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Below is a family biography included in The History of Moniteau County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Isaiah V. Johnson, one of the oldest settlers of Linn Township, Moniteau Co., Mo., was born in 1835, and is a son of Snelling and Prudence N. (Hackney) Johnson, the former a native of Estill County, Ky., and the latter born in North Carolina. Snelling Johnson was born October 23, 1804, and was a son of Phillip and Margaret Johnson, who moved to Missouri in 1819, locating in what was then Cole County, near the Missouri River. Phillip died soon after their arrival, but his widow survived a number of years. Snelling was the fourth in the family of four sons and five daughters, and was but fifteen years old when he came to Missouri; his father having died, he was left in charge of the family, as the elder members soon married. He received his education in the common schools, and when eighteen years old embraced religion, was baptized, and received into the Union Church of Cole County. He soon after commenced preaching, but was not ordained until 1834, from which time until his death he devoted nearly his whole attention to preaching the gospel, with but little pecuniary reward; he also traveled as a missionary of the General Association of Southwestern Missouri, and was widely known as an evangelist. He baptized over five hundred converts, and was one of the most able ministers of Southwestern Missouri, as well as one of the first to preach in that part of the State; his death occurred December 9, 1856. Prudence N. Hackney was born in 1805, in North Carolina, and when ten years of age removed with her parents to Tennessee, where they remained until about 1820; they then removed to Missouri, where, May 21, 1826, she married Mr. Johnson. Of their family of eleven children seven grew to maturity and are still living, viz.: William P., Francis M., Elizabeth M., Howard, Isaiah V., John C., Alpha A. and Jessie G. The mother died July 31, 1878, having been an active member of the Baptist Church. At the age of seventeen Isaiah V. Johnson was converted to the true religion, and received into the Lebanon Baptist Church. About 1863 he commenced preaching, and was ordained August 12, 1866, since which time he has devoted nearly his whole time and attention, with the exception of the last two years, to the ministry. While pastor of his home church he baptized one hundred of his congregation. December 30, 1856, Elder Johnson married Rachel Hall, who was born in North Carolina October 4, 1835, and was a daughter of William and Rhoda Hall, also natives of North Carolina, who came to Missouri soon after Rachel was born. William Hall was born in 1800, and died in 1840; his wife was born in 1797, and died December 28, 1878. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson seven are living, viz.: Millard F., Waldo P., Mandarin K., Lucian B., Jemima E. F., Snelling R. and Theodosia E. Those deceased are: Flora T., at the age of twenty years; Barbara S., at the age of seven years, and Celia O., aged two years. Mrs. Johnson, who died May 14, 1882, aged forty-seven, was an active worker in the church and a loving wife and mother. Mr. Johnson is a member of the A. F. & A. M. He has married during his life eighty-five couples, none of whom have separated except by death.

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This family biography is one of 187 biographies included in The History of Moniteau County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Moniteau County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Moniteau County, Missouri family biographies here: Moniteau County, Missouri Biographies

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