Rodney located in Nebraska in September 1865 and took up a homestead where the present town of Valparaiso stands. In the spring of 1866 he took up farming and in the fall of 1869 opened a general merchandise store, the first in the village.

He served in the Union Army as a member of Company E, Fifth Wisconsin Infantry, was mustered out as a lieutenant, having participated in about thirty engagements with the enemy.99

Discharged in 1864

Oldest of the Johnson children, Rodney served in the Civil War and upon its conclusion, journeyed with his father to Nebraska in a horse and buggy to look for land to homestead. They selected eighty acres each, one adjoining the other, Andrew's at the junction of Raccoon creeks with Oak Creek in an area of good timber, and Rodney's a surveyed "paper town" that appeared on the maps as the town of Valparaiso and marked as the future seat of a new county, Saunders, soon to be carved from Calhoun Co. The biographical sketch of Rodney in the Saunders County section of the History of Nebraska, 1880, reads as follows: Rodney K. Johnson, dealer in general merchandise, grain, etc., and also does a general banking business. Mr. J. came to Nebraska in September, 1865 and took up homestead, where the present village of Valparaiso now stands. In the spring of 1866 he started farming and in the fall of 1869 opened a general merchandise store, which was the first store at the above place and has continued to run this since, and is now one of the oldest merchants in Saunders County. He has served as Justice of the Peace for over fourteen years, and is also Notary Public. Mr. J. enlisted in the late war, in April 1861, and served until July 1865 at Janesville, Wis. with the Fifth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company E. as private and was mustered out as Second Lieutenant, and was in about thirty engagements. He is a member of GAR Sherman Post, No 64. He is also member of IOOF Lincoln Legion No. 11. Was born in State of Maine, December 13, 1842. Was married October 23, 1870 to Elvira L. Carter, who is a native of Illinois, by whom he has three children, Harry, Estelle, and Emily.130

Rodney served in the civil war with Co. E, fifth Wisconsin Vol. Infantry. He mustered out as a 2nd lieutenant after serving through about thirty engagements with the enemy. He was wounded at the battle of Williamsburg, in 1862, and was compelled to remain in the hospital for three months.

He and his father, Andrew, came to Nebraska together in September of 1865 and each took up a homestead and began farming where the present town of Valparaiso stands. Rodney opened a general merchandise store in 1869. He served as Justice of the Peace for fourteen years and also ran a general banking business for the community.241