Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 403-404

WARREN JOHNSON, a very successful and highly respected stock and dairy farmer of the town of Lima, Grant county, was born in the same town in which he is now living, in May, 1847.

Farnum and Amanda (EASTMAN) JOHNSON, his parents, were born in Ohio, the father in 1802 and the mother in 1806. They came to Galena, Ill., when young. In 1837 they fled to the old fort in Grant county for protection against hostile Indians, and there met and were married. At that time Mr. JOHNSON was engaged in hauling lead from Platteville to the smelting works at Galena, and drove the first wagon coming into Platteville. In 1834 he purchased one hundred acres of wild land from a Mr. MAYFIELD, and that land is still in the possession of the family, his sons Henry W. and Warren now owning it. Mr. JOHNSON was an industrious man, and accumulated a fine property through industry and with the help of his faithful wife. In 1878 he died at this home, which he had carved out of the wilderness. Mr. JOHNSON was a Republican, and for a number of years served on the town board of Lima. In religion he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. After the death of her husband Mrs. JOHNSON removed to Platteville, and there she made her home until she passed away, in 1891, in the serene expectation of a better life. She was a woman greatly beloved and respected by all who knew her. To Mr. and Mrs. JOHNSON were born a family of five children: (1) Mary A., born at Fever River, in Lafayette county, married J. J. WALLACE, and now resides on a large ranch at Boulder, Colo., where they have reared a family of four children, Ernest, Lewis, Fred, and Lena (wife of Marvin HOBSON, of Colorado). (2) Elizabeth is now the wife of G. G. CLEMMER, of Colorado. They have two daughters, Kitty, Mrs. Iden STEWART, of Hampton, Iowa, and May, Mrs. Norman INGLAS, of the same city. (3) Nancy E. married William HUMASON, and is now a widow, living in Platteville. She has two children, Arthur and Dela, the latter the wife of Fred WALLACE, and living in Kansas. (4) Henry W. and (5) Warren are mentioned more fully.

Henry W. JOHNSON, born in 1844, grew up on the old homestead, and had the benefits of a country school education. In the spring of 1862 he enlisted in Company E, 25th Wis. V.I., and served under Capt. Scott. The 25th Wisconsin was sent to Fort Snelling, Minn., and held for duty against hostile Indians until November of that year, when they were returned to Camp Randall, at Madison, Wis., where they spent the winter. The following May they were ordered to Columbus, Ky., where they were put under the command of Gen. Grant, and took part in the capture of Vicksburg. Mr. JOHNSON was sick for nearly half a year, but regained his health in time to join his regiment before Vicksburg, and take part in the movements that led to the fall of that city. The 25th Wisconsin was transferred to Gen. Sherman's army, and took part in the great march through Georgia. It lost heavily, and suffered many hardships, but marched clear through to the end, and went down the streets in the grand review that signaled the end of the war and the victory of the Union. It had done duty in fifteen States, and its record is one that any regiment of the Union army might consider creditable.

After the war, in 1868, Mr. JOHNSON married Miss Maria QUINBY, of Platteville, Wis., daughter of Selden and Anna QUINBY, of Lafayette county, Wis. After his marriage Mr. JOHNSON bought a part of the old homestead, where he now resides. They have had a family of four children: (1) William L., born October, 1869, was killed when a young man by a vicious bull. (2) Ella M., born in June 1876, was a student of the State Normal at Platteville, and has been a successful teacher since 1896. (3) Ethel, born in 1879, is a student at the State Normal in Platteville. (4) Alta, born in November, 1882, died when eight years old.

Warren JOHNSON, the youngest child of his parents, was reared on the old homestead, and obtained his early education in the public schools and in the Academy and the State Normal at Platteville. His first employment was as a drug clerk in the store of his brother-in-law, in Austin, Minn. After remaining there a year he came back to Grant county, to take charge of his father's business. In 1869 he married Miss Phoebe DICKINSON, a daughter of Ensign P. and Fannie DICKINSON, old and honored pioneers of the county. The father, who died a few years ago, was a member of the Legislature from this district, and was a man well known for his honest character and public spirit. The mother is still living, and makes her home with her son, Charles DICKINSON. Mr. JOHNSON, after his marriage, purchased a part of the old JOHNSON home, and put up a fine house and large and roomy farm buildings. He has taken much pride in his home surroundings, and every part shows the touch of a master hand. To Mr. JOHNSON and his wife have been born a family of seven children: (1) Farnum, born in 1871, married Miss Elsie RUSSELL, of Lima, and resides on his farm in the town of Lima. They have three children, Earl, Eugene and Hazel. (2) Fannie, born in 1873, is now the wife of Isaiah BUTTSON, who resides on his farm in Lima, and has three children, Susan, Warren and Ina. (3) Maud, born in 1875, is the wife of Frank JONES, one of the leading farmers of Harrison, and is the mother of three children, Frank, Helen and Ruth. (4) Gertrude, born in Lima, in 1877, fitted herself for teaching at the State Normal at Platteville, and is a successful worker in the schools of Grant county. (5) Warren, born in 1881, is a student at the Platteville State Normal. (6) Grace was born in 1885, and (7) Clair in 1889.

In politics all the members of this family have been identified with the old Republican party, and have always been prominent in local affairs. Warren JOHNSON has been a member of the county board, and chairman of the town board. In religion he and his wife are associated with the Christian Church.




This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck