The Johnson Families of Linn County, Iowa

J. V. JOHNSON.

This well-known retired farmer of Lisbon was born October 23, 1830, in Thorp, Northamptonshire. England, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Ballard) Johnson, the former also a native of Thorp, the latter of Rowell, the same shire. There the father was employed as a game keeper until June, 1845, when he brought his family to America. They took passage on the Cornelia, a sailing vessel, which carried seven hundred and sixty-three passengers, and was seven weeks and four days in crossing from Liverpool to New York, during which time they encountered a severe storm. One child was born during the voyage, while three passengers died from smallpox and four from other causes. On landing in New York the Johnson family took a steamboat up the Hudson river to Albany; by canal they proceeded to Buffalo, then crossed the lake to Ashtal)ula harbor, and by wagon went to Geneva, Ashtabula county, Ohio, where they resided for two years. The father then purchased two Jnmdred acres of land in Harpersfield. that county. and was engaged in dairy farming there for twenty years. He then moved to Madison, Lake county, Ohio, where he died in 1894. The mother of our subject died in 1892. and both were buried at Harperstield. Unto them were born eight children, namely: (1) Richard married Eliza Morris, now deceased, and resided in Harpersfield. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted in the Fifteenth Oliio Battery, under Captain Burrows, and took part in twenty-one battles, being wounded several times. He died six weeks after his return home from disease brought on by exposure. (2) Elizabeth married Reily Woodworth, of Harpersfield. Ohio. (3) One child died in infancy. (4) John v., our subject, is next in order of birth. (5) Benjamin, a resident of Harpersfield, married, first, Laura Wheeler, and after her death Emma Chapman. (6) George married Clara Brakeman and lives in Harperstield. (7) Emma died at the age of fifteen years. (8) Fannie is the widow of Nathan Brakeman, who was a soldier in the Civil war. and a resident of Harpersfield. Our subject had three uncles. George. John and William Johnson, who were members of the Queen's Guai'd in England.

During his boyhood John V. Johnson had little opportunity to attend school. At the age of eight he commenced work for an old lady who owned a dairy farm, where he learned the dairy business and the breeding of cattle. He remained there until fifteen years of age. when he came to America with his parents and settled in Ashtabula county, Ohio. At Harpersfield. March 12. 1859, he married Miss Kate A. Ingalls. who was born in Franklinville. New York, March 25, 1839. a daughter of Simeon and Martha Tngalls.

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

SAMUEL S. JOHNSON.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Johnson was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1820, and is a son of Robert Johnson, a native of Ireland, who came to the new world when a young man, and after residing in Westmoreland county for some years removed to Somerset county, Pennsyhania, where he followed farming throughout the remainder of his life. In his family were six sons and seven daughters.

Samuel B. Johnson was reared cm the home farm in Somerset county, and on reaching manhood was married there, Init his wife lived only a short time. After his marriage he followed farming in that county on his own account until 1847, vhen he came west to Iowa. He found Cedar Rapids a mere crossroad village with three or four business houses. For two years he was connected with Glass & Dodge in the manufacture of farming mills, and then turned his attention to the carpenter's trade. As a contractor and builder he erected the first frame house on the west side of the river, which still stands as a landmark of pioneer days. Continuing at that trade for two or three years, he then took up farming. In June, 1848, he had entered a tr;ict of one hundred and si.xty acres of land near the village, and in the fall of 1850 built thereon a house and commenced to break and improve his property, making it his hduie for iran years. One hundred and twenty acres of this tract lie sul)sequently laid out in city lots, it becoming known as Young's third and fifth additions to Cedar Rapids. On ern residence at the corner of Eighteenth avenue and Eighth street west, which was one of the best in the city. His present residence was erected in 1900. Soon after the Civil war Mr. Johnson embarked in merchandising, but at the end nf a year he sold out. He was one of the organizers and original stockholders of the Van Wechten Cedar Rapids Bank, and also one of the organizers and stockholders of the telephone company of the city. He has been one of Cedar Rapids' most active and progressive citizens, and has added materially to its development and progress.

