My great Grandfather, Swen Johnson, left Goteborg, Sweden, in the late 1870s with his eldest son, whose name I have yet to discover, and traveled to Cow Lake Township, Jackson County, Arkansas, to work as loggers. R. C. Roy, author of The History of Cow Lake Township, knew Swen and his family, and apparently thought very highly of them. He called my great grandfather Swan, instead of Swen, but that's OK. He told his story, and that of my grandfather, Oscar Johnson, and his brothers. Swen and three of his sons are buried in Eight Mile Cemetery, Beedeville, Arkansas, and Oscar is buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Newport, Arkansas.

Jim Lannin

SWAN JOHNSON

No history or record would be complete for this section without mentioning Swan Johnson, who with his oldest son came here from Sweden in the late '70's. He first settled and engaged in the timber business along White River where it was understood that when they had earned sufficient money they were to send for the remainder of the family. But alas, when they had just about reached their goal they both came down with a long and lingering illness which proved fatal to the son. When medicine, doctor's bills, and funeral expenses were paid, it left the old man broke and alone, far from his family, surely a dismal outlook for him. But fortunately, one Pete Morrison, who lived in Newport and owned a tract of land here, who also was a native of Sweden, learning of Johnson's misfortune got in touch with him and agreed to finance the bringing of his family here if they would go on his land and improve it. Soon after, sons Oscar, August, Frank and Theodore arrived here and later his wife and youngest son, Elmer arrived, completing the reunion of his family. Thus it is said, all is well that ends well.

After filling his agreement with Morrison, Johnson acquired a farm in the Eight Mile Community. He was a good and useful citizen here and a member of the church. While he didn't take an active part, he could be depended upon to be a regular attendant at church. He continued here until the early part of 1900 when he fell dead, evidently from a heart attack. The younger sons, Frank, Theodore and Elmer all died soon after coming here. Oscar remained on this farm for a few years and caring for his aged mother until her death, later acquired a large tract of land a short distance east of the Morrison farm, now owned by E. F. Smith. Oscar remained on this farm, cleared and put to cultivation a splendid sized farm, selling this farm when he moved to Newport where he died a few years ago at the age of 80. August settled a splendid farm in the Eight Mile Community. His heirs now own and reside on it. Both of these men were useful and good citizens and were liked by all who knew them. Elmer, the youngest of the Johnson boys left here in the late 90's going out west, reached Tombstone, Arizona where he died and was buried in the famous Boot Hill Cemetery.

History of Cow Lake Township, pages 29-30, author R. C. Roy, Published by his daughter post mortem (he died 21 Mar 1956), A. Billingsley Memorial Library, 213 Walnut Street, Newport, Jackson County, Arkansas, United States of America.