USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 57
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were born in Sangamon County, Ill., where they spent their lives, and where their parents had been early settlers.
Elias James Johnson was educated in his na- tive county, and assisted his father with the farm until 1862, when he responded to his country's call and enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, for service during the Civil War, in which he remained until the close of the war. After his honorable discharge he returned to Sangamon County and continued with his father until the latter's death, at which time he in- herited 119 acres, and he continued to conduct this farm until his own death in 1901, when he was sixty-five years old. In politics he was a Democrat, and he belonged to the G. A. R. The Methodist Church held his membership.
On January 21, 1869, Mr. Johnson was mar- ried to Miss Mary M. Boyce, a daughter of Zenas and Susan (Prunk) Boyce, natives of Ohio who came when Mrs. Johnson was three years old, to Sangamon County, Ill., locating at Spring- field, lie buying a farm near Berry's Station. The trip to Illinois was made overland. Both Mr. and Mrs. Boyce are now deceased. After the death of Mr. Johnson Mrs. Johnson lived on the farm for a year, and then moved to Edin- burg. where she bought a comfortable modern residence and has since then made it her home. She is a most estimable lady, and as did her hus- band, stands very high in public esteem because of high principles and fine characteristics.
JOHNSON, LeRoy S., chief engineer of the Central Public Service Company of Kinkaid, is one of the reliable men of Christian County who puts his knowledge to practical use. He was born at St. Louis, Mo .. November 14, 1883, a son of Stephen Rand and Minnie A. (Schlichter) Johnson, natives of Columbia, Ill., and St. Louis, Mo., respectively. After having attended the public schools of St. Louis, the father learned the engineering trade at St. Louis, and became mechanical engineer of the water works of that city. He is deceased, but the mother survives. Fraternally he was a Mason, in politics a Re- publican, and the Methodist Church held his membership.
LeRoy S. Johnson attended the St. Louis pub- lic schools, and learned the machinist trade. For seven years he represented the Fulton Iron Works on the road, and then was with an electric company as one of its traveling sales- men. In 1912 he came to Taylorville and be- came engineer of the Central Public Service Company at Taylorville, leaving there to accept his present position at Kinkaid, and he is re- garded as the company's most reliable man at this point.
In 1911 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Nora HI. Cope, a daughter of R. B. Cope, a na- tive of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one child, namely : S. R. In politics Mr. Jolin- son is a Republican. His fraternal relations are with the Masons and Knights of Pythias.
Dra Q. Shull
Etta Um. Shull
alva & Shull Sa E. Shull
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
JOHNSON, Louis, president of the banking house of Johnson & Sons, is one of the best exam- ples of the self-made man Christian County affords, and his location at Morrisonville has been a valuable asset of the city. He was born in Munster, Germany, October 22, 1850, a son of Henry and Charlotte (Schengbierr) Johnson. He was one of ten children, the first two, twins, dying in infancy. The father was a farmer who died in Germany.
After attending the public schools of his native country until fourteen years old, Louis Johnson began making himself generally useful, but did not find the opening he desired, so when sixteen years old he came to the United States, and joined some of his brothers and sisters who had located in Carlinville, Ill. For a year he alter- nated working on a farm and attendance at school in order to acquire some knowledge of the English language. He then came to Mor- risonville and worked in a general store for eleven years when he entered J. H. Vandeveer's bank, as bookkeeper. In 1891 he bought out his employer. The bank is now operated by him and his sons, and has a capital stock of $25,000. He is the president, W. E. Johnson is vice president, and Albert Johnson is cashier. It is a sound institution and widely patronized.
On August 18, 1872, Mr. Johnson was married to Mary Geiser, of Morrisonville, a daughter of Conrad and Anna Geiser. Mrs. Johnson died December 27, 1903, aged fifty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had seven children, namely : Amelia, who was born in 1874, died in 1887; Louis, who was born in 1876, died in 1879; Ida, who was born in 1878, keeps house for her father; William E., who was born in 1880; Albert E., who was born in 1882, married Louise Shull, a daughter of Edward S. and Martha E. Shull. and they have one child, Marjory Josephine ; Frederick, who was born in 1884, died in 1887; and Otto, who was born in 1886, died in 1887.
Mr. Johnson has been a member of the village board and village clerk for a number of years. He also held the office of tax collector and for nearly a quarter of a century he has been a notary public. The German Lutheran Church holds his membership.
