William T. Johnson

As printed in 1910

WILLIAM T. JOHNSON.

One of the prominent citizens of the county, who has been for many years identified with the stock business, which is of great importance in a stock-raising county like this and very serviceable to the community, Mr. Johnson is thoroughly an expert in his line, and has found his occupation very remunerative.

William T. Johnson was born in Clay township, Lafayette county, Missouri, June 21, 1864, son of Wesley Johnson, a native of Virginia and Sarah (Snyder) Johnson, of Missouri, who were married in 1855, came to Lafayette county, settling in Clay township, where she died in 1872. Mr. Johnson remained in Clay township until the fall of 1876, when he sold the farm and purchased another near Dover, remaining there until 1889, when he moved to Johnson county, Missouri, removing from there to his present home in Odessa in 1907. They were the parents of nine children who grew to maturity: Alice, wife of R. H. Benton, of Higginsville; Carrie, wife of P. H. Roberts, of Chilhowee, Johnson county, Missouri; Nannie, wife of J. J. Beals, of New Mexico; Charles died at Odessa, at the age of forty-three years; William T.; Washington E., of Higginsville; Walter, of Odessa; Lena died at the age of sixteen years; and Nellie, wife of J. A. Dennis, of Odessa.

William T. Johnson remained on the farm until the age of nineteen years when he left home, his father giving him a horse and saddle and seventy-five dollars in cash. In the fall of 1882 he went to Hickory county, Missouri, and began dealing in stock, remaining there seven years. In 1889 he went to Johnson county and farmer for one year, then returned to Clay township, this county, farming here two years. In August, 1892, he removed to Wellington, Missouri, and was engaged in the livery and stock business there for twelve years, and during about one year of this time was engaged in contract work for the Missouri Pacific railroad between Wellington and Independence. During the Spanish-American war he took a sub-contract to furnish mules and horses to the government. In 1904 he came to Odessa and engaged in farming and mule raising and buying. He owns four hundred and forty acres close to Odessa and eight hundred acres in Gore county, Kansas. In 1904 he erected one of the finest and most modern residences in Odessa.

Mr. Johnson was married in Hickory county, Missouri, June 7, 1885, to Fannie E. Wright, who was born in that county in 1867, the daughter of L. B. and Eliza E. Wright, natives of Illinois, who came to Odessa in 1907. Two children have been born to this union, Wesley B. and Ethel Elizabeth. Mrs. Johnson and her daughter are active workers in the Methodist church South.

Mr. Johnson takes much interest in all affairs of public interest. He was several terms city marshal of Wellington, and deputy constable for two or three years. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Without question, he ranks among the successful men of the county and state.

As printed in Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.