[page 572] E.W. Johnson, section 35, post office Hopkins. Among the foremost of the oldest pioneers of this county, and men who have been identified with the agricultural interests of the same from its infancy, may be mentioned the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Indiana, and was born near Connorsville, March 28, 1808. At an early age he removed to Lawrence County. David Johnson, his father, was an old settler in that county, and was closely linked with its interests for a great many years, he being the first blacksmith in that district. In 1841, Ephraim immigrated to Missouri, and in March, 1842, he settled where he now resides. On landing at his destination his finances consisted of seventy-five cents, and his provisions of five pounds of pork and half a bushel of corn meal. Thus, with a large family to support, he commenced his first winter in Missouri. Of the privations endured by them for the first few years we mention in another part of this work. He now has a good farm of 160 acres, 120 of which are under cultivation. Mr J. was united in marriage in 1830, to Miss Margaret Allen, a native of Lincoln County, North Carolina. Her father, Jehu Allen, was an early settler of that county. They have had a family of eleven children, nine of whom are now living: Levi R., Joseph A., Mary E., Jehu A., Nancy D. (deceased), Sarah E., John R., Eli B., Rebecca (deceased), Margaret E., Malinda E. (deceased). They are, and have been members of the M.E. Church for forty-nine years.

[page 572] Levi R. Johnson, section 2, post office Hopkins, the eldest son of E.W. Johnson, is a native of Lawrence county, Indiana, and was born October 14, 1831. [page 573] He was there reared till ten years of age, when, with the family, he migrated to Missouri, and settled. He has since resided here, following the occupation of his father, that of farming. In 1855, he located where he now resides. He has 134 acres of land, that will average with any in the county, ninety-four acres of which are under cultivation. Mr J. was married February 19, 1852, to Miss Mary J. Minard, a native of Park County, Indiana. They have nine children living: Margaret E., Elizabeth A., Lorinda C., Mary E., Martha C., Schuyler C., Cora A., Ephraim M. and George W. Mr J. is a member of the M.E. Church, and has been justice of the peace of his township for the past twenty years. He is also a notary public.

[page 573] Joseph A. Johnson, section 35. The second son of this illustrious family is a native of Lawrence County, Indiana, and was born March 27, 1833. At the age of eight years the family came to this county, where he was raised to manhood and educated. He has always followed his present occupation. In 1855 he settled where he now resides. He has a fine farm of 480 acres, which is well improved, 400 acres being under cultivation. He has a nice residence on his place, and is one of our most successful and progressive farmers. Mr J. was united in marriage, May 20, 1855, to Miss Jane O. Knox, a native of Pettis County, Missouri. He is a member of Xenia Lodge, No 50, A.F. and A.M., of Hopkins. He has been school director of his district and also road commissioner of his township.

[page 573] Jehu A. Johnson, section 13, post office Clearmont. The fourth child of E.W. and M.A. Johnson, is, like the older children, a native of Lawrence county, Indiana, where he was born June 24, 1835. At the age of six years the family came to Missouri, where he was educated, being raised in the occupation of farmer. In 1857 he settled on the place where he now resides. He at that time owned only forty acres, that not being all paid for, and to start housekeeping he went in debt. He now has 320 acres of good land, making one of the finest farms in the county, and has on his place one of the best residences in the county. All of his improvements are of the first order. Mr J. was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth H. Smith November 13, 1856. She is a native of Tennessee. They have from this union six children: James L., Felix G., Margaret E., Samuel W., Arda J.B., Susan G. Mr Johnson has been school director of his district. In 1862 he enlisted in the State Militia. He and his wife are members of the M.E. Church. He is a member of Xenia Lodge No 50, A.F. and A.M., of Hopkins.

[page 574] John R. Johnson, section 35, post office Hopkins, is a native of Lawrence County, Indiana, and was born June 2, 1841. While an infant, he was brought by the family to Missouri, and has since resided in this county on the section where he now resides. He is at present engaged in working a part of his father's place. Mr J. was married April 16, 1865, to Miss Mary J. Bird, a native of North Carolina. They have from this union five children: Charles E., Eva A., Sarah, Ephraim H., and Donlin W. They are members of the M.E. Church.

[page 574] Eli B. Johnson, section 35, post office Hopkins, is a native of Nodaway County, Missouri, and was among the first white children born in the county. The date of his birth was April 27, 1843. He has here been raised to manhood, and has always followed his present occupation. He is now cultivating a part of the home place. He was united in marriage August 6, 1866, to Miss Harriet A. Tabor, a native of New York. They have had three children, two of whom are now living: Laura A., Joseph R. (deceased), and Margaret M.O. During our late war Mr J. enlisted in July, 1862, in Company M, Eleventh Missouri Cavalry, and served two years and eight months. He has, in sections 1 and 2, fifty acres of good, average land, which is under cultivation. Few and far between are the families of old settlers who can boast of so many sons and daughters who have grown up and settled so close to the parental homestead as E.W. and M.A. Johnson. The experience of this family goes a great way toward favoring that old proverb, that "In unity there is strength."

[page 535] Jefferson Johnson, farmer, section 29, post office Elmo, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, March 15, 1837, and when twelve years of age, with his parents, he moved to DeKalb County, Indiana, where he grew to manhood. He was reared on a farm, and followed farming in Indiana till 1859, when he wended his way to California. There he was engaged in lumbering in the red woods for about nine years, after which he returned to Bureau County, Illinois, where he resided till 1875, when he located in Adair County, Iowa. In the fall of 1880, he came to his present location. [page 536] Since his return from California he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, now having a farm of eighty acres. Mr Johnson was married March 14, 1873, to Miss Emeline Harkley. She was born in Bureau County, Illinois, and was there reared and married. Mr and Mrs J. have two children, Mary and Essie.

[page 607] Robert P. Johnson, dealer in general merchandise, was born July 5, 1835, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and was reared at his birthplace, spending his boyhood days on a farm, and receiving his education in the schools of the neighborhood. Upon reaching his majority, he commenced to work at the carpenter trade, which he followed for twelve years in Pennsylvania. Coming west in 1863, he settled near Rockford, Illinois, where he engaged in farming, and in 1868 moved to Kirkville, Wapello [page 608] County, Iowa. There he farmed one year, when, on account of ill health, he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, and has since continued therein with marked success. He came to Hopkins in May, 1879, and brought a stock of goods from Iowa, also purchasing a stock here, and has done a thriving business since. He is now erecting a substantial brick building twenty-two by fifty-five feet, two stories high, with a wareroom back. Mr J. is the owner of the residence property formerly occupied by W.K. Adams. It is one of the best locations in the town. He is a member of Lodge No 333 of the I.O.O.F. of Hopkins, and has filled with honor all the offices within the gift of the lodge. He is also a member of the Good Templar Lodge of Hopkins. He has been twice married. First, in 1858, to Miss Margaret E. Brown, a native of Perry County, Pennsylvania. She died in the fall of 1868, leaving one child; Ella (now Mrs E. Eichelberger). He was married again in the fall of 1869, to Miss Maggie A. Griffith, a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania. Mr J. has two children: John R. (born April 18, 1875), and Ettie M. (born in January, 1877). He is a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church, in which he has held his present office of elder for several years.