Sacramento County
Biographies
CHARLES J. JOHANSON
CHARLES J. JOHANSON.--Among the men
who, by their own effort and energy, have risen to a place of prominence and
influence in the field of ranching endeavor, must be numbered Charles J.
Johanson, who was born at Arvik, Vermland, Sweden, on February 21, 1873. His
father was a mill-wright and miller, who built and owned his own mill, run by
water-power and grinding with the old burr process, and who became well-to-do
and influential in his community. He retired at the age of fifty years, and
passed on when fifty-six years old, being survived by his widow, who is now
seventy years of age. Their union was blessed with ten children, five boys and
five girls, but only four of them are now living, Charles J. and Gustav, who
are associated together in farming, being the only two in California.
Charles
J. Johanson received a good education in the excellent schools for which Sweden is famous; and while he
grew up he assisted his father in and about the mill, thus acquiring habits of
industry and economy. At the age of sixteen years he decided to cast in his lot
with California, and so came hither in
1889, finding employment on large grain ranches in the Franklin district. He was adept, and
soon learned the methods of successful farming in the Sacramento Valley. Choosing ranching for his
life occupation, he began farming on his own account in 1903, leasing lands and
raising grain and beans, his operations being centered
in the locality of Franklin. In time he purchased a
farm and sold it, and later bought a second farm which he also sold, each time
realizing a profit.
In Sacramento, on August 20, 1904, Mr.
Johanson was married to Miss Ethel Orean Stephenson, born in Sacramento, a daughter of John F. and
Lillian A. (Watson) Stephenson, born in Sacramento County and Coloma, Cal., respectively, their
parents having crossed the plains in pioneer days. Of their five children, Mrs.
Johanson is the oldest. She was reared and educated at Franklin; and she is the owner of a
part of the old John F. Stephenson ranch near Franklin; and there Mr. and Mrs.
Johanson now reside. Associated with his brother, Mr. Johanson is leasing 1,500
acres of land, 250 acres being devoted to raising beans and the balance to the
raising of grain. The work is done with the most modern equipment, including
Holt tractors for motive power and a combined harvester, propelled by tractor,
for gathering the grain and beans. During the war they farmed 5,000 acres,
doing all they could to increase the production of breadstuffs. They also have
a dairy, and are members of the Northern California Milk Producers’
Association.
The union
of Mr. and Mrs. Johanson has been blessed with five children; Alma M. and Carl
S., attending the Elk Grove high school; and Thelma E., Fred O., and Jack R.
Mrs. Johanson is a cultured and refined woman, and presides gracefully over her
husband’s home. She is possessed of much native business ability, and is keenly
interested in her husband’s success, aiding him in every way to gain his
ambition. Mr. Johanson is a protectionist and naturally a strong Republican. In
religious faith, he is a Lutheran. Fraternally, he was made a Mason in Elk
Grove Lodge No. 173, F. & A. M.; and he is also a member of Sacramento
Chapter, R. A. M., and also a thirty-second-degree Scottish Rite Mason, being a
member of all the bodies of the Consistory in Sacramento.
Transcribed by Vicky Walker, 6/05/07.
Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With
Biographical Sketches, Page 882. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA.
1923.
© 2007 Vicky Walker.