Anton Emil Johnson

GEDCOM Note

Anton Emil Johnson Facts and Family Stories

Anton Emil Johansson was born in Sandback, Lerum, Sweden, a small community near Gothenburg. Anton Emil was the oldest of nine children born to Johan Andreasson and Emma Andersdotter. One sister died at age two, and one brother died at age 6. When Anton Emil emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 24, his parents and six siblings remained in Sweden. Once in the U.S., Anton Emil, now known as Emil, anglicized Johansson to Johnson.

A humorous story was told in the family about Emil choosing his last name in America. As the story goes, Emil was deciding between Johnson and Sandback (his birthplace) and settled on Johnson because he felt the Sandback surname was too common.

In another family telling, Emil was always referred to as the "Lone Swede" in his Norwegian community in Sacred Heart, Minnesota. The description appears accurate as there is no evidence that Emil's parents or siblings ever joined him or visited him in the U.S.

Bergit and Emil also homesteaded years later in South Dakota. They returned to Minnesota and purchased a farm near Belview, Minnesota. When Bergit’s parents retired, Bergit and Emil purchased Springdale Farm in 1911 and lived there for the remainder of their lives.

Bergit and Emil raised ten children on Springdale Farm. Three of their daughters appear to be named after Emil’s mother and sisters in Sweden (Emma, Anne for Anna, and Bertha).

According to newspaper articles, Bergit and Emil were known to be friendly and hospitable, and their home was always filled with guests.