Isaac M. Johnson
Isaac M. Johnson, farmer and stock raiser, is a son of William and Jane B. Johnson, who came in an early day from Virginia, and settled in Heller's Bottom, on Paint Creek, Ross County, Ohio, where they remained for twenty-seven years, when they removed to Fayette County, and settled on the old Jesse Rowe farm, on the waters of the Wabash, where he died about 1833. Mrs. Johnson died in March, 1880, being in her ninetieth year. Tliey were the parents of the following children: Thomas G., married, and lives in Green Township, near Buena Vista; Sarah, married, and lives in Iowa; William, married, moved to Indiana, and died; John, married, and died at the age of twenty-two; George, married, and lives in Iowa; Sophia, wife of Martin Rowe, whose biography appears in this work; Otho, married, went to Illinois, and was killed by a railroad accident at Toleno Jnnction; Hinton, married, moved to Illinois, and is dead; Eliza, wife of John Mitchner, lives in Staunton; Caleb H., married, and lives in Concord Township; Mary A., married to Eli Johnson (no kin), and lives in Leesburg, Highland County, Ohio; Anna, married to William Pavey, but is dead; Isaac M., the subject of this sketch.
Our subject was born in Fayette County, September 9, 1823, and was married to Miss Casander Dick, daughter of John Dick, October 8, 1846. They were the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters: Jane Josephine, married, and lives in this county; Mary Lorena, married, and lives in Staunton; Scott, died when but two years of age; Henson D., single, and at home on the farm with his father.
Mrs. Johnson died in the fall of 1855, and about one year afterward Mr. Johnson married for his second wife Leann Clauson, daughter of William Clauson, residing near New Holland. They are without children. Mrs. Johnson is a most excellent woman, but does not enjoy first-class health. Mr. Johnson purchased what was known as the Jenkins farm, in the spring of 1849, and soon settled on the same, where he still remains. His farm contains three hundred and seventy-eight acres, situated on the pike leading from Washington to Greenfield, about midway between the towns. They live in a magnificent brick house, with a lovely yard and surroundings, on the south side of the pike. Mr. Johnson is one of the well to-do farmers of Fayette County. He was out in the army for four montlis, and was taken prisoner by Morgan's forces at Cynthiana, Kentucky, but was soon released. In politics he is a life-long Republican; in religion, a Methodist.
Some eight years ago a very interesting orphan girl was placed in the family of Mr. Johnson (Miss Ellen Brown, daughter of the late Dr. Brown, of Martinsburg,) by her grandfather, who requested Mr. and Mrs. Johnson to take charge of her, and raise her to womanhood. She was but seven years old at the time. She proved to be a very interesting girl; so amiable and sweet-spirited that Mr. Johnson and family became very greatly attached to her—indeed, they loved her as though she was a member of the family by blood, and especially was this the case with Mrs. Johnson. Some two years ago Ellen died a triumphant death, believing, with all her heart, in the Lord Jesus Christ. Such was Mrs. Johnson's love and affection for this dear orphan girl, that she weeps, as only a pure woman can weep, when she talks of Ellen Brown's life and death.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County
Prominent among the prosperous and intelligent agriculturists of Perry Township, Fayette County, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. His fine farm with its excellent improvements forms one of the most attractive features of the township. He is the son of William and Jane B. (Dowden) Johnson, natives respectively of Delaware and Virginia. The parents were married in the latter-named State and came hither in 1810, which was at an early day in the history of Ohio. They made their first location in Hellard's Bottom, Ross County, and in 1816 removed to Fayette County, where the father purchased one hundred acres of partially improved land in Greene Township, which was the property of Jesse Rowe.
William Johnson located with his family in Greene Township, where, in addition to the tract already mentioned, he purchased two hundred acres more, which he cleared and improved. At the time of his death, which occurred about 1832, he was the possessor of a magnificent estate numbering six hundred acres of valuable land, all of which had been accumulated by his untiring industry and perseverance, coupled with his good judgement. The mother of our subject bore her husband thirteen children, only seven of whom are living, and died in the spring of 1880. Two sons, Caleb H. and Isaac M., were soldiers in the late Civil War. Mrs. Johnson was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father in politics was a Whig. He was a patriot in the War of 1812, fighting under Gen. William Henry Harrison. The mother of our subject purchased another farm from the proceeds left her by her husband, and after remaining a widow for twelve years, was married to David Woodmansie, who is now deceased.
The original of this sketch was born September 8, 1822, on the old homestead in Greene Township, this county. His school privileges were very limited, he being privileged to attend only a few months in the year the old log schoolhouse, with slab seats, puncheon floor and greased-paper windows. He remained under the parental roof, aiding his father in clearing the farm, until his twentieth year. Mr. Johnson aided in the construction through this section of the Cincinnati & Marietta Railroad, of which he was a stockholder, and when engaging to work out on farms, received as his first year's wages, $8.50 per month.
October 8, 1846, Cassandra, daughter of John Dick, became the wife of our subject. The father was a native of Virginia and after a short residence in this state removed to Indiana, where he passed his last days near Wabash. Mrs. Johnson was born September 18, 1825. After his marriage, our subject worked land on shares for Jackson Rogers for another twelvemonth, at the end of which time he passed a like period on the old home far. In the spring of 1849, he purchased his present farm of Stafford Jenkins. Mrs. Johnson died October 27, 1855, after having borne her husband four children, all of whom are living with one exception: Jane Josephine was born October 17, 1847, married David Shimp and resides in Perry Township, being the mother of five children; Mary L., born February 18, 1850, is the wife of Charles A. Stafford, who makes his home in Concord Township, and has three children; Henson D. was born September 24, 1855, married Rilla Brannon and resides in this township, their family including two children.
Our subject was again married, November 11, 1856, this time to Leeann, daughter of William and Matilda (Chambers) Clawson. The father of Mrs. Johnson was a soldier in the War of 1812, and passed from this life in 1869. His good wife bore him seven children and died in 1869. Miss Leeann was born May 10, 1828, in Ross County, this State. He of whom we write is the owner of three hundred and fourteen acres of valuable land, nearly all of which is under fine cultivation. The old log house has long since given way to a large brick residence, which is presided over by Mrs. Johnson, who is a most intelligent and hospitable lady. The farm buildings are numerous and substantial, thus affording ample room for the storage of grain and the shelter of stock. Many ords of tiling thoroughly drain the land, which is some of the most productive in the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which body they have been connected the past forty years. Our subject has been a Trustee and Steward in his denomination and contributes generously of his means for its support. He has been a charter member of the Grange, in which organization he was chaplain, and his good wife, who was also a member, was Flora. For a number of years he was a large stockholder and Director of the GrangeStore. He has served on both the School and Township Board, and, in politics, votes the straight Republican ticket, firmly believing that party to be in the right. Always interested in towhship affairs, he served for a period as a Trustee.
From PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES
Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1892