JOHNSON, Ray F., a prosperous farmer of Assumption Township, residing in the city of Assumption, is one of the representative men of Christian County. He was born on a farm seven miles northwest of Assumption, July 5, 1873, a son of Walter P. and Mary F. (Palmer) John- son, the former of whom was born in Guernsey County. Ohio, while the mother was born in Connecticut. Both came to Prairieton Town- ship, Christian County. Ill., where they met and were married, locating on a farm in that township. His total assets with which to begin married life were $100, and a yoke of oxen, and vet when he died he owned 520 acres of land. all of which he made himself. He was a mem- her of the Baptist Church, and died in its faith. In politics he was a Republican. His death oc-
curred in 1884. The parents had two sons, namely : M. W. and Ray F. M. W. Johnson was known all over this and foreign countries as the owner and operator of the largest breeding farm of race horses in Illinois, owning an aver- age of 100 head with a record of better than 2:30. Among them was Elnore, record 2:071% and Col. Cochran, record 2:10. He had a half mile track on his place where he trained his horses, and raced them. His love for them was proverbial and perhaps to his understanding of them, he owed his success. His death occurred November 16, 1915. During his boyhood he at- tended the local schools, and the Taylorville High school, and his interest was centered in Christian County.
Ray F. Johnson attended the district schools. and then took the classical course at Findlay College, Findlay, Ohio, being graduated there- from in 1892. Returning home he remained there until 1895 when he went to Eagle Grove, Iowa, and went into a grocery business, but did not like it, and so sold it the following year and returned to Illinois. During the winter of 1896-7 he was engaged in racing horses, and then in 1898 located on a farm one mile north of Assumption where he lived until 1906 when he moved to Assumption. He bred Short Horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. After moving to Assumption, he and his wife traveled exten- sively throughout the United States for several years. In 1914 he started a dairy farm, known as the Maple Lawn Dairy Farm, consisting of 320 acres of land. Here he has 115 head of cattle, headed by Harhland Korndyke Pietertjn No. 171279, a grandson of Pontiac Korndyke. His dam is a granddaughter of King Ponticacs. with an official record of twenty-six pounds of butter in seven days. Mr. Johnson owns 320 acres of land on section 23; fifty acres on sec- tion 24, eighty acres on section 36, Assumption Township : 502 acres in Clay County, Ill., mak- ing in all 1,272 acres, of which he is operating 448 acres.
On Sepetmber 4. 1898 Mr. Johnson was mar- ried to Gertrude J. Ross, who was born at Blan- chester, Ohio. She attended the grade and high schools and is an accomplished lady. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have had the following children : Wade, who was born in June, 1899, died in 1909; Lane, was born September 20, 1900, is a student in high school; Helen M., who was born October 30, 1910; and Ross, who was born November 26, 1913. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Johnson is a trustee. He belongs to Bromwell Lodge No. 451, A. F. & A. M. In politics he is a Republican. At the time the city of Assumption established the water works and made other improvements. Mr. John- son was an active member of the council. and he attended to supervising all the work for the city without remuneration, and if it had not been for his public-spirited efforts. these im- provements would never have been installed.
JOHNSON, Wade F., a retired farmer of As- sumption Township, belongs to an old and hon-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
ored family of Christian County, and is a man of rare qualities and high principles, whose name is known all over this section, and to whom unlimited respect is accorded. He was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, September 13, 1828, a son of Benjamin J. and Elizabeth C. (Foote) Johnson, and grandson of Wade and Martha Foote. The Johnson family is very well connected. Lord Massy of Dublin, Ireland, was a cousin of the Johnsons, and he was a descendant of Gen. Hugh Massy, who played an important part in the Civil War in England during the reign of Charles I. Another distinguished member of the Massy family won high honors as a general of the English army during the Crimean War."
Benjamin J. Johnson was born at London, England, in 1799, and when he was twenty-seven years old he came to Baltimore, Md., where he stopped for a brief period, and then came as far west as Ohio, and there he was married to Elizabeth C. Foote. She was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1802, and came to the United States in 1819, with her uncle and family, who located in Ohio. Benjamin J. Johnson and his wife had nine children, as follows : Robert, who was born in 1827; Wade F., who was born in 1828; Mar- garet, who was born in 1830; Edward, who was born in 1832; Mattie, who was born in 1834; Walter, who was born in 1836; William L., who was born in 1838; Benjamin J., who was born in 1840; and Leo, who was born in 1847.
