FARNAM JOHNSON (deceased); was born in New Jersey Dec. 12, 1802. In 1827, he came to the lead diggings about "Hardscrabble" (Hazel Green), and spent the summer there and at Sinsinawa Mounds. In 1828, he came to Platteville, and began hauling lead for Maj. Rountree; he was known to have hauled some of the heaviest loads that ever left the place, and was a most expert driver of oxen. During the Black Hawk war, he served with credit, and later went to the Fever River lead mines. In 1835, he married, at Old Belmont, Miss Amanda Eastman; she was born May 12, 1812, near Delaware, N. Y.; her early life was spent in Ohio and Indiana. In 1830, her parents, Moses and Elizabeth Eastman, settled at Belmont; they were among those who "forted" at Elk Grove during the summer of 1832. After his marriage, Mr. Johnson spent three years on a farm near Horseshoe Bend, Fevre River. In the summer of 1838, he bought of Elijah Mayfield 240 acres, which is still in the family; during the fall, his wife and himself erected a log house; apertures for windows and doors were sawed out with a crosscut saw. Mr. Johnson standing on the inside and she outside; this house stood on the site of that now occupied by Henry W. Johnson, and was torn down to make room for it when the latter married Maria Quimby, of Etna, Wis. Farnam Johnson and wife resided on this farm from Christmas, 1838, until his death, July 6, 1879. He left five children - Mary (Mrs. John Wallace); Elizabeth (Mrs. George Clemmer); Nancy (now the widow of J. W. Humiston, drowned June 27, 1878, in the Gulf of Mexico); Henry W. and Warren; Henry W. enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, in Co. E, 25th W. V. I.; served in the Sioux war in Minnesota, through the siege of Vicksburg, and fought under Sherman to Atlanta; thence marched with him through Georgia and the Carolinas. He was discharged with the regiment June 21, 1865. Is now on the homestead, containing in all 390 acres; Warren Johnson is also here, as is the widowed mother. The former married Phebe J. Dickinson, of Lima. Mrs. Johnson is the picture of a brave old pioneer lady, and enjoys the comforts of a well-earned home.

This biography generously submitted by Roxanne Munns.