In 1870 he lived in Värna with the miner's family A.V.Edström. He was registred under Bersbo mine. Johan Alfred emigrated to the US on May 9, 1870 aboard the "Rollo". His destination was Marquette. On Feb 10, 1873, a few months before he left, his son Karl Johan was born.

Johan Alfred changed his name to John A. Johnson. He settled in Calumet, Michigan where he was a copper miner. He moved to Freedhem, Minnesota in 1906 and there he stayed till his death.