John Alfred Johnson immigrated to Jamestown from Sweden to live near his brother Oscar who worked as a contractor in our area. John worked for a local manufacturer in the day and for Oscar at night.
Although he became an American citizen, John was proud of his Swedish heritage and thought of himself and his friends as the “working man.” He labored hard, saving and investing his money. To take effect upon his death, he created the Johnson Foundation which Jamestown Swedish Consul and Attorney John Sellstrom and his wife Carole, operated in accordance with Johnson’s wishes.
The Starting of the Fund
They endowed the John Alfred and Oscar Johnson Memorial Trust/BPU Good Neighbor Fund in December, 2014, to be held in perpetuity at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.