The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 546 A portrait of Ulrich C. Johnson and family appears in this publication. ULRICH C. JOHNSON. In 1901 a partly improved tract of thirty-four acres of land came into possession of Ulrich C. Johnson by purchase but it bore little resemblance to the place as it is today. Fine bearing orchards, broad meadows and well tilled fields constitute attractive features of his place and indicate his progressive spirit. Mr. Johnson is a native of Norway. He was born July 4, 1866, a son of Johan and Nikoline Johnson, both of whom have passed away. The father owned and operated a ferry across a river in his native country. Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, UIrich C. Johnson there obtained a private school education and in 1882. when a youth of sixteen years, he bade adieu to friends and native country and came to the new world, arriving in the United States on the 13th of October of that year. He did not pause on the Atlantic coast but made his way straight across the country to San Francisco, California, where he resided for five years. In the fall of 1887 he went to Alaska. where he spent a year. The return trip was made with six others in an Indian dugout canoe, which took six weeks of paddling. He afterward resided for a year in British Columbia. He next went to Tacoma, Washington, after which he lived in Minnesota for a time. He subsequently traveled all over the United States, working for wages in various sections of the country. Locating in Iron Range, Minnesota, he conducted a hotel there until 1895, after which he spent four years in the west and then returned to Iron Range, where he lived until 1901. In that year Mr. Johnson arrived in Yakima county, Washington, finding here a district of which he desired to become a permanent resident. He bought thirty-four acres of land pleasantly and conveniently situated two miles northwest of Zillah. It was partly improved at that time. With characteristic energy he began its further development and cultivation and his labors are now seen in the fine appearance of his place. He has twenty-five acres of his land planted to apples, pears and prunes, and his orchards are in excellent hearing condition. He keeps his trees healthy and free from blight of every kind through the judicious use of sprays, and his soil is carefully fertilized. He also displays sound judgment in the picking, packing and shipping of his fruit, and his labors as an orchardist are bringing to him substantial success. He likewise raises general crops and considerable hay. He has built a good house and substantial barns upon his land and has added to it all modern improvements. That he is prominent as an orchardist of the district is indicated in the fact that for two years he served as secretary of the Zillah Fruit Growers Association. On the 18th of October, 1895, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Isabel Severson, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a daughter of Eric Severson, a native of Norway, who came to the United States in the '60s and took up farming near Kenyon, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have but one child, William C., who is farming with his father and who wedded May Frederick, of Seattle. Mr. Johnson and his wife are consistent members of the Lutheran church and he also has membership with Yakima Lodge No. 318, B. P. O. E. His political endorsement has been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise but aside from keeping informed on the questions and issues of the day he is not active in politics, giving his thought and attention to his business affairs, which, carefully directed, have brought to him gratifying success. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.