Peter H. Johnson
Peter H. Johnson, president of the board of directors of the Central Trading Association, conducting the “Model” department store at Whitehall, is a man of wide interests and varied experiences. Aside from his position with the Trading Association, he is vice-president of the John O. Melby & Co. Bank, of Whitehall, and a stockholder in the State Bank of Galesville, the Farmers’ and Merchants’ State Bank, of Stanley, the Western Wisconsin Telephone Company, of Whitehall, and the Farmers’ Co-Operative Elevator Company, of Whitehall. He was born in Biri, Norway, April 2, 1862, second of the seven children of Hans and Martha (Halvorsdatter) Johnson. Hans Johnson came to America in 1864, lived in La Crosse County, this State, a year, homesteaded in 1865 a farm in section 5, township 19, range 7, Ettrick, and there farmed until his death in 1896, his good wife dying in 1894. Peter H. Johnson attended the common schools and Gale College at Galesville, taught school for a while, and helped his parents with the work of the farm. In 1884 he became grain buyer and bookkeeper for Wilson Davis, the Galesville miller. Ten years later, in 1894, he and J. E. Wilberg, under the firm name of Johnson & Wilberg, opened a hardware store at Ettrick. While still a member of this firm, he was elected county clerk in the fall of 1896, and took office Jan. 1, 1897. He was re-elected, and served until Jan. 1, 1901. March 1, 1901, he was named as superintendent of the Trempealeau County Insane Asylum, at Whitehall, and served in this capacity for ten years. Then he was idle for a while, and then became manager of the Farmers’ Elevator Company, at Whitehall, assuming the duties of his present position Sept. 25, 1913. Aside from his business interests, Mr. Johnson is notary public and justice of the peace, and has served as court commissioner since 1914. Mr. Johnson was married June 13, 1891, to Mary O. Heram, born in Norway, Feb. 16, 1862, daughter of Ole C. and Mary (Haakenson) Heram, who brought their family in 1869 to Trempealeau County, where the father still lives, the mother having died in 1914 at the age of 80 years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have three children, Hughitt, Mae and Miles. Hughitt is a student in the Chicago Dental College. Mae is studying music in the music department of the Lawrence University at Appleton, Wis. Miles is doing well at his studies in the Whitehall High School.
(from HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY WISCONSIN
Compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Edited by Eben Douglas Pierce, M.D.
H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.
Chicago and Winona 1917)
(from HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY WISCONSIN
Compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Edited by Eben Douglas Pierce, M.D.
H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.
Chicago and Winona 1917)