- WILLIAM F. JOHNSON holds an enviable position among the prosperous
and time-honored
- citizens of the town of Sylvester, Green county, in which
town he owns a fine farm, on which he makes his home. He has
become noted for his industrious habits and neighborly spirit.
- Mr. JOHNSON was born in the East, a son of John and Nancy
(LEEPER) JOHNSON, both of
- whom were natives of Lawrence county, Penn., where John JOHNSON
was born Sept. 9, 1797, and where he died Jan. 21, 1837. He was
a son of John and Margaret JOHNSON, both natives of Ireland,
from which country they came to America in the days preceding
the American Revolution. John JOHNSON and Nancy LEEPER were married
about 1820, and to them were born seven children, the eldest
of whom, Margaret, became the wife of Harvey BALDWIN, and both
are now deceased. David C. was married to Mary CALE, of Ohio,
and is now living at Johnsonville, in that State. Mary married
Arney BIDDLE, and both are now deceased. Robert was married to
Miss Delia DUNN, of Pennsylvania, and both are now deceased.
William F. was born Feb. 1, 1830. John is living in Ohio. Martha,
the widow of John HOYETTE, lives at Newcastle, Pennsylvania.
- William F. JOHNSON wedded Miss Sarah Catherine GILSON, of
Illinois, the marriage taking
- place at Newcastle, Penn., May 13, 1856. She was the daughter
of James GILSON, a tailor by trade. To this union were born five
children: Annie M., born Feb. 24, 1857, is now the wife of George
H. PENGRA, a thrifty farmer of the town of Sylvester. Franklin
R., born Aug. 11, 1861, married Miss Fannie OSTRANDER, of the
town of Jefferson, and is a prosperous farmer near Brooking,
S. Dak. Mary L., born March 25, 1864, is the wife of Charles
COATS, of Juda. Ada M. born Nov. 30, 1867, married Frank MITCHELL,
of Rock county, Wis. Ira D., born Aug. 23, 1876, is unmarried,
and is living at home. Mrs. Sarah Catherine JOHNSON died May
21, 1899, aged sixty-four years, seven months, one day. She was
a consistent Christian, a devout member of the Methodist Church,
and a loving wife and mother, and was a great help to her husband
during the forty-five years they were together. She was a good
woman, a cheerful and inspiring companion, and much of the success
our subject has attained may fairly be attributed to her cooperation.
- In the fall of 1856 Mr. JOHNSON came to the town of Sylvester
and effected a settlement on
- section 14, and here he has followed farming for the last
forty-five years. When he entered Wisconsin he was a poor man,
but in the intervening years, by industry, thrift and wise management,
he has become the owner of a fine farm of 210 acres, well equipped
with everything that makes modern agriculture successful and
attractive. He occupies a comfortable and cozy residence, and
has erected farm buildings suited to all the needs of his work.
In politics he is a Republican and in religion a Methodist. His
character and standing in the community are above question, and
receives the good will of the people of the town.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; p. 535.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
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