Fresno County, 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


BEN JOHNSON. � A fine type of man and citizen � straightforward, up- 
right, kind-hearted and generous � Ben Johnson has made a noteworthy 
record as a stockman in the foothills and as a teamster and freighter ; and in 
developing one of the show places in the county he contributed his "bit" to 
the improvement of land values in this section. He was born near Stavanger, 
Norway, on April 4, 1854, the son of Johann Johnson. His mother was Sigrid 
Johnson, and she died when the lad was six years of age. Johann. however, 
lived to attain his eighty-fourth year, the honored father of nine children, of 
whom Ben was -the youngest. Two other sons came to California � Kjeron 
and Jacob ; and both died at Fresno. 

Ben attended the public school until he was fourteen, and then continued 
to assist his father until he was twenty-one years of age. He worked for a 
while on farms, but more and more gave himself up to lumbering. He did as 
well as the average young man, but seeing that he could not get ahead, he 
decided to leave his native land and come to the United States. In 1884, he 
came to what is now North Dakota ; and at Buxton and vicinity he worked 
for some years on a farm. 

In 1889, Mr. Johnson moved west to California, drawn to this region 
because a brother of his had already settled here. After working four years 
for his brother in a vineyard, he preempted eighty acres in the foothills, in 
Auberry Valley, where he began the raising of stock, establishing the brand 
B. J., which he soon made stand for the highest grades; and when he was 
able, he bought adjoining land, until finally he had 740 acres in a body. He 
tried grain farming together with stock and cattle raising, and he also 
teamed in the mountains, hauling lumber from Pine Ridge to Fresno, Sanger 
and Selma, and taking freight back. He started with four horses, and finally 
had a large eight-mule team, operating for nine years. All in all, he was en- 
gaged for fifteen years in the stock business and teaming. Then he bought 
sixty acres in the Helm Colony, in lots two, three and seven, two miles south- 
west of Clovis, which he at once improved, setting out Malaga and Thompson 
grapes, and making a fine vineyard. He built a comfortable and handsome 
residence, arranged avenues of trees, and created one of the most attractive 
places in all the neighborhood. In May, 1917, he sold the estate at a good 
profit. Since then he has lived on National Avenue, on the old Milholm 
place, which he leases, and there he is giving his time and attention to viti- 
culture. As a member of the California Associated Raisin Company and the 
California Peach Growers, Inc., he always exerts his influence to advance 
the best interests of the California husbandman. 

At Fresno, December 12, 1890, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Kath- 
erine Hansen, a native of Stavanger, Norway, who came to Fresno in July, 
1890, and of this union there are six children. Sadie has become Mrs. Ernest 
Crump of Fresno; Olga is Mrs. H. M. Broody; while Jennie is Mrs. Leroy D. 
Church. Messrs. Broody and Church are in the United States service, Mr. 
Broody in the Aviation Section of the United States Navy and Mr. Church 
in the United States Naval Reserve Forces in which he is an ensign. George 
Theodore Ben is in the Aviation Section of the United States Army, serving 
overseas in France. Sigurd and Ruby are at school. The family attend the 
Lutheran Church.