Josiah Johnson was the father of the following children: Richard, Ransom, Wiley, Jordan, Josiah, Henry, Isaiah, Nancy and Clarissa. Jordan Johnson, whose life has a direct bearing upon the subject of this sketch, married Levina Wright, of whom the following information can be given. She was born in the old block house that stood on Fort Hill in 1813, an was the daughter of John and Nancy (Purlee) Wright, the former of whom was born in Rowan county, South Carolina, a son of Amos and Elizabeth (Low) Wright. After the death of his first wife, Peggy Wolfscale, who left a daughter, Elizabeth, John Wright married Nancy Purlee who has just been mentioned as the mother of Levina Johnson. John Wright was one of the-most interesting of the pioneers who helped lay the foundations of community life in Washington county. He came here in 1810 and settled four miles south of Salem on the Press Hinds place. After selling this farm he moved two miles south of Salem where he lived until taking up his home on Bear creek. In i8io the Free Will Baptists established a church in his house and later Mr. Wright donated the ground for the church whose name was soon changed to the Church of Christ and which is at the present time known as the Blue River church, four miles southeast of Salem. John Wright was the first preacher of the church and with the assistance of Adam Kearns, ministered to three thousand souls. He was a power in the community where his influence was, evident long after he had passed away. Jordan Johnson, the father of the subject of this sketch, began his life as a farmer on a farm four and one-half miles from Salem on the Beck's Mill road. He lived on this place until his death which occurred on February 22, 1874. His wife, who passed away on the 22nd of September, 1884, became the mother of four children, one of whom died in infancy. The other children were, Josiah, the subject of this sketch; Nancy and Rebecca. Josiah T. Johnson followed the occupation of a farmer for sixty-eight years until the time when he went to live with his children. He married Maria A. Denny, the daughter of Thomas Goff and Jane (Hobbs) Denny, and a native of Washington county. Thomas Denny, who was the son of Samuel and Dorothy (Goff) Denny, came to this county in the early pioneer days and put up a log cabin where the Odin Parker farm is now. In those days the pioneers had no method of cutting the lumber except with a whip,saw. To Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Johnson, the. following children were born: Sarah Dorothy, who married R. Benton Colglazier; Harry B., deceased, who was survived bv his wife and three children: Jacob, who died of tetanus at the age of nineteen; Morton, who is in California; Walter, who is teaching school in Chicago; Thomas, who disappeared in Kansas, is believe, have been drowned in the flood of that state; Levina Jane is the wife Alonzo Roberts; Nora Odell became the wife of S. H. Hall, and Alberta, who married G. O. Child, resides in Camphellsburg. Two children, a boy and a girl, died in infancy.
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, INDIANA ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS, By Warder W. Stevens.
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families. Illustrated 1916 B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana
Data Entry by Jerry Morris Mounts
George. M Johnson George M. Johnson was one of a family of four children, namely: Ransom, living in Pekin; Mary J., wife of P. J. Purlee, residing north of Pekin, and Adelia, widow of William Baker, of Fountain county, this state. George M. is the second child of the family in order of birth, and lived on the homestead north of Pekin until married. During his boyhood days he attended the grade and high schools of Pekin and assisted his father in the work of the farm. After marriage, he bought a stock of general merchandise in Pekin Station. which fie continued to run for seven vears. He then moved his store to Old Pekin and continued in that business until about 1910. For about thirty-five vears he operated the business himself, and then disposed of it to his son, Charles C., and since has been giving his attention to the retail automobile business. In 19I3 Mr. Johnson became connected with the Pekin Hardwood Lumber Company, in the capacity of president. That company operates a large saw and band-mill, doing a large business. Mr. Johnson is also connected with the Borden State Bank, in the capacity of vice-president and director, and he is also a stock-holder and director in the Citizens Bank of Pekin. Mr. Johnson is a public-spirited man and gives his support to the Democratic party. In 1908 he was elected county commissioner and re-elected to succeed himself, occupying the office for six years, up to the close of 1913. In I873 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Sarah A. Elrod, born in Polk township, a daughter of Cornelius and Mahala (Rickard) Elrod, the former a son of Stephen and Elizabeth Wyman Elrod. Stephen was a native of North Carolina and came to this section about the vear 1815. He entered land from the government in Jackson township, but within a few years went to Polk township, where his wife owned a half section. Stephen prospered in his farming and gradually added other acres to his wife's original holdings, until he was a considerable landowner. His wife was Elizabeth Wvman, daughter of Frederick Wyman, who was a native of Hesse, Germany, and reached this country during the war with England in 1812. The English brought over a number of Hessian soldiers to aid their cause, and inasmuch as young Wvman did not relish the task before him, he escaped from the British and wandered into Tennessee. There he remained for a short time, and then came to this county, where he made his pernanent home. He was a sturdy man in every respect and possessed the fine physique for which many Hessians were noted. This characteristic he passed on to his sons, and it can still be distinguished in several of his descendants today. All of his sons weighed over two hundred pounds and were an excellent set of men, becoming some of the leading citizens of this section. To George M. Johnson and wife have been born three children, of whom Alfred N. is the eldest, born, on January 22, 1874, and his early days were passed in assisting his father in his store. He remained in that connection until 1911, when he purchased the largest business block in Pekin, having a floor space of sixty-four hundred square feet, and installed therein a full line of hardware implements, wagons, buggies, etc. On October 13, 1895, Alfred married Bertha E., daughter of David and Julia S. (Lapping) Bierly, and to them have been born two sons, Edward B., aged eighteen years, and Frank L., eleven years old. Charles C., the second son, was born near Pekin and grew up at work about the store, being also employed some about the saw and grist-mill in the town. For a time he assisted Alfred in the store, and in 1915 Charles C. became sole owner of the store, still located at Old Pekin. Charles C. married Elva Martin. Delia F., the youngest of the Johnson family, is the wife of Thomas Fisher, a farmer near Old Pekin, and is the mother of six children, Ruth, Ruby, Hugh, Carl, George and Merle. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are devout members of the Church of Christ and are among the most highly respected citizens of this community. Personally, Mr. Johnson is quiet and modest in manner, but forceful and influential for the best.