Mr. Johnson was again married, in Freeport, Illinois, April 14, 1850, his second union being with liss Catherine Gettemy, who was also born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, but was reared in Ohio, and was a young lady when she removed to Stephenson county. Illinois. By this marriage was born a daughter, Alice E., wife of R. P. Taylor, of Cedar Rapids, by whom she has four sons, Howard Earl, Samuel and William, twins, and Richard. By his first wife Mr. Johnson has a son, Curtis C, a farmer of Pawnee county, Nebraska, who is married and has three sons and two daughters.

Politically ]Mr. Johnson has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party since its organization, having voted for John C. Fremont in 1856. and for every presidential candidate of the party since that time with one exception when in the east. He has cast a presidential ballot at fourteen elections, and has been a delegate tn many county and congressional conventions. He was township trustee for twelve or fourteen years, overseer of the poor for a number of years, and served on the city board for several years. He made a faithful and efficient officer in whatever position he was called upon to fill. Both Mr. and IMrs. Johnson are charter members of the First United Presbyterian church on the west side, and he was one of the trustees of the same for a number of years. For fifty-four years he has made his home in Linn county, and is to-day the oldest male resident of Cedar Rapids. He has witnessed the wonderful growth and development of the city, and has ever borne his part in the work of building and advancement. He helped build the first ferry boat for the town, and as an enterprising and public-spirited citizen he has been an important factor in public progress. His long residence here has made him widely known, and it is safe to say that no man in the community is more honored or respected than Samuel S. Johnson.

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

H. JOHNSON, a native of Linn

County, was born in Cedar Rapids-Ian.

,xy,yr/ 12, 1857. His parents were Robert and

Margaret (Bowling) Johnson, natives of: Pennsylvania, and engaged there in agricultural pursuits until 1846, when, desiring to better their fortunes in the West, they came into the Hawkeye State, and purchased a farm in Rapids Township. This consisted of 220 acres, and the father remained here until his decease, which occurred in 1865. The mother is still living on the old home- Stead. These excellent people may be properly classed among the early pioneers of Linn County.

They came here about the time that Iowa was admitted as a State into the Union, and while they witnessed the progress and development of the country they also aided materially in assisting its advancement.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM H. JOHNSON.

Ailliam PI. Johnson, the well-known and popular proprietor of the only general store on the west side of Cedar Rapids, is one of Iowa's native sons, his birth having occurred in Jackson county, July 2, 1861. His father, John Jolinson, was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1810, and at the age of eighteen years came to America on a sailing vessel. Landing in New York city, he remained there for a time working as a laborer, but during the gold excitement in California, in 1849, '' went to the Pacific slope and successfully engaged in mining for about three years, clearing twenty thousand dollars in gold. He then removed to Jackson county, Iowa, where he purchased a homestead of one hundred and fort acres,

.his being the first house erected on the present site of Maquoketa. At that time he owned all the land on which is now a flourishing city of five thousand inhabitants. In 1 8 — he married Ellen O'Meara, who was born in the province of Grand Ottawa. Canada, in 1842, and was nine years of age when she removed with her parents to Clinton county, Iowa. She is now a resident of Cedar Rapids. Her father, Thomas O'Ieara, was a native of Ireland, and at an early age came to this country, landing in Xew York. On his removal to Clinton county. Iowa, he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land, which he operated during the remainder of his life, being engaged in the raising of both grain and stock. He died in 1856, at about the age of seventy years. His wife was of Scottish descent and died in 1876, at the age of forty. The remains of both were interred in the Catholic cemetery at Deep Creek, Clinton county.

