W
ith Norway’s long history of sailing, fishing, and boatbuilding, it is only natural that many thousands of Norwegian immigrants made their living in maritime occupations. From New York harbor to the Great Lakes to Puget Sound, NorwegianAmericans played a large role in maritime economies of coastal communities. Two stories in particular illustrate the tremendous success that some immigrants had in finding good fortune on American waters.
Captain William Johnson. Vesterheim Archives, Milholin Collection.
Johnson home in Chicago. Vesterheim Archives, Milholin Collection.
Captain William Johnson
Captain William Johnson was born near Arendal, Norway, in 1836. By the age of 14, he was a cabin boy sailing the Baltic, Mediterranean, and North Seas. He immigrated to Chicago in 1855 and immediately was employed by George Steele, who owned a number of vessels. Steele became attached to Johnson and Johnson made his home with his employer for seven years. By 1860 Johnson had purchased several boats himself and carried grain and lumber through the Great Lakes. In 1870 he built the schooner Lena Johnson and later the schooners Clara, Olga, Alice, and William O. Goodman. He married Miss Eline Theodora Shoemaker in 1872 in Chicago, who was also born in Norway. They had Vol. 6, No. 2 2008
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