My Genealogy Hound

W. E. JOHNSON, grocer and provision dealer, was born in Jasper county, Mo., July 31, 1845. His parents, P. R. and Mary Johnson, were natives of Virginia and Kentucky. Subject was raised on a farm and educated in the schools of this county. When about fifteen years of age he commenced to learn the blacksmith trade, in which business he engaged for a time. At the breaking out of the war, young Johnson enlisted in the Missouri State Guards, Col. Tabor commanding, and served about eighteen months. His time of service having expired, he returned to Jasper county and shortly after went to Ft. Scott, where he engaged in blacksmithing, and remained there until the close of the war. In Aug., 1865, he crossed the plains to Denver, Col., where he engaged at his trade in the employ of the government for several months. In the summer following he returned to the states, but soon afterward re-crossed the plains and engaged in prospecting in the Black Hills. From there he proceeded to Denver, thence to Ft. McPherson, and engaged at his trade in the employ of the government. He continued until April, 1867, when he went to North Platte City and worked at his trade for a time. From there he went to Julesburg, Neb., and engaged with Wells, Fargo & Co., on the stage line, as a smith, for about two months, then went to Cheyenne and onto the Black Hills, where he engaged in railroad smithing for M. S. Hull, contractor of grades, until May, 1868. He then purchased the entire interests of his employer and continued until that section of the U. P. Railroad was completed. He then returned to the states reaching this county in Feb., 1869. Soon after he engaged in the mercantile business at Leadville, this county, continuing several months, after which he engaged in agricultural pursuits for nearly ten years. He came to Joplin in Nov., 1880, and established his present business. Mr. Johnson was married in this county, Oct. 28, 1869, to Miss Adaline C., daughter of Andrew and Eliza McKee, natives of Tennessee. Mrs. Johnson was born April 23, 1853, in Jasper county. This union has been blessed with five children; Ida V., born July 31, 1870, died Sept 13, 1873; Georgia, A., born Sept 27, 1872; Andrew H., born Dec. 9, 1874; Charles P., born April 8, 1877, and Elsie Oma, born July 14, 1879. Mr. Johnson is a member of the I. O. O. F., Joplin Lodge No, 287, also an A. O. U. W. He has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated six miles northwest of Joplin, well improved, besides a wealth of mineral deposit.