Johnson, Gerhard and Charlotte (Gullickson)

(Lilly Womeldorf)

James is a chemist and lives in Portland, OR. He attended Waldorf College, Forest City, IA and Evergreen College, Olympia, WA.

Ann married Christopher Scherf 1 Oct 1988. They live at Ft. Atkinson on the Leibold family farm. They have 3 children: Amanda, Austin and Caleb. Ann attended Waldorf College, Forest City and UNI, Cedar Falls, IA.

Robert married Rhonda Schwade 6 Aug 1994. Robert attended “The Recording Workshop” in Chillicothe, OH and is pursuing a career in communications.

Joseph married Spring May Reese 30 Mar 1994. Joseph attended Waldorf College, Forest City and Wartburg College, Waverly, IA. He works for the “Aberdeen American News" daily newspaper, Aberdeen, SD.

Ernest and Florence are members of Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union. They belong to the Fayette Co. Cattlemen. They have a beef cow/calf herd on the Leibold family farm near Ft. Atkinson which they have purchased. It has been in the family for 100 years.

Johnson, Ernest and Stella (Newhouse)

(Gerald N. Johnson)

Ernest Clifford Johnson was born in Decorah, IA 22 Dec 1913 to John Eli and Anna Christine (Kolseth) Johnson. John Eli was born in Springfield Twp. 8 Aug 1880. Anna Christine was born in Springfield Twp. 11 Jul 1889. John and Anna were married 14 Jun 1911 in the Springfield Lutheran Church near Decorah. Ernest’s brother and sisters were: Rebecca Alvina (10 Mar 1912-1958); Hazel Josephine (10 Mar 1912-1 Jun 1992); Mildred Lillian (26 Dec 1916-31 Jan 1924); and Richard Dean (21 Jan 1933-29 Oct 1936).

Ernest married Stella Mae Newhouse who was born 11 May 1914 in Highland Twp., Winneshiek Co. to Albert and Myrtle (Casterton) Newhouse. Stella’s sister, Verna, married Eugene Simonson of Highlandville, IA. Her brother, Maynard, married Bernice Meylick of Hull, IA.

Children born to Ernest and Stella were: Gerald Newhouse, Myrna Faye, and James Allen.

Gerald  attended Luther College and Iowa State University, then farmed the family farm in Springfield Twp. He married Linda Lou (Palmer) Spry 2 Jul 1983. They have 2 children: Jennifer Lynn Spry, married to Benjamin Knutson of Decorah and Christopher Michael Spry.

Myrna  attended Luther College and taught school in Wheaton, IL and Madison, Wl. Myrna married James Dobbin McNatt and lives in Middleton, Wl. They have 3 children: Terry John (m. Sue Keeny), Steven Scott, and Susan Lynn (m. John Hilgers).

James attended MN University, University of IA and U of IA School of Medicine. He did his residency in Milwaukee, Wl and then began his orthopedic surgery practice in Wisconsin Rapids, Wl. He married Bonnie Kay Jackson in 1983. They have 2 children: John Henry and Joseph John.

Gerhard and Charlotte (Gullickson) Johnson June 24, 1922

Gerhard Johnson was the 8th and last of the children of Jan and Iverine Johnson born 26 Feb 1896 on the Johnson farm near Siewers Spring south of Decorah. He was the only “true" Johnson, as the rest were born Jansen.” He was baptized at Decorah Lutheran Church. Before he was confirmed, brothers Iver, Leon and he were running the home farm while their parents went to Isabel, SD to take up a claim.

Gerhard was the only member of the family to fight in World War I. He was wounded in the battle of Chateau-Thierry and was reported missing in action. When Gerhard’s father got the news that he was alive, he got on his horse and galloped over to the Hjelles calling “He lives! He lives!" (Han levar! Han levar!) What joyous news!

When Gerhard was discharged in Des Moines in Mar 1919, he was promised a two-year course at Ames. He joined Leon in a farming venture on a rented farm halfway between Decorah and Waukon. These were good years until the depression hit. He farmed in the summer and went to Ames in the winter for schooling in meat cutting. At this time he had met Charlotte Gullickson (b. 20 Nov 1896) and married her at the Little Brown Church in the Vale at Nashua, IA 24 Jun 1922.

Gerhard completed the course at Ames (then called Iowa State College) in Mar 1923. They moved to Clermont, IA and he worked in the George Miller Meat Market until spring 1924. It was while in Clermont that their first child, Dale Curtis, was born at the West Union Hospital.

In the spring of 1924 the family moved to Decorah where Gerhard worked for Holmberg and Erickson until Mar 1925. They then moved to the Johnson farm while Gerhard worked at the A & P Store and tried his luck at raising chickens. In 1927 they moved back into town, and daughter Eileen Jeanette was born in