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 OHN JOHNSON. The early home of the
subject of this history was on the other side
of the Atlantic, in County Fermanagh, Ireland, where his father carried on a small
farm. He is the son of John and Anna (Bell)
Johnson, natives of the same country but of Scotch
descent, and was the eighth child in a family of ten.
Our subject early in life bore a strong resemblance
to his father, but afterward his features seemed to
change and he grew like his mother. John Johnson, in 1850, accompanied by all his family with
the exception of one son, emigrated to the United
States, leaving the shores of his native Island on
the 15th of May. The voyage was made on a sailing-vessel, and after landing in New York, the elder
Johnson proceeded shortly to Peru, Ill., then to
Moultrie County, where he located and followed
farming until his death, which occurred in 1864. The subject of this sketch was a lad twelve years of age when he sailed with his father’s family for America, and remembers many of the incidents connected with the preparations and the voyage. He was reared on his father’s farm, and received a limited education in the district schools. The father had purchased 120 acres of land wholly on credit, but met his payments promptly and became a man of means, so that he was enabled to assist his sons to a good start in life. Upon becoming of suitable age our subject and his five brothers engaged together in raising stock, feeding each year hundreds of cattle and hogs. They also purchased land together, and owned in the aggregate about 1,800 acres. One of the brothers, James, was killed on the 26th of May, 1883, by the explosion of a portable boiler. Two others since then have partially withdrawn from the partnership, and the two remaining, John and Fred, still continue together. The wife of our subject, to whom he was married Jan. 22, 1868, was formerly Miss Martha E. Smith. Mrs. J. is the daughter of William Harrison and Mary (Osborne) Smith, natives of Ohio and Tennessee respectively. Her paternal grandparents were Jesse and Elizabeth (Willis) Smith. After their marriage our subject and wife settled on a farm in North Okaw Township, where they lived about ten years, and thence removed to their present residence in Humbolt Township. The homestead embraces 300 acres of valuable land, and is supplied with a substantial set of frame buildings. The industry and enterprise of Mr. Johnson are displayed on every hand, in the arrangement of the farm, the care of the stock, and the neatness and good order which prevail in every department. The six children born to Mr. and Mrs. J. are all living and at home with their parents. They were named respectively, William, Alice, John, Walter, Clarence and May. Their father, realizing the disadvantages of a limited education, is doing all in his power to advance the interests of his children in this direction. The elder ones are taking a collegiate course, and the others will follow if their inclinations are in that direction. Mr. and Mrs. J. are prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the support of which they have always contributed liberally and cheerfully. Mr. Johnson meddles very little with political matters, but usually votes with the Democratic party. The farm of our subject is largely devoted to the raising of fine stock, including horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. At the head of his stables is a magnificent animal named John I., valued at $5,000. On account of the diseases incident to hogs and sheep in this section, he has somewhat lost his interest in these. Of late he has interested himself in bee-keeping, and has bred up his hives to a very high grade with choice Italian queens. In partnership with Dr. James McDougal, of Humbolt Township, Mr. Johnson is largely engaged in the breeding of Norman horses, of which they usually keep about thirty-five head in hand, ranging in value from about $200 to $1,000. |
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