Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-12-18
PROMINENT Citizen DEAD
NELS JOHNSON WAS TAKEN AWAY
At Wilmington, Delaware, Tuesday Evening
Went East to Buy Machinery for the
New Paper Plant.

WILMINGTON, DEL.
Dec, 16, 1902.
Chief of Police
Centralia, Wis. Nels Johnson died
here tonight, sudden, at Clayton
House. Notify his people. Signed,
Geo. W. Black, Chief of Police"
The above message was received
here Wednesday morning at 500
O'Clock, and brought sadness to many
hearts. MIR. Johnson left bis family
and friends Sunday evening for Chi
cage to be gone only day or two. He
left in his usual good health, in splen-
did spirits and only on short business
trip. While in Chicago Monday he
decided to visit Wilmington, Delaware.
to obtain information in regard to
paper mill machinery in the interest
Of the Consolidated Water Power and
Paper Co., of which he was president.
The particulars Of his death are not
known as yet the above message being
the only information. His family were
notified and the local Elk officials mott
fed similar officers in the same order
in that city to take charge of the re-
mains and prepare them for shipment
to Chicago, where they will be met Dy
friends and conveyed to this city.
| His death was great shock to his
family and the people in Grand Rapids,
and the entire city is in mourning.
| Grand Rapids has lost one of her most
successful business men and as time
passes, his worth will be more keenly
| felt.
Nels Johnson came to the city of
Grand Rapids In the spring Of 1867,
from Denmark. he was then but
eighteen years Of age and lived in
| Chicago for a short time, when he
came TO Grand Rapids, a green country
boy looking for work. He went to
work for Francis Biron who was oper-
ating saw mill about three miles up
| the Wisconsin river above this place.
He started IN at common labor and
worked in the woods during the win
ter and III the saw mill during the
summer. He advanced himself UP
until he held the position of head
| sawyer, when he quit to enter the
general mercantile business with
Henry LangOrd in 1876, In 1877 Henry
LangOrd sold out to VIM. II. Ell.
Edwards and he in turn sold out in
1879 to j, d. Witter. The firm con-
tinued as johnson & Co., until the
organization of the johnson & Hill Co.
sometime later. He was always a
leading spirit in this firm and be
watched it's development from small
beginning until now it is the largest
mercantile eStd bliShment in Central
Wisconsin. He has been identified
with many other industries in Grand
Rapids at various Times and was
President of the Consolidated Water
Power & Paper Co., when death
overlook him. He was greatly inter-
eSted in the contemplated improve.
ments to be made in this City by said
company and was away on business
connected Herewith when the death
call reached him. He had been at one
time heavy stakeholder in, and
business manager of the Grand Rapids
Pulp 81 Paper Co., at Biron. He was
also at one time interested in logging
operations with John Landry at
nomahawk.
NelS Johnson was native of Den
mark and was born in Copenhasel the
18th day Of June 1S47, and was There
fore 50 years of age. He was married
to Miss Haniin on the 18th day of
October 1879. This union was blessed
with eight children who are Maurine,
Iona, Raymond, Bernice, Irma,
EOna!d, Leland and Malcolm. all of
whom with the mother survive him.
Raymond is a student at the state
university at Madison.
In the death of Mr.. johnson his
family loses an affectionate and
devoted husband, considerable and
kind father, and the city of Grand
Rapids an excellent citizen and ex-
empliary business man. His presence
will be greatly missed at the home, in
the counting house Or store, and in
the business cOunselS of his associates.
At this writing it is not known
when the funeral will take place but
probably not before Sunday the 21st
inst.
Dust what effect his death will have
upon the contemplated improvements
by the Consolidated Water Power &
Paper Co., is not known, but we shall
all sincerely hope that the improve
mentS may go on to the benefit Of the
stockholders and the community
generally.l