ictor Johnson was born in Dalsland, Sweden in 1882 and immigrated to the United States in 1902. He arrived in Alaska in 1906, landing in Cordova to work on the construction of the Copper River Railroad. He later moved on to Fairbanks where he was employed by the Fairbanks Exploration Company. When construction started on the Alaska Railroad, he moved down to Anchorage and worked for the Alaskan Engineering Commission. On a trip to Seattle, Washington he met Elin Elizabeth Martinson, who had also been born in Dalsland, Sweden. She came to the United States in 1909.

In 1916, Elin came to Anchorage to marry Victor, and the newlyweds immediately set about building a log cabin home, located in the area of 5th Avenue and Denali Street. Victor was steadily employed by the Alaska Railroad as section foreman at various locations, including Cantwell, Curry and Moose Creek.

Victor purchased a government house from the Chickaloon Navy site in 1930 and moved it to Anchorage, rebuilding it at the corner of 4th Avenue and Barrow Street. When on leave from his job on the railroad, he spent his time in Anchorage casting headstones and monuments for the Anchorage Cemetery, creating many memorial markers which remain standing. In 1961, he was chosen as King Regent for the Fur Rendezvous, representing the Pioneers of Alaska Igloo #15.

Victor and Elin Johnson had three children. Son Donald V., born in 1918. He and his wife, Olive Grace, had one son, Donald Douglas. Daughter Elizabeth Johnson Gahnberg, born in 1920, had two children: Kurt G. and Loren W. Son John M. was born in 1921. He married Beryl Johnston and they had two children, Christine Elin and John Mark. Elin Martinson Johnson passed away in 1952, and her husband, Victor, died in 1972. Both are buried in Snoqualmie, Washington.
Victor Johnson, born in Dalsland, Sweden, 1882. Shown here in 1908, on a job building the Fairbanks Exploration Company’s ditch to Circle City.     Building the log cabin at 5th Avenue and Denali Street.
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Elin Elizabeth Martinson Johnson, born in Dalsland, Sweden, 1889. Died in 1952.     Vic, Elin, son Donald and friends at the completed home, 1918.
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Alaska Railroad section foreman Victor Johnson at Curry with “Speeder,” circa 1925.     The Johnson home at 4th Avenue and Barrow Street, circa 1931.
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Elizabeth Johnson Gahnberg, born in 1920.     John M. Johnson, born in 1921 and Donald V. Johnson, born in 1918.
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Photo captions:
  1. Victor Johnson, born in Dalsland, Sweden, 1882. Shown here in 1908, on a job building the Fairbanks Exploration Company’s ditch to Circle City.


  2. Building the log cabin at 5th Avenue and Denali Street.


  3. Elin Elizabeth Martinson Johnson, born in Dalsland, Sweden, 1889. Died in 1952.


  4. Vic, Elin, son Donald and friends at the completed home, 1918.


  5. Alaska Railroad section foreman Victor Johnson at Curry with “Speeder,” circa 1925.


  6. The Johnson home at 4th Avenue and Barrow Street, circa 1931.


  7. Elizabeth Johnson Gahnberg, born in 1920.


  8. John M. Johnson, born in 1921 and Donald V. Johnson, born in 1918.


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