BioA: Johnson, Mr./Mrs. Carl H. (Gold – 1969)

Transcriber: Ellen Johnson
Email: posted4u@charter.net

Surnames: Johnson, Rushman, Gabriel, Allen, Hilber, Schommer, Lachnit, Switlick, Justman, Olson

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 03 Jul 1969

Johnson, Mr./Mrs. Carl H. (Gold – 26 JUN 1969)

The 50th anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Carl H. Johnson of Colby (Clark Co., Wis. was celebrated Saturday, June 28, 1969. It began with a special mass for the honored couple at 10:45 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Colby, of which both are members. The Rev. Francis P. Rushman officiated, and Mrs. Alois Gabriel of Colby was organist.

A reception was held at the Colby Hotel beginning at 3 o’clock, and dinner was served at 5:30 to approximately 100 relatives and close friends. In the evening from 9 to 1, a reception and dance, with music by Roger Allen, took place at Sportsmen’s Park at Colby.

For the occasion, Mrs. Johnson and daughters and granddaughters had corsages, and Mr. Johnson, sons and grandsons had boutonnieres. A cymbidium orchid with yellow carnations made up the corsage of the bride of 50 years, and yellow carnations were used in the other corsages and boutonnieres.

Centering the table was a decorated anniversary cake topped by the original ornament, a miniature bride and groom, used on the wedding cake of Carl Johnson and Anne Schommer on June 26, 1919, and later on the wedding cakes of their three daughters. Mrs. Elaine Hilber baked and decorated the anniversary cake for her parents.

Relatives and friends came from Swanton, Ohio, St. Charles and St. Paul, Minnesota, Lancaster, California, Oshkosh, Omro, Kenosha, Marshfield, Neillsville, Butternut, Mercer, Tomahawk, Phillips and Medford, Wisconsin.

Carl Johnson, son of Henry and Anna Johnson, was born March 18, 1894 on the farm two miles west of Unity (Clark Co.). He attended Unity school and farmed the home farm. In addition, in 1914, he built three concrete silos, using a homemade mixer.

Mrs. Johnson, the former Anne Schommer, daughter of John and Katherine Schommer, was born on October 23, 1896 at Freedom, Wisconsin. When she was 10 years old the family moved to a farm two miles east and one-half mile north of Colby. Her education, which was begun in Freedom schools, was continued at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Colby. For two years prior to her marriage, she was employed as bookkeeper at the Colby Clinic.

After their marriage, which took place at Colby June 26, 1919, at which the Rev. Henry Lachnitt of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, officiated. The couple farmed on the home place until 1924. The next year they purchased a arm one and one-half miles southwest of Milan, which they operated for 13 years, and then came to Abbotsford, and in 1939 began a business which developed into the present Johnson Silo and Lumber Company, Inc. In 1948 they purchased a block plant and residence on the south edge of Colby, and started making cement blocks and cement stave silos. They moved from Abbotsford to Colby the following year, and ten years ago their sons, Lorris and Carl Jr., moved from Peoria, Illinois, to Colby and joined the firm.

At present, in addition to the Silo construction, the firm operates a modern sawmill at Colby and a similar one at Mercer, and are known throughout central Wisconsin for quality concrete silos and manufacturers of hardwood lumber.

Mr. Johnson retired five years ago, but is quite active as board chairman. Over the years, Mrs. Jonson worked with her husband in the business in numerous ways,a dn both are interest in the activities around the plant, located next to the residence. Mr. Johnson ahs an added interest in the growth of the many trees he personally planted on the property. Both are avid bowlers.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have three daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Tony (Lenore) Switlick of Omro; Mrs. Elaine Hilber of Marshfield, and Mrs. Joe (Doris) Orth of Swanton, Ohio, and two sons, Lorris and Carl Jr., both of Colby. They have 29 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Johnson has three sisters, Mrs. Hilda Justman and Mrs. Roy (Emma) Justman of Unity, and Mrs. Elsie Dommer of Oshkosh. Mrs. Johnson has two brothers, Lambert Schommer of Marshfield, and Ray Schommer of Kaukauna, and one sister, Mrs. Einar (Jose) Olson, now of Bourbonnais, Illinois. Mrs. Olson, formerly of Abbotsford, the only living attendant of the Johnson nuptials, was unable to be present for the golden anniversary observance.