Jesse Johnson was a native of Troy NY and was born April 2 1798. He came to Fulton in June 1838, and remained until October of that year and then moved to the bluffs, five miles east of Fulton, where he had purchased a farm, and upon which he remained, attending strictly to its cultivation, until 1853, when he returned to Fulton and made that place his home for the rest of his days. Mr Johnson was married to Miss Mary Webb, at Lowville, Lewis County NY February 18 1822. The following are the names of the children of this marriage according to date of birth: Mary Jul 28 1823; Sarah R Oct 6 1824; Charles J Jul 8 1826; Harriet Feb 10 1828; John D Jun 8 1830; Edmund L Apr 8 1832; Cornelia Mar 18 1834 - died when an infant; Cornelia P Jun 18 1836; Henrietta Aug 25 1838; Anna M Sep 23 1840; Eliza N Mar 22 1842; Caleb C May 23 1844. Mary married C L Ware and lives at Fulton; Sarah married W H Knight of Fulton and died January 12 1864; Charles J married Mary Exley and lives in Chicago; Harriet married William C Green and lives at Fulton; John D married Olive Abbott, and lives at LeClaire IA; Edmund L (Deceased) married Mahala Wright, and was a resident of Fulton; Cornelia P married Richard Green and lives at Fulton; Henrietta married Charles Davidson and lives at Bloomington IL; Anna M married William Reed (Now deceased) and lives at Fulton; Eliza N married Samuel Dennison and lives at Fulton; Caleb C Married Josephine Worthington and lives at Sterling. The three sons living, Charles J, John D and Caleb C are eminent lawyers. Mr Johnson never held any public position, save that of Road Commissioner for one term in the early days of Fulton. He died at his residence in Fulton after a lingering illness October 12 1876.
Bent-Wilson History of Whiteside County 1877 - Pg 187
Jesse Johnson (deceased) was born in Troy, N. Y., April 2, 1798, and was the son of John and Sarah (Conkle) Johnson. His father was a graduate of Yale College, a soldier of the Revolution and a prominent attorney of New York. Jesse went to Loweville, Lewis Co., N. Y., while a young man, where he was married Feb. 8, 1822, to Miss Mary Webb. They had four boys and eight girls: Mary, wife of Carlos Ware, of Fulton Township. Sarah, wife of William Knight, died in December, 1863. Charles J. married Mary Exley, and is an attorney of Sterling, IlL., Harriet, wife of William C. Green, the present Mayor of Fulton. John was an attorney of LeClaire, Iowa; he married Olive Abbott, and died in July, 1884, leaving a wife and seven children. Edmond L. married Mahala Wright, was a soldier of the late war and died in 1862, leaving a wife and son. Cornelia died in infancy. Cornelia P. is thw wife of Richard Green, a merchant of Fulton, Ill. Henrietta, wife of Charles Davidson, a locomotive engineer of Bloomington, Ill. Anna M., widow of William Reed and a resident of Clinton, Iowa. Eliza, wife of Samuel Denison, of Port Byron, Ill. Caleb C., the youngest, is an attorney of Sterling and a Representative to the State. Legislature from Whiteside County. He married Josephine Worthington.
Mr. Johnson moved from New York to Indiana in 1832, and in June, 1838, came to Fulton, Ill. He spent the summer at the village and in the fall moved to a farm about five miles distant, and was one of the very first to begin farming in the county. He remained on his farm till 1853, when he returned to the city and in company with his son-in-law, William Knight, purchased and put in operation the first steam ferry between Fulton and Lyons. He subsequently formed a partnership with Daniel Oliver in the grocery business at Fulton, but retired from business several years prior to his death, which occurred Oct. 12, 1876, at his residence in Fulton. His wife survived him till April, 1879. She was an estimable lady and highly respected. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were members of the Baptist Church for many years. Mr. Johnson was a Whig in early life and on the organization of the Republican party, became an earnest supporter of its policy. He never sought public office and only once served in a public capacity at Fulton, that of Road Commissioner.
Portraits & Biographical Pg 202
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