Orrin S. Allen

Abianthar Johnson & Jeremiah Baldwin

Submitted by Linda Talbot, 2006.

ABIANTHAR JOHNSON, one of the pioneer settlers of this county, now residing
on section 4,
Johnstown Township, is a native of New York, born in Bethany, Genesee
County, on the 3d of June, 1817, and is the son of Isaac and Ruth (BROWN)
JOHNSON. The family of twelve children of which he was a member now numbers
but four among the living. Winthrop, the eldest, was born in 1802, and is
now living in East Randolph, N.Y.; Seriel and Oliver are now deceased;
Miranda was the wife of Nathan REED; Anna is also deceased; Abiathar was the
fifth in order of birth; William, who for forty years was a minister of the
Freewill Baptist Church, is now engaged in farming in Chautauqua County,
N.Y.; David, a minister of the Baptist Church, is living near Agra, in
Philips County, Kan.; and four children died in infancy. Jeremiah Baldwin, a
half-brother of our subject, died in 1878.
When Mr. JOHNSON was a little lad of seven years, the death of his father
occurred, and he
went to live with his uncle, Herman BROWN, a farmer of Genesee County, N.Y.,
remaining an inmate of his home until having attained his twenty-first year.
He received such educational advantages as were afforded by the subscription
schools, and in 1837 began working on a farm near Byron, N.Y., in the employ
of Curtis BENNEM, with whom he remained for five years. At the expiration of
that time his marriage took place, and later he removed to Chautauqua
County, N.Y., where, in connection with his brother, he owned and operated a
farm of eighty acres. He, however, sold his interest in 1844, and in June of
that year emigrated to the West, landing in Milwaukee, Wis. He then
continued his journey by wagon until he reached Rock County, where he has
since made his home. The farm on which he first located is one where he yet
resides, having there witnessed the growth and progress of the county,
enduring the trials and hardships of pioneer days, and witnessing the
development which has placed Rock County on a par with any in this great
commonwealth. His original farm comprised 101 acres, only twenty of which
was broken at the time of his purchase, while the only improvement consisted
of a rude log cabin. He has since disposed of a part of it, his farm now
comprising only sixty-one acres.
On the 24th day of October, 1842, our subject led to the marriage altar Miss Louisa
SHUMWAY, daughter of Elijah and Anna SHUMWAY. She as the fourth in order of
birth in a family of six children, but three of whom are now living:
Caroline married Curtis BENNEM; Elijah is an old pioneer settler, residing
in Johnstown Township; Rev. Willard is a minister of the Christian Church,
and is living in Reedsburg, Wis.; Louisa was next in order of birth; Emily
became the wife of Ephraim CARY, and died in January, 1872; Elvira married
T. P. BARKER, who died Feb. 14, 1878, and her death occurred on the 20th day
of October, 1886.
To Mr. and Mrs. JOHNSON the following children have been born, four of whom
yet survive;
Carrie R. is at home with her father; she was a student of Milton Academy,
but on account of ill health was forced to abandon her studies before
completing the course. Miranda Ann is the wife of W. W. JANES, a resident of
Lima, and to them has been born one child, Nina L.; Orland A. died Oct. 24,
1861; Willard M. is engaged in operating the home farm, and is the husband
of Laura CARTER, daughter of Thomas and Arvilla CARTER, who are natives of
Chautauqua County, N.Y., but now reside in Rock County; Alice M. is living
at Lima with her sister; David L. died at the home of his father, May 23,
1878. The mother of these children was called to her final rest Sept. 29,
1884, at the age of sixty-five years. She was a loving and considerate wife
and mother, and was held in high esteem by her many friends.
In political sentiment, in early life, Mr. JOHNSON was a supporter of the
Whig party, and cast
his first presidential vote for the hero of Tippecanoe. At the organization
of the Republican party, he joined its ranks, and cast his last ballot for
the grandson of that General, who is now our chief executive. Religiously,
he is a member of the Freewill Baptist Church of North Johnstown. For
forty-five years he has been a resident of this county, gaining the love and
respect of all by his honorable, upright life, and among Rock County's best
citizens he is found in the foremost rank.

Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis."
(c)1889, pp. 246-247.

***NOTE, I believe the correct spelling of the subjects name would have been
Abiathar. You'll notice the above biography refers to Jeremiah Baldwin as a
1/2 brother to Abiathar. I'm not totally certain that this meant that they
shared at least one of the same birth parents or if it simply meant that
Ruth (Brown) JOHNSON, widow of Isaac of Genesee Co., NY married Jeremiah's
father after Isaac's death. I also noted this on the 1810 census of
Batavia, Genesee Co., NY
1810 - Batavia, Genesee Co., NY
Isaac JOHNSON:
3 males to age 10
1 male 26 - 44
1 female to age 10
1 female 26 - 45
***NOTE***These all appear in exact order on 1810 Census - Batavia, Genesee Co.
Isaac BALDWIN (roughly same age as Isaac JOHNSON)
Isaac JOHNSON
Heman BROWN

Isaac Johnson (father of Abiathar) died August 15, 1825 in Genesee Co., NY.
His widow, Ruth (BROWN) Johnson appears on the 1830 census as head of her
own household. She also appears on the 1850 census, still using the name
Ruth JOHNSON (Both in Bethany, Genesee Co., NY). I presume she's living
with someone in 1840 and not enumerated as head of household but in 1850 she
is 72 years old, deaf & dumb, and well past the time of having children.
She died in 1859 and is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Ellington. The
BROWN family history doesn't state anything about Ruth ever being married to
a BALDWIN either as a first husband or as the widow of Isaac JOHNSON.

Linda Talbott [email protected]