In 1849 Benjamin J. Johnson and his family came to Greene County, Ill., from Ohio, and in 1859 came to Christian County, Ill., and loeated on the farm now oceupied by Wade F. Johnson, securing in time some 1,000 acres of government land, and on this property Wade F. and Mattie are now living .. At the time the Johnsons ar- rived, Christian County was but little developed, and none of the present improvements were made, and they endured the privations incident to pioneer life. Miss Mattie Johnson, who has always lived with her brothers, is a lady whose mind is singularly clear and her memory is very retentive, and she recalls accurately numerous ineidents that would make interesting reading did space permit their insertion, relative to those early days. She is remarkable in many ways, and although eighty years old, took the first prize for embroidery at the recent home-coming fair exhibit of handiwork.
During the Civil War, Edward. William and Benjamin served their country in the Union army. Miss Mattie Johnson is a consistent and earnest member of the Presbyterian Church, and her brothers have always been Republicans. Wade F. Johnson has a deeply imbedded love for ani- mals, and oftentimes scatters grain for them and the birds during the winter time when he fears that they may suffer because of a scareity of food. He has taken an important part in the development of the county in which he has spent so many years, and helped to survey and lay out the roads, and make other improvements. For many years he has been vice president of the Illinois State Bank at Assumption, which he
helped to organize, and he is a man of large means. Although he has not married, Mr. John- son is not denied the comfort of the growing up about him of the younger generation, for he has several nephews and nieees, and their children, they being: Benjamin, Robert and Ray F., and Leola, who is the wife of A. C. Smith ; Maude, who is the wife of Marak Nelson ; Martha, who is the wife of Zure Bates; and Mary, who is a widow. The gentle influence of Mr. Johnson and his sister and brother upon the community is strong and marked and always directed toward the betterment of existing conditions and a moral uplift, for they are exeellent people pos- sessed with a desire to do good and to bring a little sunshine into darkened lives.
JOHNSTON, David W., president of the Farm- er's National Bank, and a man widely known and generally recognized as a foreeful figure in the finanees of this part of the state, is ably eon- dueting the affairs of the institution of which he is the eapable executive lead. He was born in Madison County, Ohio, October 13, 1839, a son of Alexander and Susan (Oller) Johnston, natives of Ireland and Virginia, respectively. The father came to the United States when he was seven years old, being brought here by his parents who located first in Pennsylvania and later moved to Ohio, and there he continued to reside, being married in Delaware County, By trade he was a weaver of fancy eoverlets and similar articles. In addition to his trade, the father went into the timber and cleared off land which he subse- quently developed, and engaged in farming in Madison County. In 1854 he eame to Illinois, loeating in Christian County, and here he con- tinned to farm until his death, which occurred March 17, 1872. The mother died in the fall of 1874.
David W. Johnston was fifteen years old when the family came to Christian County, and he completed his educational training here, that had been eommeneed in Madison County, Ohio. Until the spring of 1862 he assisted his father upon the homestead, but in that year went to Colorado, where he worked in the gold mines, later going to Montana and then to Idaho. In the fall of 1868 lie returned to Christian County and became interested in handling cattle, for four years being engaged in driving droves of cattle into southern Kansas. In 1872 he once more resumed his agricultural work in Christian County and operated largely in stock, so eontinu- ing until in September, 1895, when he moved to Taylorville, although he continued his stock busi- ness for the subsequent ten years. In January, 1905, his interests were turned in a new channel by his election to the presideney of the Farmers National Bank of Taylorville, which office he has held continuously ever since. At the same time he has invested largely in farming land in Christian County. The Farmers National Bank is one of the sound institutions of the county, with a capital stoek of $100,000, and associated with Mr. Johnston as officials are : H. M. Powell, first vice president ; S. Marblestone, second vice
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
president ; Floyd Baughman, assistant cashier ; J. A. Adams, cashier.
On September 11, 1879, Mr. Johnston was mar- ried to Sarah E. Wilson, of Crawford County, Kas. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have two children, namely : Roy A .; and Cleona I., who is Mrs. R. L. Morse of Decatur, Ill. The family are at- tendants of the Methodist Church of Taylorville. Mr. Johnston is a Mason in high standing.
