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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 164-165
JOHN JOHNS, one of the leading stock dealers and farmers of Smelser township, Grant county, is a native of Smelser, having been born there Jan. 13, 1861, a son of Frederick and Mary (HEIL) JOHNS.
The parents were born in Germany and St. Louis, Mo., respectively. Grandfather JOHNS died in Germany, and Frederick JOHNS' mother brought him to Smelser; he was the only child. They first settled in Jefferson, Hazel Green township, where Frederick JOHNS grew to manhood, and after his marriage he settled on a farm in Smelser, where he lived throughout life. He was one of the early cattle dealers of this section, buying and selling herds to the government and private dealers. Politically he was a stanch Republican, and in religion he was a member of the M. E. Church. He died in 1887, his wife two years later, in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. JOHNS had ten children: Caroline married Harmon ROUSH, and has four children, William, Mary, Lavinda and Lulu; Frederick is deceased; John is our subject; George married Lena REESE; Wesley married Lavinda CULLEN; Peter married Laura HIMAN, and has had three children, Hazel, Maud, and Benjamin; Joseph married Minnie REESE; Josephine, twin of Joseph, is deceased; William married Nettie CULLEN; and Millie married Joseph CULLEN.
Our subject was educated in the schools of his district, working upon the farm in the summer and going to school in the winter. Soon after he had attained his majority he rented a part of his father's farm, consisting of 800 acres in Smelser. In 1894 Mr. JOHNS purchased what is known as the EASTMAN property, in Smelser, commenced shipping stock in partnership with Jacob HARRIS, and has developed the finest stock farm in Grant county, thousands of cattle being shipped by them every year to Chicago, in addition to outlying districts. In addition to horses and cows Mr. JOHNS raises a very fine strain of hogs, and the prices he receives, while they are not at all in excess of the value, are still regarded as "fancy" figures by those less fortunate.
In 1887 Mr. JOHNS married Miss Lavinda HEIL, of Grant county, daughter of Frederick and Ann HEIL, who was born June 30, 1867 in the town of Smelser, where she grew to womanhood, receiving a district-school education. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. JOHNS resided on the old farm until Mr. JOHNS commenced his stock shipping business, and upon his purchase of the EASTMAN property they moved thereto, and now have a beautiful home of about 200 acres, all nicely cultivated. To Mr. and Mrs. JOHNS have been born children as follows: Joseph L., Dec. 5, 1887; Herbert E., Feb. 14, 1889; Amy H., Sept. 19, 1891 (died Jan. 8, 1898); John McKINLEY, Nov. 5, 1896; Bertha, May 12, 1898; and Frederick E., April 18, 1900. Politically Mr. JOHNS has always been one of the stanch supporters of the Republican party, although he has never aspired to office, refusing steadily to be placed upon the town board. Religiously both he and his estimable wife were brought up in the M. E. Church. They are people of whom every one speaks well, and who are sincerely liked for their many admirable qualities.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck