California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


AUGUST JOHNSON.� An old-timer with a varied and exceedingly in- 
teresting history, and a pioneer who ever deserves the esteem and good will 
of fellow Californians, since he has done much to develop, improve and ad- 
vance the neighborhoods in which he has cast his lot, is August Johnson, 
who was born in Sundsvoll, Sweden, the outlet of a lumber manufacturing 
country and an important seaport, on October 4, 1857. He was once prom- 
inent in the work of sinking oil wells, and was quite as well known in the 
equally great work of distributing and setting out nursery cuttings for 
vineyards. 

His father was John Johnson, a native of Vennland, who was a lumber- 
man and a millwright, and was engaged in saw-milling, and he was married 
in his home-region to Amalia Aaronson. The father died in 1876, and the 
mother ten years before. .They had five children, among whom the subject of 
this interesting sketch is the third oldest, and also the only one now living. 

August was brought up in his native country, was educated at the public 
schools, and was an apprentice to the millwright trade. In 1881 he came to 
Wisconsin, and was employed in that state as a lumberman, continuing the 
same line of work in Minnesota. The next year he decided to push still 
further West, where the climatic conditions were more attractive, and he 
came to Fresno County, Cal. After three months, not finding just the em- 
ployment he desired, he went North to Oregon and Washington, and for a 
couple of years labored in the mills, turning out lumber. In 1884 he returned 
to Fresno. 

Having great faith in the future of Central California, Mr. Johnson 
bought fourteen acres in Washington Colony, where he set out a vineyard, 
and as soon as possible, he bought twenty acres more, arranging the whole 
in as fine a vineyard as could be seen for miles around. In 1903, however, 
he sold this and moved to what is now the McKinley district and Johnson 
Avenue, where he improved forty acres. He not only laid out a fine vine- 
yard, but he set out a good peach orchard ; and this he conducted for four 
years when, in 1907. he parted with it at a sale. It was then that he bought 
twenty acres of the Richland tract, which he managed until 1018 when he 
sold it and purchased twenty acres on Valentine and California avenues, 
four miles west of Fresno. There he had a display of Thompson seedless 
grapevines, Sultanas, and Muscats, the whole forming one of the most de- 
sirable of small ranches. He is an active member of the California Associated 
Raisin Company, hav.ing always been identified with raisin association move- 
ments. 

In February, 1900, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Mathilda Carlson, 
a native of Linkoping, Sweden, who had come to California in 1891. Mr. 
and Mrs. Johnson are among the most popular of Swedish-Americans. In 
politics they are Republicans, but never allow party allegiance to stand in 
the way of a hearty endorsement of all worthy movements for local reform 
and improvement. They attend the Swedish Mission Church. 

As illustrating Mr. Johnson's activity as a pioneer, it may be recorded 
that in early days he bought a well-boring rig, in association with a partner, 
and in 1885 alone sunk fifteen wells � a considerable number for that period. 
He also put up windmills when they were a novelty, set out vineyards and 
contracted for nursery cuttings. In one year he contracted to bud 750,000 
cuttings of Muscat slips. In the spring of 1896, he tried his luck at mining 
at Cook's Springs, Alaska ; took along some dried fruit that he sold at a profit 
and which helped pay expenses. In December, 1918, he sold his ranch and 
bought a house and lot in Fresno, on 323 Effie Street. In the spring of 1897, 
Mr. Johnson made a trip back to Sweden to visit old scenes and the fair at 
Stockholm, but returned to Fresno, more satisfied than ever that he had 
taken up his home here.