Mr. Johnston is a Democrat in politics. While on the farm he was township supervisor for nine years. He was the organizer of the Christian County Coal Mine Company in 1900 and was its first president, and was one of the prime movers and organizers of the Stonington Coal Company, and was president and an or- ganizer and the heaviest stockholder of the Christian County Telephone Company. A con- servative man of high principle, Mr. John- ston gives the affairs of his bank the most careful and deliberate attention, and con- serves the interests of depositors in every way. His connection with this institution has strength- ened it very materially, and its stability and importance are recognized over a wide territory.
JOHNSTON, Roy Alexander, president of the First National Bank of Taylorville, Ill., and one of its most aggressive business men, was born in Johnson Township, Christian County, Ill., Octo- ber 17, 1880. He is a son of D. W. Johnston, president of the Farmers National Bank of Tay- lorville, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Roy A. Johnston attended the schools of his native township until he was fourteen years of age, at which time the family moved to Taylor- ville, where he completed his education in the High school, from which he was graduated in 1900. During the fall of this same year he was taken into partnership with his father in the stock business. During the intervening years he has made a specialty of breeding Shorthorn cat- tle, and is a recognized authority on stock breed- ing. His herd of Shorthorn cattle comprises over 100 head of breeding cows, and is one of the best in the state. He has fed from 300 to 500 head of cattle annually. Mr. Johnston is president of the Illinois Cattle Feeders Association, having held that office for the past two years. In 1915 Mr. Johnston broadened his field of operation by entering the automobile business, becoming ex- clusive agent for the Cadillac and Overland auto- mobiles, for Christian County, maintaining a garage as a service station for both makes. In
1916 he was elected vice president of the Farm- ers National Bank of Taylorville, severing that connection in January, 1917, to assume the presi- dency of the First National Bank of Taylorville.
On December 21, 1904, Mr. Johnston was united in marriage with Miss Anna Haines, a daughter of Mrs. W. H. Sears, of Huntsville, Mo. They have one son, D. W., Jr., and one daughter, Anna Lou. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are communicants at the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight Templar, a Shriner, belongs also to the
Elks, and believes in fraternities to draw men together and strengtlien the bonds of interest.
Few men are more widely interested than Mr. Johnston, and his activities are evenly distrib- uted, so that no branch of his work is neglected.
JOHNSTON, William A., a veterinary surgeon with offices at No. 501 W. Adams Street, Taylor- ville, is one of the leading exponents of his pro- fession in Christian County, and a man widely and favorably known. He was born in Johnson Township, this county, May 15, 1875, a son of Alexander R. and Naomi (Berry) Johnston. The father was born in the same township as his son, and the mother was a native of the same place. The father was a farmer who died in young manhood, passing away on January 8, 1875, aged twenty-five years. The mother lived until 1915, when she too passed away, aged sixty years. In politics the father was a Democrat, while his fraternal, connections were with the Masonic order. The Methodist Church held his religious membership.
William A. Johnston passed his boyhood in Johnson Township, there attending the public schools, and remained with his mother until he was twenty-one years old. He then inherited the homestead of 100 acres, which he conducted for twelve years. Having a natural aptitude for the work he has adopted as his life calling, he took steps to fit himself for professional labors by attending the Chicago Veterinary College, during 1908, 1909 and 1910, and was graduated therefrom in the latter year, at which time he established himself in practice at Taylorville. There he erected a handsome residence, and has become one of the substantial men of the city.
In 1902 Dr. Johnston was married to Miss Enima C. Duval, a daughter of Frederick W. and Mary Duval of Cass County, Ill., and heavy landowners of Johnson Township, Christian County. Mr. Duval died in 1913, aged seventy years, and the mother in 1914, aged sixty-five years. Dr. and Mrs. Johnston have one daugh- ter, Phyllis Mary. He is a Republican in politi- cal belief. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and Order of Moose. The Methodist Church holds his membership. Dr. Johnston has a large practice that extends all over the county, and he is recognized as an expert in his line.
