The Saint Paul globe., 1898-08-22
The Northwest.
BOY "BONANzA FARMER"
GREAT SUCCESS WON BY A LAD
OF ONLY FIFTEEN
CrOOkstOn, Charlie Johnnsom Has
stepped Into His Dead Fathers
Place and Shown What Pluck and
Energy May Accomplish In the
Fertile State of Minnesota.

CRoOKSToN. Mimi. Aug. 21.-Charlie
Johanson. popularity known throughout the
Red River valley as the Bonanza Boy
Farmer" expects to clear nearly S., 900 on
the products Of his farm this year.
The story of the Johanson children-Char-
ordinary interest. 1t is striking example.
and object lesson of what can be done
by three determined children practically
alone with only roof to cover them.
Twelve years ago John Johanson left his
nome in Norway and came to the United
States. He left wife and two boys-Char-
lie. aged 5. and Frank, aged Intending to
send tor them as soon as he had located aad
furnished a home for them in America
The early years Of the Norweg an emf
BUT nay m AsrG he reached Gel9 the S Northwest es
tablished himself on claim near Crookston,
and in 1889 was able to send money to
bring his family over from the old country.
Before tie letter containing the money to
pay the passage of HIS wife and children
from Norway to CrookSton reached his good
wife. she was no more. She had contracted
a cold, which brought on quick consump-
ton. and she died Just a few days before
the letter arrived at the little Norwegian
town. The children were just about to be
tarmed out to their friends and neighbors
when the letter arrived.
after the receipt of the t.dings from Amer
lea, the United States consul at one OF the
larger towns was consulted with, and he
cured passage for the children on enc Of
the transatlantic steamers, aud the young
travellers were soon on their way to their
new home.
None of the children could speak a word
Of English, but the United States consul
gave Charlie letters addressed to the super
and St Paul. and instructed Charlie to
show them TO any person that spoke to him
on his arrival in New York. The letters
explained who they were. and requested the
police to look out for them. 1t is needless
10 say that they arrived in Crookston all
right, without having. suffered any hard
ships and without incident.
In the fall OF 1886. after five years contin-
uous residence on his claim, in only one Of
which Johanson's crop failed, he took out his
second papers, became full-fedged citizen
OF the United States and secured a patent
from the government for the land. Shortly
after this, VIII le driving to town with a
load Of grain, the father was thrown from his
wagon and fatally hurt He lived in an
almost helpless condition for six months
after his injury. during which time all OF the
duties and responsibilities of the household
and farm fell on the shoulders of little Char.
lie, who was but 10 years old.
During the winter of 1S96-97 John Johan-
son died, leaving his estate to his children
and appointing. his old employer, Jorgenson,
as their guardian,
Charlie persuaded their guardian not to
sell the farm but to let himself and brother
and sister try to run t. The old farmer
knew that Charlie had been great help to
his father about the farm. and that it would
require hard work to produce enough for the
children to live on, so he decided to let them
~ dHtdu, Keeping an eye on them IN the
meanwhile to see that they did not want for
anything.
Charlie hired a man on shares to help him
with the heavy work while Frank and Lena
looked after the poultry, the vegetable gar
den; and their two cows, while all three
pitched in and did the housework. The first
crop was a success, and brought handsome
price.
Early this spring there was great activity
on the J0hansOn homestead. and more than
twice as large an acreage of wheat was put
in and ten acres was put in fax as an expert
ment. And now comes the harvest. All
anxiety is past. The crop is assured. It Is
ty-eiSht bushels TO the acre. Harvesting has
begun and the crop will soon be marketed.
The profit on the wheat alone, it Is estimated
will reach 5000. while the fax will bring
$3.50 more and the chickens have already
earned $50 more than their keep with the
holidays coming on, when the young chick
ems will be killed and marketed.