My Genealogy Hound

JESSE JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Le Roy; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Dec. 30, 1808; his father, Isaac Johnson, was born in Washington Co., Penn., and emigrated to the State of Ohio, when it was a Territory; he died in Butler Co., Ohio. He married Nancy Thomas; she was born in Virginia, and died in Preble Co., Ohio. The subject of this sketch lived at home, and contributed all his earnings to the support of the family until 18 years of age, when he learned and worked at the cabinet trade until 1838, at which date he emigrated to Decatur Co., Ind., and followed farming and working at his trade until 1849; he then emigrated to Illinois, and located in Bloomington Township; the following year engaged in farming in Old Town Township, and in the spring of 1854, settled upon his present place, where he has since lived; he has forty acres of land. His marriage with Barbara Chambers was celebrated in Ohio, Jan. 1, 1832; she was born in Ohio; she died Nov. 8, 1832, leaving one child — Barbara, now Mrs. Eliza Cusey. His marriage with Wilhemina Chambers, was celebrated in 1834; she died in Indiana, leaving four children — William C., Isaac, Thomas J. and Nancy J. His marriage with Lavina McAhren was celebrated May 26, 1840; she was born in Washington Co., Penn.; her father, William McAhren, was born in North Carolina, and died in Shelby Co., Ind., in 1854; her mother died in the same place, in 1847; the children by this marriage were ten in number, of whom seven lived to grow up, viz.: Benjamin H., enlisted in Co. B, 94th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died while serving his country in Brownsville, Texas, in the summer of 1864; George W., was also a volunteer of the 94th, but on account of sickness was not mustered into service; Sarah Jane; Mary A.; Elizabeth M.; Samuel M.; Lucinda F. and Lydia M.; of the above, four served in the Union army during the late war of the rebellion. Mr. Johnson was an old-line Whig until the organization of the Republican party, since which time he with all his sons have been strong supporters of the same.