Olaus Johnson Family

The Olaus Johnson (Nordstrand) and Anna Helena Dyresen Amundsen Family.
*Johnson, John Alfred, b. 31 Oct 1864,
Johnson, Olof, b. 4 Sep 1866
Johnson, Annie Melvinia, b. 19 Apr 1870
*Johnson, Theodore, b. 15 May 1873
Johnson, Thorwald, b. 20 Oct 1875
Johnson, Samuel Waldemar, b. 7 Sep 1878
Johnson, Clara Charlida, b. 8 Jul 1881
Johnson, Charles Arthur, b. 29 Oct 1885

The Olaus Johnson (Nordstrand) and Paulina Thomasen Family
*Johnson, Ludwig Theodore, b. 8 Mar 1868
Johnson, Caroline, b. 26 Jul 1870
Johnson, Mary Ann (twin) b. 21 Feb 1873
*Johnson, Janet (twin), b. 21 Feb 1873
Johnson, Henry Edwin, b. 13 May 1875
Johnson, Hilda Marirda, 13 May 1877
*Indicates those buried in Union Cemetery

Olaus Johnson, a twin, was born 17 Nov 1833, to Johan Olsen (Heggum) and Karen Olsen (Winnes) in Nordstrand, Royken, Buskerud, Norway. At the age of nine, he went into the fishing trade with his father and at fifteen; he left to become a sailor. After six years, he commissioned as a “captain.” He lived on the sea until he was twenty-nine years old.

Olaus and his family were converted to the L.D.S. Church and migrated to Utah in September of 1863; along with Anna Helen Dyresen, Marie Hansen, Martin Mattias Olsen, Amphion (Olsen) Johnson, Lillie Olsen, and Charles Kalo Ingelin Olsen. Olaus and Anna Helena Dyresen Amundsen (daughter of Dyre Amudsen and Gjretrude Marie Olsen) were married in Echo Canyon 9 September 1863, before arriving in Salt Lake Valley. They settled in South Cottonwood and later moved to West Jordan where they lived in a dugout. They later lived for a period of two years in Mill Creek, and then back again to West Jordan. In 1866, they moved again to South Cottonwood. During this period, their first drowned in an irrigation ditch.

More immigrants came from Norway in the fall of 1864. Included was Paulina Thomasen (Thomasdatter), daughter of Thomas Syverson and Marie Pederson, who came to live with the Johnson’s. Olaus and Paulina were married on 13 Jan 1867. Due to U.S. anti-polygamy raids, he was forced to hide out most of the time. Following a period in California, he finally returned and turned himself over to authorities and as a result, spent six months in the penitentiary.

Before his death on 22 Mar 1922, Olaus served two missions for the L.D.S. Church. He was skilled craftsman and spent most of his life as a carpenter, mason, and farmer. Olaus is buried in the Murray Cemetery.

Plague donated by Olaus Johnson Family Organization, 1987.

Higher quality photo to read text.