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.
From Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901)
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 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.
The printed record stops around 1901. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.