The Johnson Families of Guthrie County, Iowa

WILLIAM L. JOHNSON.

Among the residents of Guthrie county whose present retirement from the necessity of labor has been made possible by years of former toil and activity William L. Johnson is numbered. He now makes his home in Guthrie Center, although he was at one time closely associated with agricultural interests. Half the with of the continent separates him from his birthplace, for he was born upon the Atlantic coast in the year 1832, New Jersey being his native state. It was in the schools there that he acquired his education while spending his boyhood days in the home of his parents, John and Ann (Kirby) Johnson, the former a farmer in New Jersey. Ther family numbered six children, four sons and two daughters.

'william L. Johnson was reared to farm life, his time being divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the.pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. Throughout his early life, as well as in later manhood, he was thus connected with farming interests, and was thus engaged in New Jersey until after the outbreak of the Civil war. He offered his ser\- ices to the government, prompted by a spirit of patriotism.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

W. F. JOHNSON.

W. F. Johnson is the owner of a valuable farming property of three hundred and twenty acres on sections 10 and 15, Baker township, and he operates altogether five hundred and thirteen ares of land which is richly cultivated and bears every evidence of the careful supervision and progressive methods of the owner. About half the with of the continent separates him from his birthplace, for he is a native son of New Jersey. He was born June 30, 1869, and is a son of '. L. and Katherine Johnson, the former born in New Jersey in 1832 and the latter in 1836. It was in the year 1878 that they came to Iowa and established their home in Guthrie county upon a farm which Mr. Johnson continued to cultivate for a number of years, bringing his fields under a high state of development. His continued and carefully directed labor at length brought him a competence sufficient to enable him to put aside further business cares and he and his wife are now living retired in Guthrie Center. Of their family of nine children W. F. Johnson is the youngest.

In taking up the personal history of our subject we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this locality. He was brought to Iowa by his parents when a lad of nine years and his education, begun in the east, was continued in the public school near his old homestead. The summer months were largely devoted to the work of the fields and, finding farm life congenial, he has never sought to engage in other occupation but has devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits as the years have gone by. He has made judicious investment in property as his financial resources have increased until he now owns three hundred and twenty acres of land on sections to and 15. Baker township, and in addition he rents other property until he is now cultivating fix'e hundred and thirteen acres. He is also feeding stock nn an extensive scale and makes large annual shipments.

Fortunately situated in his home life. Mr. Johnson was married on the 22d of October, 1893, to Miss Lillie M. Rose, who was born in Gutlirie county April J4. 1870. Her parents were natives of Ohio, the father born October 15. 1834. and the mother December 6. 1842. Their removal to the west at an early day made them residents of Scott county. Iowa, whence they came to Guthrie county about 1860, locating in Baker township, where they reared their family of eleven children, of whom Mrs. Johnson was the eighth. The death of the father occurred July 22, 1898, while the mother passed away on the lath of January, 1899. They had long traveled life's journey together and were separated by death for only a brief period.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson attend and support the Presbyterian church. His political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party and he has held the office of assessor, while at the present writing he is township trustee. Interested in all that pertains to the welfare of the community, he cooperates in many movements for the public good. As with a great majority of the world's workers, his attention is chiefly given to his business interests, which he has developed along modern, progressive lines until he has become one of the more successful agriculturists of the county. He and his wife have many friends here, to whom they have become endeared owing to their excellent qualities of heart and mind.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

William Johnson, who is station agent at Glendon, was born in Vermont in 1864 "d when but a year old was taken to Indiana by his parents. His father, William Johnson, was a native of England and in that country was reared and married, the lady of his choice being Miss Hannah Brashaw, also a native of England. Four of their children were born ere their emigration from that country to the new world. Thev had eight children altogether, and four are still living. After living for some time in Vermont, the family removed to Indiana in

1865 and subsequently went to Des Moines, Iowa. The year 1868 witnessed their arrival in Panora, Guthrie county, and the father engaged in a manufacturing business, being one of the owners of the woolen mills of that place for seven years. He afterward purchased ninety acres of land in Cass township. This he placed under the plow, for the land was unbroken Avhen he became its owner. As the years passed he improved the property, adding to it all of the equipments and accessories of a modern farm. Upon that place he made his home until his death, following farming and stock-raising. Both branches of his business proved profitable so that in the course of years he was able to provide his family with not only the necessities but also many of the comforts of life. His wife died in 1895, and he passed away in 1897. After becoming a naturalized citizen he voted with the republican party and he had a deep and firm attachment for the republican government and the institutions of this free land.

'william Johnson was but four years old when brought by his parents to Guthrie county. He was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the details and labors of the field, as he assisted his father in carrying on the w'ork of the farm. He acquired his education in Panora and lived at home until he attained his majority, when he began farming on his own account. He continued in that business until his health failed, having just then secured a position with the Rock Island Railroad Company. Seven years ago he came to Glendon and for three years was telegraph operator at this place. Since that time he has been.station agent, and he has attended t(3 all of the business of the railroad company at this place. He is a trustworthy employe and is regarded by the public as a courteous and obliging representative of the road.

On the 15th of December, 1889, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Susan E. Hunsinger, who was born in Indiana and is a daughter of R. Hunsinger, who died in the Hoosier state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born three children, but Albert Virgil is the only one now living, the others having died in infancy.

Mr. Johnson is a member of the Masonic fraternity and in his life exemplifies the principles and beneficent spirit of that order. In politics he is a republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has built a home at Glendon, where he is comfortably situated, and he has many friends in the village and throughout the county in which almost his entire life has been spent. His social nature and geniality, combined with his deference for the opinion of others, and his friendly nature, have made him many friends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.