S. J. Johnson was born in Sweden in 1847, and came to Superior, Wisconsin at an early age. His first marriage was to Josephine Thone. They had two children; Charles Johnson and Ida (Mrs. Rudolph Jorgenson). After Josephine's death, S. J. married Christina Johnson. They had ten children;
Edward,
Garfield,
Arthur,
Signe (Mrs. Charles Nerman),
Andrew,
Caroline (Mrs. Chester Olson),
Earnest,
Adolph,
Selma (Mrs. James Keller) and
Walter.
After the first seven children were born in Superior and Duluth, the Johnson family moved to Valley City on July 6, 1897. S. J. sold 160 acres of land south of Valley City and built the family home across from Smith Lumber Company, where Ralph Wicks presently lives. For 20 years, S. J. Johnson was manager of the Mark Paine Lumber Company, which stood in the same place as the Smith Lumber Company is located today. Most of the younger children received their education at the first Ritchie School. Charles was an early member of Company G of Valley City, as seen in the 1910 photo. Andrew and Garfield served in France during World War I. Andrew, age 80, resides in Valley City, while Caroline and Walter live in Portland, Oregon. All other family members are deceased.
Christina Johnson died on December 17, 1913, and Swan J. Johnson died on April 23, 1917
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 116