Jasper County IL Archives Biographies.....Johnson, William 1834 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 25, 2011, 6:50 pm

Source: See below
Author: Lake City Publishing Co.

WILLIAM JOHNSON, who follows farming on section 15, Wade Township, well deserves
mention among the early settlers of Jasper County, where he has resided for more
than a quarter of a century. During all these years he has been identified with
its agricultural interests and now owns and operates a farm of one hundred and
twenty acres, pleasantly and conveniently situated three miles from Newton.

  Mr. Johnson claims Indiana as the State of his nativity. He was born in Wayne
County, April 5, 1834, and is the second in a family of four sons and seven
daughters, whose parents were Samuel and Catherine (Ladd) Johnson. His father
was a native of North Carolina, and when a lad of five years was brought by his
father, William Johnson, to Indiana. The Johnson family is of Scotch-Irish
descent and was founded in North Carolina at a very early day. William Johnson,
Sr., located in Wayne, Ind., and there reared his family. After attaining to
mature years, Samuel Johnson married Miss Ladd, a native of Wayne County, and a
daughter of Joseph Ladd, who was born in North Carolina, and was one of the
heroes of the Revolution. The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation
and followed that business in Wayne County throughout his entire life. He died
in 1869, and his wife, who survived him a number of years, passed away in
August, 1891, at the advanced age of eighty years. Both were buried in Mt. Zion
Cemetery, in Williamsburg, where a monument marks their last resting-place. Mr.
Johnson was a man of prominence in his community. He served as Justice of the
Peace and was also Postmaster for a number of years. He held membership with the
United Brethren Church and served as one of its officers. Of his family, five
daughters and our subject are yet living.

  William Johnson grew to manhood in the county of his birth, spending his
boyhood days under the parental roof. His educational privileges were quite good
for that day. Prompted by patriotic impulses he responded to the country's call
for troops, and in August, 1862, became a member of the Sixty-ninth Indiana
Infantry. He enlisted as a private of Company E, but was promoted to the rank of
Sergeant. He participated in the battles of Richmond (Ky.), Chickasaw Bayou and
Arkansas Post. On the 30th of August, 1862, he was taken prisoner at Richmond,
Ky., and held in camp by rebel guards for a few days. He was then paroled, and
two and a-half months later was exchanged. In April, 1863, he was discharged on
account of physical disability.

  On receiving his discharge, Mr. Johnson returned to his home in Indiana, and
when he had recovered his health engaged in farming. In the fall of 1867, he
came to Illinois and purchased and located upon the farm which has since been
his home. It was then only partially improved, but he soon placed the entire
amount under a high state of cultivation, erected a neat and substantial
residence and built good barns and all other necessary outbuildings. He has a
good bearing orchard, and in fact, the Johnson homestead is considered one of
the finest and most highly improved farms of this locality.

  On the 27th of January, 1859, in Wayne County, Ind., Mr. Johnson was united in
marriage with Mary Jane Beverlin, a native of that county, and a daughter of
Thomas Beverlin. They have four children yet living: Edgar, who is married and
resides upon a farm in Wade Township; Leander, who is also married and follows
farming in this township; Oscar, who aids his father in the operation of the old
home; and Lizzie, who completes the family. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson also lost their
first-born, a son, who died in childhood.

  Our subject is a well-known citizen of Jasper County. For a quarter of a
century he has been identified with its growth and upbuilding, and has aided
materially in its development and progress. lie is a public-spirited and
progressive citizen and manifests a commendable interest in all that pertains to
the welfare of the community. The cause of education has ever found in him a
warm friend, and he has faithfully served as a member of the School Board for
about twenty years. He has been officially connected with the County Fair
Association since its organization and for four years was its president. In
politics, he is a Republican, having been a stalwart supporter of that party
since its formation. lie voted for its first Presidential candidate, John C.
Fremont, and has supported each Presidential nominee since that time. Socially,
he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights of Honor, and
the Grand Army Post. In all the relations of life, Mr. Johnson has been
honorable and upright, and his many excellencies of character have won him a
well-merited esteem.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper and Richland Counties
Chicago: Lake City Publishing Co.
1893


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