm. The Lien name shows up later, perhaps there were too many John Johnsons in Minnesota. Lien was the name of the home farm in Norway, and his father also used that last name infrequently, as did his maternal grandfather. The 1876 plat map of Dodge County shows John owning land in sections 24 & 25 of Canisteo Township.
The family belonged to the South Zumbro Lutheran Church, just east of Canisteo Township in Olmstead County. Meetings were held in homes and the school while the church was being built. The church was completed in 1868 at a cost of $2200, including furnishings. The first name of the church was Norsk Lutheran Church in Salem. John was a founder of that church, a member of the parish council and the churchsinger, or songleader, for many years. The family also took in several young men who were studying to be ministers over the years. The History of Dodge County says that John was a staunch Republican. He supposedly owned considerable stock and even some thoroughbred horses.
John and Anne had six children, five born in America, their last 4 children were born in Canisteo Township on the homeplace. They farmed from 1860 to 1898 in Dodge County. Their daughter and son-in-law, Sophie and Gunerius Anonby, purchased the farm in 1898 when John retired. John died on October 12, 1900. He was very respected in the community, and there were hundreds of teams in his funeral procession. Anne stayed with her daughter on the farm after John's death, and died in 1911. Both John and Anne are buried in the graveyard of the South Zumbro Lutheran Church.
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"GUD VAERE TAK SOM GIVER OS SEIER VED VOR HERRE JESUS CHRISTUS, I COR. 15:57", which translates to: "THANKS BE TO GOD WHICH GIVITH US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST".
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