THE WAUPACA COUNTY POST

March 7, 1991

 

WHEN THEN WAS NOW

By Wayne A. Guyant

 

            The old tannery that stood on the east bank of the Waupaca River just over the bridge is the present location of the Waupaca Glass and Paint Company.  This building has undergone several changes from the original structure that was built in 1863 by two gentlemen – a Mr. Timme and a Mr. Zahl.  They operated here for several years, manufacturing leather from hides.

            In 1870 Mr. Timme sold his interest in the tannery to Mr. Zahl, and directed his entire attention to converting leather into harnesses at his new shop on North Main Street.  This location became known as the Old Reliable Harness Shop for many years.

            The land on which the old tannery now stands was purchased by the Rev. Silas Miller, for $88.40, in 1853, just two years before Waupaca’s first grist mill was put into operation located on the Pearl (now the Crystal) River.  This location later became John W. Evans felting mills, and now is the property of the Shanak Foundry on Churchill Street.

            In 1873 Mr. Zahl sold a half interest in the tannery to a Chris Johnson and in 1878 Johnson purchased the remaining half interest.

            Christian (Chris) Johnson was born in Denmark on November 28, 1826, a son of John and Mary (Nelson) Johnson.  He was the youngest of the five children born to John and Mary Johnson.  The other four were – John, Soren, Nels and Sophia.

            Christian was reared on his father’s farm and attended the local schools.  At the age of 23 he entered the artillery service of the Danish Government.  For three years he participated in the war raging between Denmark and Germany over the possession of the provinces of Schleswig and Holstein.  After he had served his service time he returned to farming and working for others until his marriage in 1856, to Dora Larson.  They never had any children.

            In 1863 Chris Johnson immigrated to America with very little resources.  He reached Waupaca with an indebtedness of $50.  For the next several years he worked on a farm for $12 per month, and by 1873 he had saved enough capital to buy the half interest in the tannery with Mr. Zahl.

            In 1881 Chris Johnson sold a half interstin the tannery to M. E. Hansen. The competition from the larger tanneries proved too much for the smaller ones and the business of the old tannery gradually shifted to that of dealers in hides instead of the manufacturing of hides into leather.

            In 1893 Mr. Hansen sold his interest back to Chris Johnson, but in 1894 Johnson retired and sold the tannery property back to Mr. Hansen, who then expanded the business to a dealership in hides, wool and farm seeds until 1900, when he sold the tannery to Alfred and Jens Peter Johnson who were nephews of Chris Johnson.

            After a partnership of four years, Alfred sold his interest to his brother, Jens Peter Johnson, who continued to do an extensive business in the shipping of wool, hides, furs and clover and timothy seed.  He continued to cater to the local needs of the community in supplying first-class farm seeds.

            Jens Peter Johnson, perhaps better known as J. Peter Johnson, was born in Laaland, Denmark, June 7, 1869, a son of Soren W. and Nellie Johnson.  He came to America in the spring of 1882. He was married to Wilhelmina (Minnie) Black in Waupaca, July 14, 1897.  Seven children were born to this union:  William, Margaret, Waldemar, Catherine, Kenneth, Dorothy and James.

            J. Peter Johnson passed away January 31, 1924.  After the death of his father, Waldemar left his position with a banking and real estate firm in Slayton, Minn., and returned to Waupaca to take over his father’s business.

            Waldemar G. Johnson was born in Waupaca, the second son of J. Peter and Minnie Black Johnson on September 9, 1902, and was married August 28, 1929, in Saxeville, Waushara County, to Juanita Bartleson.  They became the parents of two sons:  David and Paul.  He was married for a second time to Alice Johnson.

            Waldemar G. Johnson continued to run the Johnson Seed Company at 214 Water Street until 1976, when he sold out to Richard and Dennis Schultz.  It was at that time one of the oldest family names still in business in Waupaca County.

            Mr. Johnson once made the remark that he had the privilege of seeing many changes in businesses and in agriculture during his half-century in business in Waupaca.  At one time there was a street car line going past his place of business, there was a potato brokerage house, a grist mill and the old blacksmith shop, all within sight of his place.  Throughout the years Mr. Johnson modernized his operations and finally devoted his time to garden and lawn seeds.

            When he sold out to the Schultz’s the old tanning vats were still in the basement under the old tannery part.

            I remember coming to Waupaca with my father, who had a cow hide to sell.  I remember the trap door that was opened up so they could drop the hides into the basement.  The odor that came from the basement was not that of roses. I asked the people who moved into this building, if the vats were still in the basement and was told that they were no longer there.

            Waldermar G. Johnson died November 13, 1976, in the Northside hospital in Atlanta, Ga., while en route to Florida.  Thus ends the last Johnson associated with the old tannery at 214 Water Street.