A.K. JOHNSON HARNESS AND SHOW REPAIR

A.K. Johnson was born November 11, 1867 and passed away at the Ord, Nebraska Hospital at the age of 97 years, 10 months and 18 days. He was buried in the Ord Cemetery.

He was born in Sheyatland, Sweden in the county of Rumshulla. In the spring of 1885, he came to the United States and then to Nebraska to see a brother and sister. In 1906 he filed on a Kincaid Homestead in South Cherry County. In 1909 he was married to Anna Hansen of Ord, Nebraska and to this union five children were born, one dying in infancy.

In 1915, he moved to Mullen to start the harness and shoe repair business. He was first located in the Hawley building, then moved to the Porter building on Main Street where the Dutton restaurant is now located. It was called A.K. Johnson Harness & Shoe Repair. He made new saddles, harness and bridles besides repairing them. He repaired shoes and also bought cream and eggs. He thought the Sandhills was a great dairy county. His usual monthly run of cream was from 250 to 600 cans of cream. Some of his customers came 70 miles or more. He sold various other articles made of leather.

He continued in this business until 1921 when he returned to the ranch. At this location, he proposed building a school house in the Well's precinct. Everyone in the neighborhood donated lumber and time to build it. A man in the neighborhood was hired to teach the school. The children's ages ranged from 7 to 21 years of age who attended this school. It was also the Wells' voting place.

A.K. was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge #282 A.F. and A.M. of Mullen. He was a member for over 65 years and received the Jordon Medal. He was a member of the United Methodist Church for over 50 years.