In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1831
From The history of Buchanan County, Missouri (1881)
J. B. JOHNSON, of the firm of J. B. Johnson & Son, marble dealers, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 183 1, and many of his early days were spent in tilling the soil. He learned his trade at Zanesville, residing there three and a half years, after which he removed to Indiana, and remained until 1857. He then came to St. Joseph. Johnson & Son deal in American and Italian marble, and one account of their long sojourn in the county is their first-class workmanship, which have thus secured them a lucrative trade. He was married in 1857, to Miss H. M. Albertson, a native of Orange County, Indiana. They have four children — H. B., J. M., Mollie and B. Mr. Johnson is a Master Mason.
As printed in The history of Buchanan County, Missouri (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.