The subject of this sketch is one of a family of four children. He was educated in the district schools near his boyhood home in Jackson county, and assisted his father in the labors of the farm until the latter's death in 1876. During the following two years he had charge of the old homestead, but it was sold at the end of that time, and he went tij Maquoketa, where he attended school six months. He then spent a short time in Clinton county, Iowa, and in 1879, when the gold excitement was at its height in Leadvilje, Colorado, he went to that place and took up claims. He also engaged in speculating and ran a hotel for a time, while later he was with a government surveying party in Arizona and Xew Me.xico. Mr. Johnson spent about two years at Camp Cummings, Wyoming, and while there held the office of sheriff for one year and conducted a general store at that place. He located the Mary Jane mine in the ten mile district of Leadville, which he and his partner afterward sold to Governor Tabor, of Colorado, for thirty thousand dollars, and which is to-day a successful mine. He also entered a claim on Spanish Peak and sold the tenfoot hole for eight thousand dollars to Colonel Davis, of Placerville county, and located a number of other successful mines.

In 1886 Mr. Johnson came to Cedar Rapids to visit his mother, intending to return to the gold fields, but being well pleased with the city he decided to remain here and opened a meat market on South First street west, which he conducted for four years. On selling out, he engaged in breeding fast horses for a time and also owned a race track, but in November, 1895, he again embarked in the meat business at No. 118 Third avenue west, in the west end of the building which he now occupies. A year later he put in a stock of groceries, being the first man in Cedar Rapids to have a grocery and meat market together. Since then he has enlarged his business, and now has the only department store on the west side, handling all kinds of merchandise in connection with his former business. He is a wide-awake, energetic man of progressive ideas and has been eminently successful in his business ventures.

Mr. Johnson was married in 1895 to Miss Sophia Heins, who was born July 8, 1 862, a daughter of John and Sophia Heins. She has three brothers and one sister, namely: Frank, a lawyer of Cedar Rajjids; Emma, wife of-Arthur Ferguson, of Clay county, Iowa; John, who is married and lives four miles west of Cedar Rapids: and

Louis, also an attorney of this city. Mr. and jNIrs. Johns(in have one child, Hazel. Politically our subject is identified with the Democratic party, but has never been an aspirant for office. For fifteen years he has now been a resident of Cedar Rapids, and tn-day occupies quite a prominent position in Inisiness circles.

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

JAMES JOHNSON. This gentleman is a general farmer and stock-raiser, occupying his comfortable home on section 2, in Fairfax Township. He comes of the warmhearted Irish stock, being born in County. Antrim. Ireland, Feb. 5, 1820. The name of his father was John Johnson, also a native of the aforesaid comity, and who was married to Miss Jane Lawther, who had been reared in County Antrim, of Scotch and Irish parentage and ancestry.

James Johnson was the eighth in a family of nine children which were reared in the household of his father. He remained in his native county, and operated as a wagon freighter of goods for some years, until 1845, when, believing that he could better his financial condition, he emigrated to the New World, settling for a brief time near Byetown, Upper Canada, and thence proceeded to Pittsburgh, where he remained for about ten years. At this time the young State of Iowa was attracting universal attention, and he determined to go there. In the meantime, however, his parents had emigrated to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania, where the father died. After the removal of her son to Iowa, the mother joined him, and her demise occurred sometime later at his home.

After his arrival in Linn County, in 1855, Mr. Johnson was so well pleased with the appearance of the country that he at once exchanged a part of his means for 120 acres of prairie land in Fairfax Township, and ten acres of timber on Cedar River. The land was unimproved, and lie set himself industriously to cultivate it and prepare it for the raising of farm produce. His efforts were crowned with success, and he has obtained a comfortable competency.

The marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Eliza Williams was celebrated in the State of Pennsylvania, in June, 1849. Mrs. Johnson was a native of County Deny. Ireland, and came to America with her uncle when a child, with whom she remained for a time, and then went to her aunt's in Pittsburgh. To their union were born two children — Fliza J., who is living at home with her parents, and a son. John, who is deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and their daughter are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Johnson was formerly a Republican, but finally was induced to change his political opinions, and now votes the Democratic ticket, though occasionally voting for good men regardless of party. He is one of the fair and square men of Fairfax Township, and has made a u 1 record of honesty and moral worth in his community.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ELMER A. JOHNSON

