My Genealogy Hound

FRANCIS CLARK JOHNSON, one of the best known farmers and dairymen of Upper Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is the son of John Burman and Catharine (Knipe) Johnson. He was born June 24, 1840, on a farm then owned and cultivated by his father. He attended the public schools of his district, being one of the many pupils of Andrew Jackson Lewis, of Gwynedd Corners, where the latter taught many years, being afterwards a justice of the peace. At the age of fifteen years Francis C. Johnson was supposed, according to the custom of that day, to have advanced far enough in his studies to 1eave school forever, and thenceforth he devoted himself exclusively to work on the farm and in connection with the dairy.

The farm contained 108 acres of rolling land, of which 25 acres was woodland. The latter also afforded abundant exercise in chopping and hauling in winter, when work on the farm in general was out of the question. He remained with his father until his marriage, in May, 1868, to Mary Elizabeth, a daughter of Captain William and Catherine (Zearfoss) Lawrence, of Whitpain township, in Montgomery county, his wife having been born November 1, 1840. She died March 6, 1885. Their children are: Clara Newport, born March 7, 1869, married John B. Baus, of Barto, Berks county, Pennsylvania; Emma Jane, born March 24, 1871, married John Wesley Klair, of Upper Gwynedd, and had children; Harry Kellogg, born December 3, 1873, who married Catherine Swank, of Skippack township, Montgomery county, a farmer; Conrad Knipe, born August 11, 1878, is unmarried, and resides with his parents; Helen Augusta, born June 15, 1882, married Elmer Frederick, and resides at West Point, in Gwynedd township.

Francis C. Johnson settled, after his marriage, on the homestead, renting it from his father, and maintaining a dairy of twenty cows. He went on in this way until 1881, when he purchased the farm on which he now resides, in Upper Gwynedd township, near North Wales. It contains 58 acres of improved land, including meadows drained by the Wissahickon. It adjoins “Comly Manse,” the homestead of John F. Comly, and also the properties of Thomas P. Greger, Joseph Kibblehouse, and Franklin Lutz Johnson. Mr. Johnson maintains a dairy of twenty-one cows on his farm.

Francis C. Johnson married, second wife, Mrs. Ella C. Sperry, her maiden name being Kneedler, daughter of Jacob and Julia (Cressman) Kneedler, of North Wales.

Mr. Johnson is an active and public spirited citizen who is much interested in local improvements of all kinds. Politically he is a Democrat. He cast his first presidential vote for General George B. McClellan, and has ever since supported the party ticket in national campaigns. In local matters, he very properly allows himself to be guided by the character of the party nominees, and has frequently been found supporting Republicans for township offices. He has never sought or held office. In religious faith he is a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran church, of North Wales. He is a member of the building committee of the church.

John Burnand Johnson (father) married, December 11, 1823, Catharine Knipe, also of Gwynedd township. In his earlier years, John B. Johnson followed the trade of coach building, constructing the kind of vehicles that were used as stage and mail coaches. Later he was engaged in the occupation of farming, in which he was very successful. He was a Democrat in politics, and took an active part in local politics, although he never held office. The children of John B. and Catharine Johnson were: William Burnand, born September 18, 1824, who married Sarah Rynear, of Philadelphia; Penelope Jane, born August 31, 1826, who married John Delp, a farmer, of Hatfield township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania; Charles Jackson, born February 29, 1828, who married Susan Miller, of Whitemarsh township, in Montgomery county; Conrad Knipe, born December 19, 1829, who married Anne Hahn, of Philadelphia; John Burnand, born December 16, 1831, died unmarried; Catharine Knipe, born December 18, 1833, who married Thomas Ralston, of Philadelphia; George Burnand, born November 8, 1835, who married Hannah Fleck, of Lower Gwynedd township, and lives at North Wales; Mary Ann, born December 17, 1837, who married Jacob Bernhard, a farmer of Whitpain township, adjoining Gwynedd; Francis Clark, subject of this sketch; Elizabeth Amanda, born December 27, 1842; Emma Louise, born March 22, 1846, married, April 16, 1867, John Jones Johnson, son of John Ellis and Sarah (Jones) Martin, of Gwynedd township, near Lansdale, and died in the year 1900.