J. B. Johnson, an enterprising farmer of the town of Fitchburg, was born at Albion, Dane county, Wis., October 19, 1845. His parents, John and Ellen Johnson, were both natives of Norway who came to this country and county in 1845, settling on sixty acres in the town of Albion. Later the family moved to Jackson County, this state, where they stayed ten years. During the residence there the subject of this sketch learned the blacksmiths’ trade. After a few years at the forge he went to Stoughton and engaged in the meat business with his brother Julius. Two years later he bought a farm in Rutland and managed that for seven years. After a residence of a few years in Janesville and Evansville he returned to Stoughton and for another year was in business with his brother. When the opportunity offered, Mr. Johnson went back to farming, buying one hundred acres of the old Fox farm in the town of Fitchburg. After six years he exchanged this property for the farm he now occupies in section 10, in the same town. He has one hundred and sixty acres devoted to general farming. Politically Mr. Johnson is active as a Republican, and has served a year on the town board and five years on the school board. Mr. Johnson is affiliated with the Lutheran church. In May, 1876, he married Isabelle Johnson, a native of Norway, and by her has had ten children. Emma (deceased), wife, of Henry Roberts; Edith, wife of Frank Roberts: Oscar, Seymour, Melvin, Alma, Gladys, Julian, Isabelle and Lewis. J. B. Johnson is a type of the Norwegian farmer who has done much to exploit the resources of Dane county.

History of Dane County, Madison, Western Historical Association, 1906, Page 465