"Portrait and biographical album of Coles County, Illinois"
  
ILLIAM JOHNSON, farmer and stock-raiser, section 28, North Okaw Township, was born, reared and educated in County Fermanagh, Ireland. He was born March 22, 1822, and remained there until twenty-eight years of age, when he came to the United States.
The parents of our subject, John and Annie (Bell) Johnson, were born and married in County Fermanagh., and after the birth of nine children started with their family for the United States. Their subsequent history is briefly given in a sketch of John Johnson, which will be found elsewhere in this volume. William Johnson, with his parents, after a voyage of thirteen weeks on a sailing-vessel, landed in New York City, whence they started after a few days for Moultrie County, Ill. Circumstances, however, detained them for a while in Peru, and our subject took a contract for burning a kiln of lime for which he was to receive $44. After his work was completed, however, he was enabled to collect but $9 for his labor, on account of a worthless employer. They went on to Moultrie County, where the father rented a tract of land, which became his by purchase the year following. William, in common with his brothers, assisted in the building up of the homestead, and in February, 1851, was united in marriage with Mrs. Nancy (Curry) Ellis. After becoming the mother of one child, a son, whom they named John W., she departed this life in December, 1853. Her little son died when three years and six months old. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married April 1, 1856, was formerly Mrs. Mary J. (Miller) Drake. She was born in Lafayette Township, this county, July 22, 1834, and is the daughter of Robert and Mary A. (Price) Miller, natives respectively of Ireland and Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio and emigrated to this county in 1827, settling in Lafayette Township. Mr. Miller entered a tract of land, and with his family endured all the hardships and vicissitudes of pioneer life, and was remarkably prosperous in the cultivation of the soil, becoming in time the owner of 500 acres. The mother departed this life in April, 1846. Mr. Miller survived until March, 1862. The remains of both were buried in Bethel Churchyard, and they are remembered as people worthy of the highest esteem. Their seven children were named respectively: William, now deceased; Peter; Sarah; Samuel, deceased; Henry, Mary J.,and Robert, the last mentioned also deceased. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Miller was married, in 1846, to Mrs. Elizabeth (Bates) Martin. This lady is still living with her son, Charles Martin, in Lafayette Township. Of her marriage with Mr. Miller there were born three children: Thomas, Rachael, and Scott, the latter being the only one living. Her parents were members of the Baptist Church, the father acting as Deacon for forty years. He was a man of great enterprise and energy, and during the latter years of his life occupied himself largely in the raising of live stock, and was the first man to introduce the better grades of the domestic animals into Coles County. He at one time owned a Cherokee stallion for which he paid $1,500. He purchased the first Durham introduced into the county and in various other ways was the leader in the development of its most important interests. He served as Justice of the Peace for several years and was also School Director and Trustee.
The parents of our subject were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His house was the home of the ministers, in which they were always made welcome. In 1858 our subject purchased the land which constitutes his present homestead, and on which he has resided continuously for nearly thirty years. He has for a number of years served as School Director and Trustee. With his excellent wife he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as Steward for fifteen years and Trustee for twelve years.
The children of William and Mary J. Johnson, seven in number, are recorded as follows: Robert, born Jan. 22, 1857, died Aug. 11,1859; John, born June 29, 1859, died Sept. 19, 1866; Robert M., born June 3, 1861, was married Aug. 14, 1883, to Miss Ella Crumm, and has charge of his father’s farm; Anna was born March 14, 1863; Jennie, April 4, 1865, and Franklin A., Dec. 29, 1868; an infant daughter, born Oct. 10, 1873, died Oct. 17, 1873.
The first husband of Mrs. Johnson was John Drake, a native of Kentucky, and they became the parents of one child, a son, John T., who was born Feb. 24, 1853, and died Oct. 28, 1858. William Miller, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. J., was a native of Ireland, and was married in his native county to Miss Rachael Art. He emigrated to the United States and settled first in Pennsylvania, whence he removed after a few years to Ohio, taking up his abode on the Miami River, where he spent the remainder of his days. His widow and children afterward came to Illinois and located in Lawrence County, where Grandmother Miller died in 1857, aged about one hundred years. Both she and her husband were members of the Presbyterian Church. Their seven children were named respectively, Robert, John, Rachael, Elizabeth, Thomas Samuel and Belinda.
From 1850 until about 1865 William Johnson and his brothers, James, Irvin, John and Frederick, operated together on a large tract of land, being owners of nearly 1,000 acres and engaged largely in stock-raising. Irvin was the first to withdraw and selected for his portion the farm which he owns on section 24. In 1882 our subject withdrew, and was also given his choice of the land left, which he now occupies. Since the death of James, John and Frederick have operated together. This is a remarkable instance of a family of brothers who worked together harmoniously for many years, and of whom all are living with the exception of James, who was accidentally killed by the explosion of a boiler. They have done much toward the building up of North Okaw Township, and their names will be long remembered after they are gathered to their fathers.
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