JORDAN, W. B. and L. E., publishers and job printers, and proprietors of the Pana Palladium, and Will F. Jordan, associate editor, are the sons of Rev. Henry F. and Sue L. (Beard) Jordan. Their father was born in Shelby County, Ky., September 26, 1840. He was educated in the Georgetown (Ky.) College and in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and was ordained a Baptist minister in April, 1861. His first charge was Buffalo Lick Church, Shelby County, Ky., in 1862, and he was pastor of other churches in Kentucky. During his residence in Kentucky he erected at his own expense two seminaries, one at Bagdad and the other at Simpsonville, and held the position as principal of them for twenty-two years. In 1891 he came to Pana, Ill.,
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
and was pastor of the First Baptist Church two years and then was pastor of the Baptist Church at Assumption and that at Loami, rebuilding and dedicating the churches at both places. Resign- ing his pastorate at Loami, he returned to Pana, where he spent the last days of his life, dying September 4, 1903, at Pana, Ill.
Winfield B. Jordan was born at Simpsonville, Ky., October 9, 1876, and was educated at Bag- dad and Simpsonville, Ky., and Pana, Ill. He engaged in the newspaper business at Pana, after completing his schooling, and has filled every position from carrying papers on a route to editor-in-chief, and has worked for the Pana Morning Gazette, the Pana News and the Pana Palladium, of which he was editor until his ap- pointment January 10, 1917, as postmaster of Pana. He is a man of the times, alert and ag- gressive, and belongs to the Commercial Club, is president of the Citizens Savings, Loan & Build- ing Association, a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Knights of Pythias No. 159, the Modern Woodmen of America, is a member of the local order of Elks, No. 1261, of which he is Past Exalted Ruler and was delegate to the national convention held at Baltimore, Md., in 1916; is a chapter and Royal Arch Mason. In politics he is a Democrat. The Baptist Church holds his mem- bership. He was married April 28, 1908. at St. Louis, Mo., to Anna E. Stockbridge, a daughter of Frank and Catherine ( Hall) Stockbridge. The only child of the family is Dorothy Michael. Mrs. Jordan was born at Rockville. Ind. The family residence is at No. 406 E. Fourth Street.
Louis E. Jordan was born at Simpsonville, Ky., March 23, 1881, and attended the schools of Pana, Ill. Like his brother, he began working in a newspaper office, immediately upon leaving school, and has filled every position from that of carrying papers on a route to general manager, which position he now holds on the Pana Palla- dium. He belongs to the Commercial Club, Royal Arcanum, Knights of Pythias, Ladies of Security. Odd Fellows, No. 334, Blue Lodge and Royal Arch Mason, and Elks. In politics he is a Demo- crat. On June 10, 1908, he was married at Belle- ville, Ill., to Miss Minnie G. Umpleby, a daughter of Henry and Mary ( Mateer) Umpleby, who was born at Ohlman, Ill., June 10, 1882. In religious faith she is a Methodist. Her father was born in Ohio, and died at Ohlman about 1898. He was a carpenter and builder. His fraternal connec- tion was with the Masons, and he belonged to the Methodist Church. Her mother was born in Ohio, and was a Methodist. The children of Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Jordan were as follows: Louis E., Jr., who was born at Pana, March 23, 1910, died at Pana, March 16, 1911; and Winfield Quinn, who was born at Pana, December 16, 1911. The family home is at No. 703 Kitchell Avenue. Jordan Bros. own the building and plant at No. 129 East Second Street and are the owners of the Pana Palladium, the only paper published in Pana, a daily except Sunday, with a weekly issued every Thursday.
Will F. Jordan who is associate editor of the Pana Palladium, was born near Bagdad, Ky ..
August 2, 1871. He was educated in the Fairview Male and Female seminaries of Simpsonville and Bagdad, Ky., and took a course in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary of Louisville, Ky. He began active life as a newspaper reporter and has followed newspaper editorial work all of his life since he was twenty years of age. He as- sisted in launching the Pana Morning Gazette in December, 1891, of which he was editor for one year. Subsequently he was city editor of the Pana Palladium and editor for twelve years of the Belleville, Ill., Advocate and one year of the Belleville Morning Record. He also held an editorial position for ten years with the St. Louis, Mo., Globe-Democrat. February 25, 1893, he and Miss Lily May Murray of Pana were mar- ried at Taylorville, Ill. They have two children, Miss Irene L., born at Pana, December 18, 1893, a graduate nurse of the Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, and Will Fringer, born at Pana, May 27, 1897, residing at Flint, Mich. Mr. Jordan is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Pana, and fraternally is a member and Past Dictator of the Local 1455, Loyal Order of Moose. He is a Democrat in politics. In religious faith Mrs. Jordan is a Baptist. The family residence is 507 East Third Street.
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