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 1842, Highland County
From The history of Buchanan County, Missouri (1881)
JOHN W. JOHNSON is the efficient Secretary and Treasurer of the St. Joseph Steam Printing Company, and was born in Highland County, Ohio, March 9, 1842. He received his education in his native place, and was reared with a mercantile experience. He commenced as a clerk in his father's store, and after arriving at manhood, engaged in business on his own account. In September, 1869, he decided to avail himself of the wider field of the West for his operations and selected St. Joseph and formed a partnership with Captain F. M. Posegate, under the firm title of Posegate & Johnson. After a short time he sold his interest and engaged in the mercantile business at Lathrop, Clinton County, Missouri, with satisfactory results. He sold out his business here during the year, and once more returned to St. Joseph and assisted in organizing the St. Joseph Steam Printing Company, and has been its Secretary and Treasurer from its organization, a fact that is very complimentary to him for the manner in which he has discharged his duties. He has been twice married, first in September, 1863, to Miss Annie M. McClure, of Ohio. She died in 1868, leaving one daughter, Sallie. His second marriage occurred in 1871, to Miss Annie E. Milner, a native of Highland County, Ohio. Their family, by this union, consists of one son, Ralph.
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.