Gjert Johanneson Dosland Johnson aka George J. Johnson, was born at Uskedal, Kvinnherad, Hordaland, Norway 30 Mar 1828 to Johannes Johannessen Dosland (24 Feb 1800-24 Feb 1886) and Lisbet Arnesdatter Ask Dosland (8 May 1799-13 Feb 1889). He was baptized at Kvinnherad 6 Apr 1828. His monument incorrectly states his birth was 23 Mar 1828. The Kvinnherad Parish Register clearly shows his correct birthdate and baptism date.

Gjert was the second of Johannes and Lisbet’s six children. His siblings were: John D. Johnson 22 Aug 1824-6 Mar 1918 (Thrine Hansdatter Myklebust 3 Jun 1833-1 Mar 1881) Arne (Aaron) Johnson 14 Oct 1831-6 Nov 1912 (Anna Moe 1841-1905), Carrie (Caroline) Johnson 25 Jan 1836- 10 Mar 1910 (John Handt 1825-ca 1905), Christina (Christiena) Johnson 20 Jan 1839-31 Jan 1879 (John McLain Smith) and Margrete Johnson 2 Mar 1842-29 Dec 1932 (Jonathan “Jock” Hayes III 27 Sep 1801-8 Dec 1891).

Gjert left Norway May 2, 1853 with his parents, siblings and his new wife, Bretta Christensdatter Skeie Johnson. They had married shortly before their departure at the Kvinnherad, Hovedkirke on April 20, 1853.

Gjert’s older brother, John D. had come to America the year before in 1852, to scout out land for the family to purchase and settle in America. The settled in Olive Township, Clinton County, Iowa in Sections 21 and 22. During their years there they acquired about 600 acres of farmland.

In 1881 Gjert and two others, Andrew Mathiason and Chris Johnson Dosland, came up to the Perley, Norman County area to look for land on which to farm. There were no homesteads or tree claims left so land was purchased for $5 per acre from the railroad.

They returned by train in 1882 from Calamus, Iowa to Felton, MN. It was a “mixed” train as all the household furnishing that they thought they would need were with them as well as their machinery, animals and feed. They unloaded and watered the animals every day until reaching their destination. They detrained in Felton, MN and herded the animals to prearranged destinations. The women and children went to spend the winter in Ada at a hotel. The men put up buildings by the Wild Rice River east and north of Perley. (Later Ernest Chelstrom’s farm.) The men lived in the rather crude conditions that first winter and in the spring the women and children came to live on their new farm.

Gjert and Bretta were the parents of eleven children. They were: John dal Gjertson (John G.) Johnson 26 Jan 1855-20 May 1933 (Soneva Larsina Larson Rosland 3 Aug 1850-9 Oct 1916), Berthanna Johnson 6 Apr 1856-9 Nov 1924 (Pastor Johannes J. Heie 11 Nov 1857-15 Mar 1936), Christen Olai Johnson Dosland 24 Jul 1858-4 Nov 1949 (Anne Louise Halvorsen 9 May 1860-30 Jan 1947), Lisbet Karine “Libbie” Johnson 30 Dec 1859-1 Feb 1932 (Hans P. N. Petersen 12 Dec 1859-6 May 1937), Christianna Gjertsdtr. Johnson 27 Jan 1862-8 May 1913 (Erick Barney Charlson 12 Apr 1864-8 Dec 1941), Bertha Margrethe Johnson 24 Aug 1863-1865, Bertha Margaret Johnson 10 Dec 1865-9 May 1952 (Samson Nels Petersen 21 Jan 1864-28 Nov 1939), Gjert G. “George” Jr. Johnson 2 Dec 1867-8 Aug 1936, Johana Maria “Marie” Johnson 7 Jul 1869-4 Jun 1902 (Albert Julius Kroshus 22 Dec 1864-3 Feb 1896), Leah D. Johnson 6 Jun 1871-15 Aug 1871 and Christian G. Johnson Dosland 14 Oct 1872-7 Feb 1945 (Anna Dorothy Lobben 29 Oct 1876-20 Jun 1962).

George and Bretta continued to farm in Lee Township the rest of their lives. Many of their family members stayed with them from time to time. Bretta passed away 26 Feb 1900 at home in Lee Township. Funeral services for her were held at the Bethania Lutheran Church, rural Perley, 1 Mar 1900.

Four years later, Gjert would pass away from pneumonia on April 1, 1904. Funeral services for him were held at the Bethania Lutheran Church, April 6, 1904. He passed away at the age of 75. Gjert had been one of the pioneers in the Perley area and was known as a most honorable citizen.