Descendants of James JOHNSTON Sen.
Second Generation
2. James JOHNSON (James ) was born 1785 in PA. He died 19 Nov 1871 in Fountain Co., IN and was buried in Oak Grove Cem., Covington, Fountain Co., IN.
James married Mary SAWYER, daughter of John SAWYER and Jean ALLEN, on 7 Jan 1806 in Warren Co., OH. Mary was born 25 Feb 1789 in PA. She died 26 Feb 1854 in Fountain Co., IN and was buried in Oak Grove Cem., Covington, Fountain Co., IN.
They had the following children:
11 M i John JOHNSON 12 M ii Joseph Samuel JOHNSON was born 29 Dec 1812. He died 2 Feb 1849 in Fountain Co., IN and was buried in Oak Grove Cem., Covington, Fountain Co., IN. 13 F iii Elizabeth Jane JOHNSON was born 8 Jun 1817. She died Oct 1848. 14 M iv James S. JOHNSON was born 30 Dec 1818. He died 10 Jun 1837 in Fountain Co., IN and was buried in Oak Grove Cem., Covington, Fountain Co., IN. 15 M v Gavin JOHNSON was born 8 Oct 1821. He died 15 Sep 1836 in Fountain Co., IN and was buried in Oak Grove Cem., Covington, Fountain Co., IN. 16 M vi William JOHNSON was born 2 Apr 1824. He died 10 Dec 1848. + 17 M vii Alexander JOHNSON
3. William James JOHNSON Sr. (James ) was born 17 Dec 1789 in Dauphin Co., PA and was christened 30 Apr 1790 in Old Hanover Chuch, Dauphin Co., PA. He died 23 Sep 1845 in Van Buren Co., IA and was buried in Bonaparte Cem., Bonaparte, Van Buren Co., IA.
Accompanied his parents from Pennsylvania to Ohio when just 12 years old in 1801 . . first to the Cincinnati area and then to Warren Co. where William grew into manhood. He met Nancy Crain here whom he afterward married. He served in the War of 1812. He later spent time in Fountain Co., IN farming and in 1836 made settlement in Monmouth, IL. The following year he accompanied his son William J. to what is now Van Buren Co., IA. - 1890 Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Co's. IA. 1832 Register of Pioneer Settlers, Van Buren Co. lists settlement in Van Buren Co. as 1837.
William Johnson during the War of 1812 had charge of ammunition at St. Mary's, Michigan, but he escaped and was able to reach his home in Ohio. He also worked on Canal in Miami River at Dayton, Ohio, but was a cooper by trade. He was a German. The Johnsons first came to America and settled in Maryland, afterwards going to Pennsylvania and Ohio where their homestead was at Springboro. Margaret Johnson Willits was born on Clear Creek.
William Johnson and his son, William James, came to Monmouth, Illinois from Fountain County, Indiana, in 1836 and left the family there and came to what is now Van Buren County, Iowa, then a part of the Wisconsin Territory. In the spring of 1837 they brought the family to near Bonaparte, later moving to town, where they lived the balance of their lives.
This information compiled by Jennie June Christy furnished by her Mother, Sarah Caroline Johnson Christy.
William married Nancy CRAIN, daughter of William CRAIN and Mary SAWYER, on 11 Apr 1820 in Warren Co., OH. Nancy was born 21 Oct 1799 in OH. She died 9 Nov 1881 in Van Buren Co., IA and was buried in Bonaparte Cem., Bonaparte, Van Buren Co., IA.
Moved with her parents to Warren Co., OH as a child. At the age of 19 she married William Johnson and they remained in Ohio about 10 years before moving to Fountain Co. Indiana, where they remained for seven years. After trying their fortunes in the far west, they moved to Van Buren Co., IA in the spring of 1837.
William and Nancy had the following children:
18 M i John Crain JOHNSON was born 18 Jul 1820. He died 1887 in Kansas. John married Sarah PETRIE on 16 Apr 1844. + 19 M ii William James JOHNSON Jr. 20 M iii Oliver Hazard Perry JOHNSON was born 11 May 1823 in OH. He died 1, 2 18 Sep 1894 in Ukiah, Mendocino Co., CA and was buried in Little Lake Cem., Willits, Mendocino, CA.
Resident of Mendocino County, CA. Never married.21 F iv Mary Eliza JOHNSON was born 18 Feb 1825. She died 24 Jan 1886 in CA. Mary married Andrew GEORGE on 23 Dec 1843 in Van Buren Co., IA. 22 F v Margaret Jane JOHNSON was born 27 Aug 1827 in Ohio. She died 13 Nov 1902 and was buried in Little Lake Cem., Willits, Mendocino, CA.
