BIO: Daniel Irvin JOHNSON, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ 466 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. DANIEL IRVIN JOHNSON, one of the most through and skillful farmers of Ferguson township, is a native of Centre county, born July 19, 1838, in Walker township. His parents, Jonathan C. and Sarah (Coldron) Johnson, were natives of Union and Northumberland counties, Penn., respectively, the former being of Scotch and the latter of German lineage. It was some time in the "twenties" when they came to Centre county, where they first took up their residence upon the Curtin farm, about a mile below Bellefonte, where they continued to make their home some ten years. Finally they removed to Walker township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Christopher Johnson, held a captain's commission in the Continental army under Gen. Washington, during the Revolutionary war, and in the early days was very friendly with the Indians, often feeding them. Our subject is the youngest in a family of nine children, in order of birth as follows: (1) Josiah married, and reared a family, but his wife is now deceased; he has met with a terrible misfortune in the loss of his sight, being blind for the past ten years; he now lives in Walker township with his son Claude. (2) William E., a carpenter of Des Moines, Iowa, is married and has reared a family. (3) Maria wedded Levi Dixon, but both are now deceased; they had two daughters. (4) Jonathan C. is living with his family in Lock Haven, Penn., where he is engaged in carpentering. (5) Peter C. is married, and is engaged in the coal business in Milton, this State. (6) Sarah J. died when young. (7) Joel H., whose wife has been helpless from paralysis of the past five years, has a family of nine children. (8) Emily is the widow of Ambrose McMullen, and the mother of three children. (9) Daniel I. is our subject. In the usual manner of farmer boys, Daniel I. Johnson was reared and educated. During the Civil war he was drafted, but was exempt as he was the only support of his father. For the past seven years he has resided upon his present farm, a valuable tract of 323 acres in Ferguson township, a mile and a half west of State College. After renting for about three years he purchased the place in 1892. It evinces, both in its culture and in the good and substantial buildings erected upon it, the diligence and thrift of the owner, and prosperity seems to await upon his steps. Being endowed with a remarkable amount of energetic spirit and good business tact he has since coming here succeeded in achieving a fair amount of success. In 1865 he married Miss Catharine Rebecca Brumgard, and to them have been born six children, all sons, and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. They are as follows: Austin L., a resident of Axemann, Centre county, married a Miss Steele, and has four children; Cyrus M., a farmer of Ferguson township, wedded Marian Miller, and has two children; William E., of Ferguson township, wedded Mary Wilson, and has two children; and Joseph N., Olin A. and Emery C. are still at home. Mr. Johnson is highly esteemed in the community as an honorable, upright and trustworthy man, true to every trust reposed in him whether public or private. He uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party, socially is connected with the Grange, and in religious belief is a Lutheran. He is a man of much force of character, strong individuality, and his pleasant, social manner has won for him a host of warm friends, whom he delights to entertain at his beautiful home.