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 RVIN JOHNSON has been a resident of North Okaw Township for over twenty years, flaring which time he has built up one of the finest homesteads within its limits. His property includes 320 acres of valuable land, highly cultivated, and supplied with a handsome and substantial set of frame buildings. The residence stands on a gentle elevation, some distance from the roadside, and invariably attracts the eye of the passing traveler, surrounded as it is by beautiful shade trees, with well-kept grounds and the evidences of a refined and cultivated taste. A beautiful grove occupies a portion of the premises, and the whole comprises a model country estate, evidently under the supervision of a proprietor whose taste and good judgment are apparent in every detail. Mr. Johnson spent his childhood and youth on the other side of the Atlantic, in County Fermanagh, Ireland, where his birth took place on the 26th of March, 1832. He remained in his native country with his parents until the spring of 1850, when they all emigrated to the United States, and proceeding at once to Moultrie County, Ill., located upon a tract of land and engaged in farming. Our subject had been fairly educated in the schools of his native county, and remained with his parents until his marriage, which took place on New Year’s Day, 1863. The maiden of his choice was Miss C. A. M. Kleiver, who was born in Licking County, Ohio, Jan. 12, 1825, and was the daughter of G. M. and Elizabeth (Neibarger) Kleiver, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia. The young people commenced life together on the land which our subject had previously purchased from the Illinois Central Railroad, and which forms a part of his present homestead. He operated this in company with his four brothers William, John, James and Frederick. They continued together three years after his marriage, and then effected a division of the property, since which time our subject has carried on fanning and stock-raising by himself. Mr. Johnson has been greatly prospered, and wisely invested his surplus capital in more real estate, which could not be stolen by a bank cashier. The land is mostly laid off in forty-acre lots, and of late years has been devoted almost entirely to stock and grain raising. He feeds large numbers of animals annually, and ships principally to Chicago. He has made a specialty of Poland-China hogs, and has abundantly proved that fine stock is far more profitable than the common grades. Mr. Johnson has served his township several years as School Director, and politically affiliates with the Democratic party, which he has cordially supported since the time of casting his first Presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. His estimable wife is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Quinn Chapel. Their only child died in infancy. George M. Kleiver, the father of Mrs. Johnson, was born in Northumberland County, Pa., Jan. 7, 1789, and his wife, Elizabeth, a native of Shenandoah County, Va., was born November 21, of the same year. They were married in Licking County, Ohio, Jan. 30, 1817. Mr. K. owned land in Ohio, which he sold in 1856, preparatory to coming to Illinois. After reaching this State, he took up his residence in Moultrie County, where he carried on fanning until his death, which took place Feb. 1, 1864. His widow survived until Nov. 25, 1879. Both were buried in the cemetery at Sullivan. The parental household included nine children, namely, Rebecca, Mrs. O. P. Powers, of Dresden, Ohio; Mary, the wife of Samuel McKinney, of Licking County, Ohio; Henry, who died in infancy; Evelina, the wife of Thomas Leggitt, of Kansas; Elizabeth S., Mrs. Barrick, of Licking County, Ohio; C. A. M., the wife of our subject; Catherine, Mrs. V. C. Corkins; Willie J. and George J. The paternal grandparents, Henry and Margaret Kleiver, were natives of Germany, and emigrating to America, were among the earliest pioneers of Pennsylvania, whence they moved to Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Their children, all now deceased, were Henry, Frederick, George M., Joseph, Elizabeth, Catherine, Mary and Margaret. |
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