Home < 1907 Bios

Greene County IAGenWeb

1907 Past and Present Biographies

Rodney E. Johnson

Rodney E. Johnson, a farmer living on section 14, Highland township, is numbered among Greene county’s native sons, his birth having occurred in Hardin township on the 12th of April, 1869. His father, Amos Johnson, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1843, and having arrived at years of maturity was married in the Buckeye state to Miss Harriett Elliott, also a native of Ohio, born in 1845. They continued residents of Ohio until 1867, when they sought a home in Iowa, driving across the country to Cedar county. They settled in Hardin township, where the father purchased eighty acres of land, which was then wild and unimproved. Soon afterward he bought an additional tract of eighty acres and owned a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres at the time of his death, having transformed the raw prairie into richly productive fields, his diligence and enterprise enabling him to become one of the substantial farmers of his community. In his political views he was an earnest republican, unfaltering in his allegiance to the party, and in his community was recognized as one of its local leaders. On the 1st of January. 1897, he was elected county auditor and served for a term of four years, while at the time of his death. which occurred in 1904, he was filling the otfice of deputy auditor under his successor. He long survived his first wife, who passed away in 1873. In their family were but two children, the elder being Mrs. Addie Barton, who is now living in Hardin township. In 1875 the father married Rachel McBurney, of Cedar county, Iowa, and to them were born three children, George J., May and Ema, all of whom survive him. Mr. Johnson was much esteemed in the community where he lived as a man of force of character, who left the impress of his individuality for good upon his town and county.

Rodney E. Johnson was a farm boy in his youth, his experiences being those that usually fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He worked in the fields when not busy with duties of the schoolroom and continued his labors on the home farm until eighteen years of age, when he started out in life on his own account. He was employed at farm labor up to the time of his marriage, when he began farming on his own account. As he had not the money to purchase property he rented land in Grant and Hardin townships for eleven years. In 1903, however, he removed to Missouri, where he purchased a farm in Vernon county. This he continued to cultivate until 1906, when he sold out and came to Greene county, purchasing his present place of eighty acres on section 14, Highland township. It is a well improved property, supplied with all of the modern equipments and conveniences known to the model farm of the twentieth century. He operates altogether one hundred and twenty acres of land and is meeting with a goodly measure of prosperity in his undertakings.

On the 19th of February, 1891, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Nora Anthony, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Edgar and Mary (Stallsmith) Anthony, the former born in Massachusetts and the latter in Pennsylvania. They had but two children, Mrs. Johnson and Harry, who is living at Jefferson. Iowa. The parents came to Greene county in 1873. settling four miles south of Jeflerson, where for some years Mr. Anthony carried on general farming, but he and his wife are now living in Jefferson. having retired from active business cares. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born three daughters: Aurel E.. Ione and Nona.

Mr. Johnson exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, for he believes its principles are most conducive to good government. He holds membership with the Odd Fellows lodge at Jefferson and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Throughout his life he has worked earnestly and persistently for the success which he now enjoys. He has ever been an industrious man and though he has met with some obstacles and difliculties he has overcome these and is today one of the leading farmers of his township, his excellent property being the visible evidence of his life of thrift.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer