Bio of JOHNSON, William H. (b.1836) Wright Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Diane Hanson Submitted: April 2004 ========================================================================= 1055 HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY William H. Johnson, a respected resident of Howard Lake, was born August 22, 1836, in Cadwell county, Virginia, now West Virginia, son of John and Alefara (Copley) Johnson. John Johnson was born in North Carolina, and his wife in Wayne county, Virginia. After their marriage they lived a while in Kentucky, but soon moved to Virginia. It was in 1865 that they came to Minnesota and located on 160 acres of wild land in township 117, range 28, McLeod township. They erected a log cabin, partly cleared the place, and underwent the usual experiences of pioneer life. Their milling points were at Watertown and Hutchinson. Later in life John Johnson sold this farm and secured one in Wadena county, where he died at the age of seventy. His wife died in Portland, Ore., at the age of eighty-nine. In the family there were twelve children: William H., James, Eli, Ira, Harrison, Anthony, Henry, Linza, Sarah J., Nancy and Allie. The four oldest sons all fought in Company F, 5th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. Harrison, the fifth son, enlisted in the 45th Kentucky Mounted Infantry and served eighteen months. John Johnson himself was too old for active service in the Civil war, but during that conflict he served four years as a member of the West Vir- 1056 HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY ginia Home Guards. John Johnson was the son of Andrew and Rebecca (Esther) Johnson, who came to the United States from the north of Ireland and settled in North Carolina. Alefara Copley was the daughter of James and Rebecca Copley, of English descent. William H. Johnson was reared in Virginia, and received such education as the neighborhood afforded. Early in 1861 he served three months as first lieutenant in the Virginia National Guard. August 1, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, 5th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, was mustered in August 10, was assigned to the Eighth Army Corps, and served three years, one month and twenty-three days, going in as a private and coming out as sergeant. Among the battles in which he participated may be mentioned Cross Keyes, Second Bull Run, Manassas Gap, Manassas Junction, Winchester, Harper's Ferry, Morefield, Strawsburg, Antietam and others, besides many minor engagements, campaigns, marches, sieges and skirmishes. He had many holes shot through his clothes, and blood was several times drawn on his body, but he was not seriously injured. He was mustered out at Wheeling, W. Va. In the spring of 1865 he brought his wife and son, Ira, to McLeod county, Minnesota, secured forty- eight acres of wild land, erected a log cabin, cleared up the land and developed a good farm. On that farm there were born four children, Tennessee, Florence, Sanford and Elga. In May, 1883, Mr. Johnson came to Howard Lake and purchased fourteen acres adjoining the village. While in Hale and Winstead townships, McLeod county, he served as supervisor and constable. In Howard Lake he was constable and village marshal for twenty-three years. Fraternally he is associated with the Goodsell Post, No. 86, G. A. R., and Howard Lake Lodge, 82, A. F. and A. M. Mr. Johnson was married in 1860 to Mrs. Jane (Damon) Polly, a native of Virginia, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Damon. Mrs. Johnson is one of the best beloved women in Howard Lake. On July 7, 1914, she celebrated her seventy-eighth birthday. Mrs. Johnson, by her first husband, James E. Polly, has four sons: Silas, Hiram Wayne, Moses D and James Edward.