J. V. Johnson

As printed in 1901

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.

On her mother's side Mrs. Johnson traces

As printed in Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.