James Johnson
James Johnson, a retired farmer, residing on his farm of 140 acres of land situated in Ross Township, O., was born in Salem Township, November 16, 1832, and is a son of Thomas and Christina (Carroll) Johnson.
Thomas Johnson was born in Ireland and came to America and to Island Creek Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, when small. He grew to manhood there and then was married to Christina Carroll, in Salem Township, where the remainder of his life was spent. He was a man of great industry, and cleared almost all of his farm of 160 acres. He died when aged sixty-two years and was buried in the Salem Township Cemetery. He cast his vote with the Democratic party. While he was a Presbyterian in religious faith, his wife was a Lutheran. She survived to the age of eighty-six years. They had the following children: Henry, who lives in Springfield Township; Thomas, who resides in Island Creek Township; Jane, who lives at New Philadelphia, O.; Samuel, who lives at Reeds' Mills; Christina, who lives at Annapolis, O.; James; Harriet (Miser), who lives in Salem Township; Rosanna, who died at New Philadelphia; Michael and Rosanna (2), both of whom died infancy; and Nimrod, who lives near Unionport, in Salem Township.
James Johnson remained at home until he was nineteen years of age, and assisted his father and went to school. He then decided to become a blacksmith and learned tlie trade at Bowling Green, in Jefferson County, and in 1854 started into business for himself, locating at Mooretown, in Ross Township. He conducted his shop there for seven years and then moved it to Bacon Ridge, where he continued for six more years, after which he came to his present place, then called Timothy Ridge, where he continued at his trade and engaged also in farming. He erected all the substantial buildings on his place and made many improvements to add to its value and appearance. Mr. Johnson continued his blacksmith business until 1899, having a reputation for fine work that extended all over the county.
In September, 1859, he was married (first) to Miss Lucinda Adams, a daughter of William Adams, who left the following children: Howard, of Coshocton, and Oren, Ida, Ada, Wesley, Cora, Margaret and Mary. Mr. Johnson married his second wife, Miss Nancy Jane Maple, a daughter of James Maple, of Bacon Ridge. Mr. Johnson is a Democrat, but has never taken any strong interest in politics and has never sought public office.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910