Solomon F. Johnson
Solomon F. Johnson, coal dealer and farmer, is the son of Thomas T. and Mary Johnson, who were natives of Virginia; but came with their parents to this state, in an early day, when they were quite young. His father first settled in Greene County, and his mother in Warren County. After their marriage they removed to Springfield, Illinois, where they remained some three years; when they removed to the State of Indiana and remained a short time, then they returned to Ohio and settled in Fayette County, where the mother died, at the age of seventy-two, and the father at the advanced age of eighty. They were the parents of seven children, four daughters and three sons. Anna, married to Simeon Creamer, now deceased. She remains a widow and lives near the line of Clinton and Fayette counties. Rachel died at the age of twelve. Amos Thornburg, married and lives in Jacksonville, Oregon. Martha was unmarried, and died in Springfield, Illinois, at the age of eighteen. Lydia married for her first husband Wesley Creamer, and after his decease, she married Mathias Sheeley for her second husband. She is a resident of this county. William Todd married and moved to the State of Iowa some years ago.
Solomon F., the subject of this sketch, was born near Paintersville, Greene County, Ohio, December 31, 1824. He married Miss Mary Creamer, July 19, 1846, daughter of Simeon and Elizabeth Creamer of this county. The mother died in 1842, and the father in 1865. Mrs. Johnson descends from a most excellent family. Mr. Johnson was engaged in the mercantile business in Jamestown, Greene County, Ohio, from 1846 to 1849, when he sold out his mercantile business and moved to this county, where he has continuously resided until the present time.
Mr. Johnson spent several years, after his removal to this county, in farming, and selling goods and groceries in Jeffersonville and West Lancaster.
In 1857, he moved to Washington, and was engaged in the grain and grocery business until April, 1858, when he became deputy sheriff of the county, which office consumed his time up to August, I860, when on the third day of that month, he was appointed station agent for the the town of Washington, by the Cincinnati, Wilmington and Zanesville. Railroad Company, now known as the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad. In a very short time after his appointment as railroad agent, he was appointed agent of the Adams Express Company, which position he held for some fourteen years. Mr. Johnson held the position of railroad agent, at Washington, for seventeen years; resigning August 3, 1877.
In 1862, he commenced the selling of coal in Washington, and has continued in the business up to the present time. For many years he was the only dealer in coal in the town, and few men here handled so large an amount of coal as has Mr. Johnson. The year previous to Mr Johnson's commencing the coal business, only forty five car loads of coal were required to supply the trade of the town. Mr. Johnson has seen such an increase in the coal demand, that more than one thousand car loads have been disposed of in a single year. Mr. Johnson has always been considered a safe, honest and reliable business man; giving strict attention to business, and as a result, has accumulated quite an amount of valuable property. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres adjoining the town, west, on the C. & M. V. Railroad. Also, a very fine new brick residence, where he resides, on North Street, between Court and East streets; also, quite a number of valuable pieces of property in the town; as well as some fifty-nine hundred dollars of bank stock, in the Peoples and Drovers Bank of the town.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of nine children, five of whom are deceased: Theresa and Willie died in infancy, Clara Bell at the age of twelve, Laura at the age of fifteen, and Nellie at the age of twelve.
Theodore Frank is a young man of much promise. He remains single and takes good care not to leave his mother's bed and board. He has been connected with the Peoples and Drovers Bank of Washington for a number of years, and is regarded as a safe, upright business young man. He received his education in the schools of the town.
Lucy May and Emma Gary, arc young ladies, both single and at home with their parents; both being graduates of the high school of the town, and much respected by all.
Charley Card is a lad of eighteen, attending school, and during vacation assisting his father in the coal business.
In politics Mr. Johnson is a Republican. In religion, a Quaker. He is a Freemason, being a member of Lodge No. 107, of this town.
Mrs. Johnson is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County