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 OHN JOHNSON, deceased, father of John,
Irvin, William and Frederick Johnson, well
and favorably known throughout North
Okaw Township, was a gentleman of fine
character, whose excellent personal traits had endeared him to a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland,
Jan. 7. 1793, and departed this life at the homestead in East Nelson Township, Moultrie Co., Ill..
Aug. 17, 1864. This family, who formerly spelled
their name “Johnston,” is of English ancestry. In
about the seventeenth century, one branch of it
emigrated to Scotland and thence to Ireland. The
great-grandfather settled upon land in Fermanagh
County, which was owned and occupied by three
successive generations, the last representative being
John Johnson, of our sketch, who sold it in 1850,
and came with his family to the United States. The subject of this history was the son of James Johnson, also a native of Ireland, who farmed extensively in his native county, where he spent his entire life. He married Miss Christiana Irwin, a native of the same county and the daughter of David and Jennie Irwin. She also continued with her husband a resident of County Fermanagh, where the remains of both were laid to rest in what is called Castle Archdall burying-ground. Their lives were ordered after the strictest principles of honor and morality, and they were for many years prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their six children were recorded as follows: Margaret, who became the wife of James C. Woods, died leaving four children—Jane, John, James and Anna; Mary became the wife of John Johnson, and both died leaving five children Arthur, Margaret, James, Irwin and Sidney; Jennie died when fifty years of age, and David in infancy; John, of this sketch, was the fifth child; Sidney married John J. Scott, and is living in Australia. John Johnson was educated in the common schools of his native county, and was principally engaged in farming, while a resident there. He was a man of more than ordinary business capacity, and established a country store about thirty miles north of Londonderry. He purchased his supplies in the fall of the year, and dealt largely in oats which he would buy, and, kiln drying them, would store them away for sale during the summer following. In about 1820 he purchased a set of looms and established a linen manufactory which he operated successfully several years. When twenty-seven years of age he was united in marriage with Miss Annie Bell, July 2, 1820, who was a native of the same county as her husband, and born June 1, 1800. Her parents were William and Margaret (Johnson) Bell, who also were born and spent their entire lives in County Fermanagh. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, and then, not being satisfied with their condition or their prospects, determined to emigrate to the New World. After making due preparations they sailed on the 13th of May, 185C and after a voyage of thirteen weeks landed in New York City. They staid there with friends a short time, and then continued their journey by steamer to Albany, thence by canal to Buffalo, and thence by steamer again to Chicago, and then proceeded by canal to Peru, Ill. A friend of Mr. Johnson had already located in Moultrie County, and thither Mr. J. determined to proceed. At Peru, however, no one could give him any information as to the whereabouts of Moultrie County, so he concluded to remain there until he could hear from his friend. He dispatched a letter, to which he soon received an answer, and started at once with his family by wagons, in due time reaching his destination. As may readily be supposed the country was wild and practically uninhabited. Mr. Johnson rented 120 acres of improved land in East Nelson Township, upon which stood a house that had been used as a hotel and store, and which, with the land around it, was known as Juliann. This he operated upon one year, and then purchased and built up a comfortable homestead, which the parents occupied until their earthly labors were ended. The wife and mother departed this life, Feb. 19, 1863. The father survived about eighteen months. Their remains lie side by side in the Sullivan burying-ground. They had lived worthily and uprightly, and were sadly missed by a large number of friends and acquaintances who had regarded them as pillars of the church and members of the community whose places it would be difficult to fill. John Johnson was a man singularly gifted with those characteristics which have kept his memory green in the hearts of all who knew him. As a husband and father he was rarely affectionate and indulgent, as a friend, generous to a fault, and as a citizen, kind, hospitable and charitable, generous to the poor and a liberal and cheerful contributor to the support of religious and educational institutions. The property in Moultrie County is still retained by his children. The household circle of John and Annie Johnson was completed by the birth of eleven children, of whom the record is as follows: Arthur, born Sept. 15, 1821, married Miss Rebecca J. Caldwell, and emigrated with his family to the United States in 1875, twenty-five years after the arrival of his father here ; he is now the owner of a farm in North Okaw Township. William is made the subject of a biography on another page in this work; Christiana, born Aug. 15, 1825, is living with her brother, Frederick; Isabella, born in 1827, is the wife of John A. Warren, a resident of Texas; James, born Jan. 19, 1831, was killed by the explosion of a boiler, May 26, 1883; Irvin was born March 26, 1832, and the principal points of his history are given in his sketch on another page; Margaret, born in 1837, is living with her brother, Frederick ; John and Frederick are treated of elsewhere in this Album; Jane, who was born in 1845. died Sept. 28, 1855, and one child died unnamed in infancy. |
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