Howard County IN Archives Biographies.....Johnson, Fleming 1833 - 
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Author: Jackson Morrow

FLEMING JOHNSON.

    It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as the result of
legitimate and well applied energy, unflagging determinations and perseverance
in a course of action when once decided upon. She is never known to smile upon
the idler or dreamer and she never courts the loafer, and only the men who have
diligently sought her favor are crowned with her blessings. In tracing the
history of the influential farmer and representative citizen of Honey Creek
township, Howard county, Indiana, whose name forms the caption of this review,
it is plainly seen that the prosperity which he enjoys has been won by
commendable qualities and it is also his personal worth that has gained for him
the high esteems of those who know him.

    Fleming Johnson was born in Stark county, Ohio, September 24, 1833, the son
of Robert and Milley (Stanley) Johnson, natives of Virginia, where they grew to
maturity, moving to Ohio in 1826 and being married in Columbiana county in 1832.
They moved to Stark county, Ohio, and secured one hundred acres of land which
had never been under cultivation. But the land was soon cleared. Mr. Johnson,
being a rugged, hard working man, and a home was here established, the land
becoming highly productive under his skillful management. He devoted his life to
fanning. In politics he was a Whig and in his religious affiliations he
subscribed to the Friends church. In 1853 the parents of the subject came to
Howard county, Indiana, and settled in Honey Creek township and secured one
hundred and sixty acres of land which was wild and there were no roads leading*
from it to the outside world, but the same energy and tact, was applied to its
development that characterized the reclaiming of their farm in the old Buckeye
state and the new farm was soon a comfortable place on which to live. Eighty
acres of this land was cleared and Mr. Johnson remained here until his death in
March. 1890. Mrs. Johnson having survived him until September, 1891, when she,
too, passed to the spirit land. They were very strict with their children,
rearing them in the way they would be of the greatest benefit to their neighbors
as well as to themselves. There were eight in number, named in order of birth as
follows: Fleming, our subject: Dempsy died in December, 1906: Jonathan., who is
Hying in Hamilton county, Indiana; Asenath, who married Benjamin Terrell, living
in Ohio; Abraham, who died in 1906, lived at Young America, Indiana, having been
in the saw mill and lumber business; Lewis, who resides in Greentown; Elizabeth,
who is now deceased, married Simeon Mendenhall; William, who is living at
Kokomo, Indiana.

    The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools and the high
school where he applied himself diligently and became well educated, having
taught school in a most satisfactory manner for three years. He was united in
marriage March 15, 1855, to Rachel Bundy, of Rush county, Indiana. She was
called from her earthly labors in March, 1904. She was a woman of many
praiseworthy traits and proved at all times a faithful helpmeet. Mr. and Mrs.
Johnson became the parents of ten children, namely: Elva, who is living at home;
Charles, a farmer in Harrison township, this county; John is also farming in the
same locality; Laura is the wife of Albert Lindley, of Honey Creek township;
Millie is the wife of Charles Carter, of Honey Creek township; Sarah is the wife
of John Bowers, of Middletown, Indiana: Joseph is a farmer in Honey Creek
township; Abram has always lived at home, devoting his life to farming and
operating a threshing machine; Margaret married Samuel Turner, of Russiaville,
Indiana; Martha is living at home.

    After the subject married he located with his wife on the farm where he
still lives, the old homestead of his father. The subject has made all the
improvements on the place and he has a fine farm of one hundred and forty-two
acres, of which one hundred are under a high state of cultivation. He has
skillfully rotated his crops and kept his fields fertilized until the land has
retained its original strength and is today one of the best farms in this
community. Mr. Johnson has always been a farmer and stock raiser, being an
excellent judge of live stock, especially horses and cattle and he raises all
kinds of cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. He has also, in connection with his
farming interests, successfully operated , a threshing machine for over forty
years, becoming widely known as one of the best men in this line in the country.

    Mr. Johnson is an independent voter, but his support is always for the best
issues and the best men, for he believes in honesty in public affairs just as
strongly as in private life. He is a member of the Friends church. He is well
read on current and general topics and is an interesting conversationalist. He
is well preserved for a man of his years. He is well known and has a host of
warm friends as a result of his upright and industrious life.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)

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