M. E. Johnson, born in Norway in 1842, immigrated to the United States after a career as a sailor. Following his arrival in 1871, he briefly lived on the East Coast before settling in Michigan, where he married Malvina Antone Johnson, a Danish immigrant, in 1873. The couple moved to Yankton, South Dakota, in 1874, where Johnson established a successful express business. He later invested in a 160-acre farm. Johnson passed away in 1885, leaving behind his wife and three surviving children. He was a respected member of the Odd Fellows society and the Congregational church.
M. E. Johnson, now deceased, was a native of Norway, his birth having occurred in the land of the midnight sun in 1842. He remained there until fourteen years of age and then started out in life on his own account. He was a young boy to face the stern realities of life, but he showed courage and stability in his work and gradually he advanced in his chosen vocation. He first went to sea and remained a sailor until 1871, during which time he visited many ports. In that year he came to the United States and spent a short time on the Atlantic coast in New York, Boston, and Baltimore. He then went to Michigan and was identified with the central west, its business opportunities, and its development throughout his remaining days. In 1873 he was united in marriage to Miss Malvina Antone Johnson, who was a native of Denmark, their wedding being celebrated in Michigan, where they lived for about a year. Mrs. Johnson’s birth occurred in 1848 and she came to America in 1872, remaining a resident of Michigan from that time until a year after her marriage. Her parents both died in their native land, but she has a brother and sister in this country — residents of Dane County, Wisconsin.
It was in the year 1874 that Mr. and Mrs. Johnson removed to Nebraska, where they spent the summer, and in the succeeding autumn they came to Yankton County and in the city of Yankton Mr. Johnson engaged in the express business, in which he continued up to the time of his death in 1885. He received a liberal patronage, his time being employed in the conduct of the enterprise, and he made considerable money as an expressman. With the capital thus acquired he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Yankton and thus at his demise he left a valuable property to his family. His life was characterized by earnest labor, for having no family or pecuniary advantages to aid him at the outset of his career, he worked persistently and capably until he had gained for himself a very desirable position among the men of affluence in his adopted county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born six children, but three of the number have passed away. Those still living are Edward Johnson, who, at the age of twenty-eight years, is operating the home farm; Tillie, who is also with her mother; and Marcus Enoch, who has recently graduated in the public schools of Yankton. Mr. Johnson was a member of the Odd Fellows society and belonged to the Congregational church. He was loyal to its teachings and its principles, and his life was ever honorable and upright. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, and he was a worthy son of his adopted country, being true to her institutions and taking great pride in what was accomplished in this state. Because of his worth and fidelity to every duty that devolved upon him, he enjoyed in an unusual degree the respect of his fellow men, and when he was called from this life, his loss was deeply deplored by all who knew him.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.