The grandfather of our subject was samuel Johnson, who was a native of the northern part of Ireland, of Scotch ancestry. He came to this country before the Revolutionary War, in which he served as a private and located in what is now Dauphin County PA where he was an early settler and lived and died there after following the occupation of a farmer. Samuel Johnson was noted for his energetic character.

The father of our subject, James John Sr. was the youngest of a five sons and three daughters, and was reared in Dauphin County where he was born. He grew up a farmer and was married to Mary Johnson, of the same county, to whom he is distantly related. She was reared and educated in her native county, and came of the same ancestry as her husband. The parents later in life went to what is now Clinton County PA and there made their home until their death, the father being 84 and the mother 80 years old at the time of their decease. They were early settlers of Clinton County.

Our subject is the fifth of ten children, four sons and six daughters. He was born in the southern part of PA Oct. 14, 1814 and grew up at home, his father having moved to several different counties during his childhood. Our subject received his education principally in Franklin Co PA. He lived at home, until he wsa 14 or 15 years old, when he set out to make his own way in life. He worked for a few years in a woolen fctory, and was married to Elizabeth Smith in Clinton County.]

Mrs. Johnson came of Scotch-Irish ancestry, was born in Clinton County near Mill Hall in 1822, and is the daughter of Samuel and Anna (Gillan) Smith. Her father was born and reared in CLinton County and came West about 1847, settling for time in this county and later going to Iowa, where he died at West union, advanced in years, being about 82. His wife, before marriage, wsa Anna Gillan, and she died in Penn Valley PA when her daughter, Mrs. Johnson, was quite young. Mrs. Johnson was reared by her father, for whom she did the housework for some years after the death of her mother. She is the mother of seven children, one deceased; Mary A. is the wife of Paul Lair and lives on a farm in Kansas; Sarah C. is the wife of Henry Lair, who lives on a farm adjoining; Isabella, wife of Samuel Barr, farmer, lives near Red Oak Iowa; Nettie, wife of Luke Beck resides in Freeport IL; John R, married Mary Mitchell, lives in this township on a farm; Samuel W. resides at home. Of the deceased children, Barbara J. died at the age of 30 years. She had married James G. SMith, who now lives in KS.

After his marriage Mr. Johnson lived in Clinton County PA until he came West to IL in the spring of 1850. He then purchased 120 acres of partly improved land, where he now lives on section 7 of Rock Run Twp., to which he has since made an addition, owning now 220 acres. He has improved his farm, and has erected good buildings. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Johnson is a charter member and the oldest male member of the Rock Run Church. He votes the Democratic ticket.

Transcribed by Christine Walters
History of Stephenson County 1888 Portrait & Biographical Pg 708