Johnson, William P.

JOHNSON, WILSON, MCNEIL, MACKIE, SKEELS

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/2/2012 at 14:23:36

William P. Johnson, who is engaged in the cultivation of eighty acres of the homestead farm upon which he was born on the 18th of April, 1854, is also devoting his attention to the real-estate business. His parents, the late Virgil Harrison and Mary (Wilson) Johnson, were natives of Ohio, the father's birth occurring in Highland county on the 16th of September, 1813, and that of the mother in Greene county, her natal day being the 8th of May, 1816. They were reared, educated and married in the Buckeye state, where Mr. Johnson engaged in farming until his thirty-sixth year. In 1849 he and his family migrated to Iowa, locating in Poweshiek county. Upon his arrival here he filed upon one hundred and sixty acres of government land in Union township, which improved and placed under cultivation. He continued to operate this until he passed away on the 5th of April, 1893. His wife survived him for five years, her demise occurring on the 9th of June, 1898. He had met with more than average success in his work and in addition to his homestead, upon which he had made very good improvements; he owned thirty acres of timber land. Both parents were active member of the Baptist church, Mr. Johnson being one of the trustees, and he was also an ardent republican. He always took an active interest in all township politics and served in both the capacity of school director and road supervisor.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Virgil H. Johnson were born the following children; Lorenzo D., who was born in Greene county, Ohio, on the 4th of February, 1842, and is now a resident of Union township; Carey A., whose birth occurred on the 20th of November, 1845, in Green county, Ohio, and is now deceased; Harvey P., also a native of the Buckeye state, his birth occurring in February, 1849, and now a resident of Montezuma; Joseph A., who was born on the 15th of April, 1851, and is living in Maryland; William P., our subject; Merritt U., who was born on the 20th of June, 1856, and is deceased; and Mary Angeline, the widow of O. M. McNeal, of Union township.
The life of William P. Johnson has thus far been spent in Union township, in whose schools he obtained his education. He remained at home with his parents, assisting in the cultivation of the farm, until after the demise of his father. Subsequently he purchased eighty acres of the homestead, where he has ever since continuously resided, engaging in general farming, and also in the real-estate business.
On the 10th of October, 1888, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Georgiana Mackie, a daughter of Jesse Standford and Wealthy Jane (Skeels) Mackie, residents of Union township, and of this union there has been born one chikd, Lettie Mae, whose birth occurred on the 9th of May,, 1895.
Ever since age conferred upon him the full rights of citizenship Mr. Johnson has supported the republican ticket, but he does not actively participate in politics. He is well and favorably known to the citizens of Union township, numbering among his friends many of the comrades of his boyhood, which fact is a tribute to his character.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 340-341