Zearing, Iowa 1956 History

JOHNSON :

Joseph Johnson was a charter member of the town of Zearing, Iowa. Elmore Johnson, farmer, came to our community in 1901. Both families were prominent in the history of our community.

Joseph Johnson, the son of Benjamin and Susannah Johnson, was born on August 16, 1847, at Harveysburg, Ohio. Isabella Patton, the daughter of George and Magdalene Patton, was born on April 29, 1849, in Carroll county, Indiana. Joseph and Isabella. were married at Albion, Iowa, on March 15, 1873.

Joseph and Isabella were the parents of two sons. They were Willis P. and Dwight Elmo. Elmo is living in Zearing in 1956.

Joseph and Isabella moved to Zearing when the town was founded in 1881. Joseph and his father-in-law, George Patton, started a hardware business in the new town.

Joseph died on March 15, 1934. Isabella died on December 24, 1936.

Elmore Johnson was born in Delaware county, Ohio, on January 7, 1853. Jane Andre, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Andre, was born at Mechanicsville, Iowa, on June 12, 1861. Elmore and Jane were married at Mechanicsville on January 22, 1880. They moved to a farm near Zearing, Iowa, in 1901.

Elmore and Jane were the parents of four daughters. They were Vida, Goldie, Fern, and Lois. Vida Johnson Tisdale and Goldie Johnson Barnard are living in our community in 1956. Lois Johnson Yeager of Colo, Iowa, is deceased. Fern Johnson Deal died on August 16, 1955, at the hospital, Nevada, Iowa.

Elmore died on October 1, 1928. Jane died on October 29, 1936.

JOHNSTON :

Two lads from Ireland were responsible for the name Johnston in our community. From the 1870's to 1956, members of the Johnston family have been highly respected residents of our community.

Ambrose Johnston was born in Northern Ireland on December 19, 1851. Elizabeth Blayney was born in Northern Ireland on May 5, 1859. Ambrose came to our community in 1875. Ambrose married Elizabeth in our community in 1882.

Ambrose and Elizabeth were the parents of six children. They were Alice E., Sarah M., Bessie R., John F., Blayney H., and Ambrose T.

Ambrose died on March 29, 1930. Elizabeth died on February 3, 1920. Ambrose and Elizabeth lived on their farm east of Zearing during their entire married life.

Francis Johnston was born in Northern Ireland on March 22, 1850. Francis came to the John Gilmore Sr. home in our com-