Johnson, Jesse

JOHNSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 12:42:04

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.621

JOHNSON, JESSE, farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Liberty Center; born July 17, 1830, in Wayne county, Indiana; came to Iowa in fall of 1853, and settled on present farm in 1859; he owns 175 acres of land; he married Dec. 25, 1858, Sarah A., daughter of Asa Mosier, of this township; from this union they have five children: Elmer E., Flora E., Jesse B., Nannie P. and Clara A.; Nannie P. died in infancy.

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.736

JESSE JOHNSON
Jesse Johnson, who is now living retired on his farm on section 21, Liberty Township, was born in Wayne County, Indiana, July 17, 1833, a son of Charles and Nancy (Beeson) Johnson. The father was a native of North Carolina, where his birth occurred July 8, 1797, and when twelve years of age he accom­panied his parents, James and Ruth (Mills) Johnson, on their removal to Wayne County, Indiana. The grandparents of our subject were farming people and settled in what is now Richmond, Indiana, where their son Charles assisted in clearing a part of the site of that city. James and Ruth (Dulls) Johnson were Quakers in religious faith and both passed away in Wayne County, Indiana. The grandfather of Mrs. Nancy (Beeson) Johnson was a Scotchman and served as a British soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Charles Johnson, the father of our subject, was one of nine children, all of whom were agriculturists by occupation and are now deceased. He attended school in North Carolina and in Indiana and after acquiring a good education he taught school in the Hoosier state for several terms, being also engaged in farming. He removed to Warren County, Iowa, in 1857, and lived retired until his death, which occurred at Earlham, Dallas County, Iowa, August 8, 1872. He had returned to Indiana in 1860 but once more came to Iowa and resided with a son near Earlham until called to his final rest. His political allegiance was given to the Whig party, while in religious faith he was a Quaker. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Beeson and whom he wedded in Indiana, was born in Ohio, December 14, 1804, a daughter of Amaziah and Isabella (Burcham) Beeson. She was reared in the Buckeye state, her parents being representatives of old families there, and of Quaker stock. Mr. and Mrs. Amaziah Beeson made their final home in Wayne County, Indiana, and their daughter, Mrs. Nancy Johnson, also passed away in that state, her demise occurring May 13, 1849. Like her husband, she was a member of the Friends Church. Unto Charles and Nancy (Beeson) Johnson were born nine children, namely: Charles Alexander, whose demise occurred at Earlham, Iowa, Febru­ary 6, 1907; Isaac K., residing in California; Sarah J.. who is the widow of C. P. Kennedy and makes her home at Liberty Center; Jesse, of this review; Abijah, living at Montrose, Colorado; Eliza, the wife of Nathan Hollingsworth, of Ohio; Eli, living in Madison County, Iowa; Henry, who died in infancy; and Rhoda M., who became the wife of Wesley Mendenhall and makes her home at West Newton, Indiana.
Jesse Johnson was reared in the state of his nativity and there also acquired his education. On putting aside his textbooks he served a three years apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade. In December 1853, he came to Warren County, Iowa, locating first in Otter Township, while subsequently he followed the carpenter's trade at Indianola. On taking up his abode in Liberty Township in 1855 he followed carpentering and in the past twenty years has erected many of the best houses and barns in this township, but in 1859 he located on his farm on section 21, erecting his present home in the following year. The property comprises one hundred and ninety--five acres of highly cultivated land and he has placed thereon all of the excellent im­provements with which it is now adorned, but for the past twelve or thirteen years has leased the farm, having had the same tenant throughout this entire period. He also owns some timber land and is well known as one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of the community, having met with a gratifying measure of success in the conduct of his general farming interests.
On the 25th of December, 1858, in Liberty Township, Warren County, Iowa, occurred the marriage of Jesse Johnson and Miss Sarah Angeline Mosher, who was born June 18, 1840, a daughter of Asa Mosher, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were the parents of five children: Elmer E., whose birth occurred October 13, 1861, and who resides in White Breast Township, married May Hall, by whom he has one son, Carl. Flora Eva, born February 4, 1864, is the wife of Z. T. Kemper, of Alma, Nebraska. She has three daughters, namely: Faith Lucile, Zana Leota and Zelma Theola. Mr. Kemper is railroad agent for the Burlington & Missouri Com­pany at Alma. Jessie Bethiah, whose natal day was October 2, 1870, became the wife of J. R. Bledsoe and resides in White Breast Township. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children: Audrey Estalene, Jesse Edwin and Inez Angeline. Nannie Pearl, born December 3, 1873, passed away January 1, 1877. Clara, whose birth occurred November 25, 1878, is at home.
Mr. Johnson has been a staunch Republican since the organization of the party. He voted once before, at a state election, but cast his first national vote for John C. Fremont. Recognizing his worth, his fellow townsmen have called him to various positions of public trust and he has held practically all of the township offices, while for one term he served as county supervisor. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Liberty Center, and both he and his wife are devoted and faithful members of the Friends Church at that place. He has passed the seventy-fifth mile­stone on life's journey and by reason of his well directed labors and capable management in former years, is now enabled to spend his remaining days in well earned ease, surrounded by all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. During the long period of his residence in this county, covering fifty-five years, he has gained an extensive circle of warm friends, who esteem him for his genuine personal worth and upright, honorable career.