HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 801 and has been a member of the school board for the past fifteen years. He is also road overseer. The family attends the Lu- theran church. Henry Ahneman, of Pine Island township, was born in Fond du Lac-.. Wis.. February 1, 1854, son of Henry and Sophia (Pultz) Ahneman, natives of Mecklenburg, Germany, who came to Amer- ica in 1852; and in 1856 to Pine Island township, where they pre- empted eighty acres of land and engaged in farming. The father died in 1906 and the mother in 1893. They had a family of nine children, all of whom except one are living. Henry was educated in the common schools of the township and worked with his father on the farm. He now has eighty acres of improved land adjoining his father's land and follows general farming. He still lives with his brother and sister on the old homestead. In politics he is an independent voter, casting his ballot for the candidate whom he deems best fitted to serve in public office. Julius C. Johnson, of Pine Island township, was born in Eau Claire county. AVis.. May 26, 1866, son of Christ and Ingre CSimonson) Johnson, natives of Norway, who came to America and in 1852 settled in Stoughton, Wis., where they remained eight years, the father being employed as blacksmith. In 1860 they moved to Eau Claire. Wis., where the father was head black- smith for a large lumber company until 1867. The family then removed to Goodhue county and purchased land in Pine Island township, where the father engaged in general farming and also conducted a blacksmith shop in partnership with his brother. There were five children in the Johnson home : Dorothea, Julia, Caroline, Rachel and Julius. The father died in 1891 and the mother still lives on the homestead with her son. Julius attended the common schools and worked on the farm, taking entire charge of the home place at the death of his father. His farm consists of 160 acres of well improved land, a pleasant home, good out- buildings, and on which he conducts general and diversified farming and dairying. In politics he is a Republican. The family attends the Lutheran church at Zumbrota. J. B. Closner, of Pine Island village, was born in Green county, "Wisconsin, January 8, 1855, son of Christian and Catherine (Buh- ler) Closner, natives of Switzerland, who emigrated to America in 1848, locating in Green county, Wisconsin, where the father was engaged as cooper and later as a farmer. In 1855 they came to Minnesota, pre-empted land in Dodge county, and engaged in farming for a period of thirteen years. In 1868 they removed to Plymouth county, Iowa, where they still reside. J. B. Closner attended the common schools for a short time, but is practically self-educated, having acquired the larger part of his knowledge by experience and observation. He has been engaged the greater