Moved to CA in 1850. Willits, CA located in Mendocino Co. was named after him in 1888. They had no children.Margaret married Hiram S. WILLITS, son of Robert WILLITS and Sarah BEARD, on 13 Mar 1845. Hiram was born 5 Feb 1821 in Wayne Co., IN. He died 27 Mar 1892 and was buried in Little Lake Cem., Willits, Mendocino, CA.
He moved to Van Buren Co., IA in Sept. 1842 with his parents.23 F vi Indiann McCord JOHNSON was born 18 Mar 1830. She died 1848.
According to her mother's obit., at the time of her father William Johnson's death in 1845, 10 children survived, which would have included Indiann. At the time of her mother's death, 9 children survived.+ 24 M vii Joseph Alexander JOHNSON + 25 F viii Sarah Caroline JOHNSON 26 F ix Harriet "Hattie" Agnes JOHNSON was born 31 Mar 1839. She died 26 Mar 1888 in Mt. Pleasant, IA and was buried in Bonaparte Cem., Van Buren Co. IA.
2nd wife of JW Whitely, 0 children. She died in Mt. Pleasant, IA according 1890 Portrait & Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa on William Johnson Sr.Harriet married Joseph Wade WHITELEY on 18 Aug 1878. Joseph was born 28 Apr 1826 in Yorkshire, England. He died 9 Jan 1909 and was buried in Bonaparte Cem., Van Buren Co. IA.
Came to Bonaparte in 1857. He worked at Meek's Woolen Mill for many years. Started grocery business in 1870 and continued to work at the mill for a time after that. The grocery became the largest business in Van Buren County per obit. in Entler Scrapbook.+ 27 M x Thomas Benton JOHNSON
4. Gawin JOHNSTON (James ).
Gawin married Anne TODD on 3 Oct 1805 in Warren Co., OH.
They had the following children:
5. John JOHNSTON (James ) was born 20 Apr 1779. He died 25 Apr 1807 in Warren Co., OH and was buried in Springboro Cem., Clearcreek Twp., Warren Co., OH.
John married Mary "Polly" CRAIN, daughter of William CRAIN and Mary SAWYER, on 10 Sep 1805 in Warren Co., OH. Mary was born 3 Apr 1788 in prob. PA. She died 4 Mar 1845 in Van Buren Co., IA and was buried in Bonaparte Cem., Bonaparte, Van Buren Co., IA.
They had the following children:
+ 29 F i Margaret JOHNSON
6. Alexander JOHNSON (James ) was born about 1794 in PA and was christened 15 Jun 1788 in Old Hanover Chuch, Dauphin Co., PA.
Early History of Old Hanover Church, p. 21, Register of Births and Baptisms; Alexander, son of James and Mary Johnston, Baptism June 15, 1788.
Alexander married Margaret MCCORD, daughter of John M. MCCORD and Sarah WRIGHT OR WHITE, on 18 Apr 1816 in Warren Co., OH. Margaret was born 8 May 1788 in PA. She died 15 May 1858 in Marine, Madison Co., IL.
They had the following children:
+ 30 F i Mary McCord JOHNSON 31 M ii James JOHNSON was born 1 about 1820 in OH. 32 M iii John JOHNSON was born 1 about 1823 in OH. 33 F iv Sarah JOHNSON was born 1 about 1827 in OH. 34 F v Amanda JOHNSON was born 1 about 1832 in OH.
8. Margaret "Peggy" JOHNSON (James ).
Margaret married Timothy STURGEON, son of Robert STURGEON and Jane SNODGRASS, on 6 May 1802. Timothy was born 23 Dec 1778 in West Hanover Twp., Lancaster Co., PA. He died 3 Jan 1827.
Timothy Sturgeon, a native of Pennsylvania, first visited Ohio in 1801. Having decided to settle in Lancaster, he soon after returned to Pennsylvania and married Margaret Johnson. In 1802 he returned to Ohio with his young wife, and became a permanent resident of Lancaster, where he engaged in the watch and clock business for many years. He was a prominent and active man, filling the position of Justice of the Peace for some time. He was also treasurer of Fairfield county one or more terms. He was a member of the Presby- terian church, an esteemed citizen, and successful business man. He accumulated a handsome property, a portion of which was ten acres of land in what is now a part of Lancaster.
Timothy and Margaret had the following children:
