Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Johnson, Thomas 1903
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net September 12, 2012, 6:04 pm

The Lake Odessa Wave, Thursday, February 26, 1903

Thomas Johnson died at his home in this village on Monday morning at two 
o’clock.  Mr. Johnson had been seriously ill for the past three weeks, and his 
death did not come unexpected.  About a year ago he was stricken first with 
paralysis, but he partly recovered from this and had been able to get around, 
although very much weaker than ever before, and that his days were short was 
as well known by himself as by those who came in daily contact with him.

The funeral was held from the M. E. church on Wednesday afternoon at two 
o’clock, Rev. Wilcox preaching the funeral sermon; and the old gentleman’s 
remains interred in Lakeside cemetery.  A large number of people were in 
attendance at the funeral to pay their last respects to a kind neighbor and 
friend.

Mr. Johnson had been a familiar figure here for half century nearly, and was 
possibly as well known as anyone in Odessa township.  He was born in 
Lincolnshire, England, June 14, 1821, he being the last of a family of seven 
children.

He was left fatherless when seven years of age.  He grew up under a mother’s 
care until he was 18 years of age, then he went upon a farm and worked three 
years, after that time he returned to his mother’s home and remained three 
years, busying himself at various occupations.  

Being possessed with a desire to come to the new world, where the 
opportunities for a young man were greater; with a young wife and infant child 
he set sail for America on April 17, 1845, and landed at Quebec, whence he 
went at once to Rochester, New York.  He remained in that city for three 
years, working at whatever he could find to do, after which he went into the 
country and worked by the month during the summer and laboring in the plaster 
regions in the winter.  For four seasons he was employed by the same man, and 
then went to another neighborhood, where he worked on a farm for four years 
more.  

He then came to Ionia county in 1855, purchasing 80 acres of wild land, and 
commenced clearing up his farm. He built a log cabin the following year and 
moved into it.  He continued clearing land and in the second year put out 
three acres of corn, the ground he sowed to wheat in the fall.  The entire 
tract comprising the original homestead has been cleared, and to that twenty 
acres added, around which has grown Lake Odessa and one of the most thriving 
and prosperous communities of the state, Mr. Johnson always seeming to be 
getting as much of the world’s goods as the rest, and enjoying it more than 
most people.  What was once his wilderness home is covered with fine farm 
buildings, part of his farm is platted off and forms part of our village.

In referring to a biographical sketch written for a history of Ionia and 
Montcalm counties, we find that when Mr. Johnson arrived in Quebec he had but 
65 cents, and with him a wife and sick child.  Notwithstanding these 
discouraging circumstances he kept up his courage, and incited by his love for 
his family and his ambition to make his way in the world, he pushed forward 
until he reached the position of substantial land owner.  Like all of the 
early settlers his purposes were not accomplished without hardships, trials 
that people now days could seemingly not stand.

He was united in marriage to Miss Jane Metcalf, in Donington, England, in 
1843, she shared his fortunes and helped bear the burdens of his first year in 
a new world, until January 25, 1855.  She died at Monroe county, New York.  Of 
this union there were born seven children, four of whom are living, vix: 
Joseph, Frank and John, all now living in Odessa, and William, whose home is 
in the county and state where his mother died.

Mr. Johnson was married a second time, his bride being Miss Betsey Harkness, 
who became the mother of a son, Walter.  This good woman shared with our 
subject in the trials of a pioneer life, but lived to see fortune smile upon 
them and the neighborhood become prosperous and well settled.  She entered 
into rest August 4, 1880.  Since that time Mr. Johnson has lived on the old 
farm, his son, Walter, living with him.

In his declining years Mr. Johnson never lost any of his ambition, old age and 
infirmities alone preventing his doing a man’s work in the field.   He was of 
a jovial, good-natured disposition, being known far and near and always spoken 
of as “Uncle Tom.”

When the summons came he was ready to go, and had often remarked that his span 
was nearly reached, but felt no regrets that he could not be allowed to remain 
longer.


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