JOHNSON, John W. 1820-1900

JOHNSON, ROWLEY, BLUNT, GAULT, THOMAS, AUGUSTINE, FRAZEE

Posted By: Bruce Kuennen (email)
Date: 10/20/2018 at 20:33:18

OBITUARY OF J. W. JOHNSON.
He Was Justly Called a Pioneer—Tribute From an Old Friend.
John W. Johnson was born in Onondago county, New York. Nov. 25, 1820, and died at his home near Bassett April 8, 1900. At the age of 12 years the deceased, in company with his parents, moved to Saline, Michigan. In 1849 he came to Fayette county, Iowa, and on Nov. 25, 1850, at the age of 30 years, in the town of Elgin, Fayette county, he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia S. Rowley of the same place. In the winter of 1851 he moved to Bradford, Chickasaw county, and on the 10th of December 1854 moved to the farm on which he died. The deceased raised a large family of children. Seven besides his wife survive him. One, Effie, died in childhood. Of these two reside in Charles City- Mrs. William Blunt and J. L. Johnson; Mrs. A. E. Gault resides in Bassett, Mrs. H. E. Thomas in Ionia, Mrs. I. J. Augustine in Linn county and George and EY at the parental home. The funeral services were conducted at the Methodist church in Bassett by Rev. Dorcas on Tuesday, April 10, and the body was interred in the cemetery at Chickasaw.
He can justly be classed as one of the pioneers of Chickasaw county. When he came to the county there were no settlements within its borders excepting the old town of Bradford, in which there was only one store--an Indian trading post—and two or three log houses. The county was not then organized and almost every foot of land lying to the northward was un-entered. Nashua, New Hampton,Lawler and the other towns of the county were not thought of. All travel was by team or on foot across the wearies. No railways at that time running as far west even as Chicago. Everything consumed had to be hauled from near the Mississippi river across almost unfordable streams and over the boundless sea of prairie. His life was but a link between the past and the present—a bridge between the old and the new. His was a mind bold and independent, ever ready to condemn wrong and to advocate what he considered right. Another old pioneer has gone. He has taken his place with the silent majority. JOHN FRAZEE.

Source: New Hampton Gazette, April 19, 1900, accessed at New Hampton Public Library Digital Archives

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