Elmer A. Johnson, attorney at law of Lisbon, is actively connected with a profession which has important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any section or community, and one which has long been considered as conserving the public welfare by furthering the ends of justice and maintaining individual rights. He is one of Wisconsin's contribution to the citizenship of Iowa, his birth occurring at Warnerville on the 29th of November, 1871, a son of John and Kate (Burke) Johnson. The father was born in Norchopping, Sweden, on the 17th of October, 1843, and in the schools of his native country acquired his education. When a young man of eighteen years he decided to test the truth of the rumors which had reached him concerning the opportunities offered in the new world for advancement in business, and so, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, he landed in New York in 1859. Continuing his journey westward to Illinois, he located near Joliet, where he remained for a time, and later removed to Wisconsin, making his home at Warnerville. Devoting his energies to the occupation of farming, he remained a resident of the Badger state for a number of years, and in 1877, after making his home in Pittsville for a time, he removed to Iowa where, in 1897, he passed away on a farm near Chester. While residing in Warnerville he had married Miss Kate Burke, who was born in New York, near the city of Rome, on the 4th of October, 1847, and survives her husband, making her home at Chester, Iowa. In their family were three children: Birdie, who in 1892 became the wife of W. A. Nye, of Salem, South Dakota, and passed away December 19, 1905; Elmer A., of this review; and Dr. N. W. Johnson, a practicing physician of Quasqueton, Iowa. Mrs. Johnson is a daughter of Michael and Mary (Kelly) Burke, natives of Ireland, whence they came to the United States in 1843, settling first in New York. Later they removed to Wisconsin, taking up their above near Warnerville, where their remaining days were spent. In their family were ten children.

Elmer A. Johnson was a little lad of five years when his parents left Wisconsin, accompanying them on their removal to Howard county, Iowa. There upon a farm his boyhood and youth were passed, while the country schools furnished him his preliminary education. For about eight years thereafter he was engaged in teaching school, but he did not consider this seriously as a vocation, for he had early become imbued with a desire to follow a professional career, and with this end in view, in 1897, began studying under the direction of John MeCook, of Cresco, with whom he read law during the summer and fall months of 1897 and January of 1898. In the latter year, having mastered the fundamental principles of legal learning, he entered the law department of the Iowa State University at Iowa City, from which he was graduated in June, 1899. In the meantime, however, his college course had been interrupted, for on the 22d of April, 1898, at Iowa City, he enlisted for service in the Spanish- American war, being mustered into the United States army at Des Moines on the 17th of May as a private in Company I, Fiftieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served with his regiment until November 30, 1898, when he was mustered out and returned to Iowa City to complete his studies. In September of the following year he came to Lisbon and here opened an office, being identified with legal interests here at the present time. Almost from the beginning he was prosperous, his success being entirely due to his own efforts and merits. The possession of advantages is no guarantee whatever of professional success — this comes not of itself nor can it be secured without industry, integrity and ability. These qualities he possesses to an eminent degree and is faithful to every interest committed to his charge, while the provident care which he gives to the preparation of each case has insured his winning a large number of cases before the court.

It was on the 5th of June, 1901, that Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Ella Kettering, a native of Lisbon and a daughter of Solomon and Mary Kettering. They became the parents of one daughter, Ella Kettering Johnson. On the ist of February, 1903. the wife and mother passed away, and later Mr. Johnson was again married, his second union being with Iva M. Strong, also a native of Lisbon and a daughter of Charles and Margaret McAlister.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Johnson belongs to the Masonic order, holding membership in the blue lodge, and is likewise identified with the Knights of Pythias. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, preferring to perform his duties as a private citizen rather than figure prominently in the public eye. His time and attention arc concentrated upon his professional duties, and the clientage accorded him has attained such proportions as to place him among the successful and prominent attorneys of this county. He is, however, public-spirited in his citizenship, desiring that only which is best for his adopted city. and therefore lends his aid and influence to all matters which have for their object the growth and development of the community.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.