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, INDIANA ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS, By Warder W. Stevens.
Thomas B. Trueblood
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, INDIANA ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS, By Warder W. Stevens.
JESSE BOYD
History of Lawrence, Orange and Washington Counties, Indiana
SOLOMON LINDLEY
History of Lawrence, Orange and Washington Counties, Indiana
John M. Gresham
Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the Counties of Clark,
Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington
Indiana. Compiled and Published by John M. Gresham & Company, Chicago, Chicago Printing Company. 1889
Thomas L. Collins Judge Collins was educated in private schools in New Albany and at Greencastle, Ind.. He began studying law, and was admitted to the bar of New Albany in 1855, practiced in that city until 1860, then removed to Paoli, Ind., remaining there until 1866, and then moved to this place. He was elected Circuit Judge in 1877, and has held the office ever since, being last elected in 1888. He married in 1856. Judge Collins is a man of sterling integrity, strong individually; and, as a judge he ranks among the formost judges of the State.
Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the Counties of Clark,
Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington
Indiana. Compiled and Published by John M. Gresham & Company,
Chicago, Chicago Printing Company. 1889
Asa Elliott
Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the Counties of Clark,
Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington
Indiana. Compiled and Published by John M. Gresham & Company, Chicago, Chicago Printing Company. 1889
, one of the leading business men of Pekin, Washington county, Indiana, is a native of that town, born on January I7, 1849, son of Nelson and Sarah (Souder) Johnson. Nelson Johnson was a son of Ransom Johnson, and he, in turn, was a son of Josiah and Sally (Wright) Johnson, who were among the earliest pioneers of this section, coming here in 1808 and locating southwest of where Salem now is. The Johnson family history, therefore, is closely connected with the history of Washington county and is set out in the sketch of the life of Josiah T. Johnson, found elsewhere in this volume. Nelson Johnson gave the active years of his life to farming, being located just north of Pekin, on the grade road. He was one of the older school teachers of this section, being engaged in that calling for many years and continuing therein until after fifty years of age. For twenty-four years he was justice of the peace and was a man widely known and respected. Sarah Souder, his wife, was also born near Pekin. daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Tash) Souder. Joseph Souder was a son of Fred and Mary (Kesner) Souder, and the latter's father, Solomon Kesner, came to this country from Germany. Fred Souder and his wife came to this section from Tennessee in 1816 and located first where the town of Pekin now stands. The next vear they entered land about a mile and a half north of their original location and made their permanent home there. Fred Souder died there on November 18, 1844, and his widow afterwards went to Illnois, where she closed her life.
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families. Illustrated 1916 B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana
Data Entry by Jerry Morris Mounts
Well-known farmer and prominent citizen Washington township, Washington county, Indiana, was born in Washington township,on March 24, 1877, the son of Joshua G. and Elizabeth (Baynes) Trueblood, natives of Washington county, Indiana, and Delaware County, Pennsylvania, respectively. Joshua G. Trueblood was born on March 25, 1839, the son of Nathan and Mary Darby (Hollowell) Trueblood, the former of whom was the son of Joshua Trueblood. Nathan Trueblood came to Washington township, when he was thirteen years of age, with his parents, and after his school days he engaged in farming on the home farm, which was homesteaded near the town of Canton, for some time, and then was married to Mary Darbv Hollowell, who was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Hollowell. After his marriage, Nathan Trueblood homesteaded a farm in Washington township, a place which he cultivated for the remainder of his days. Joshua G. Trueblood, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on the old Trueblood homestead, in Washington township, near where he was educated, and after which time he engaged in farming for some time, and then, Joshua G. Trueblood enlisted with the Fiftv-third Regiment, Indiana, Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Civil War, Mr. Trueblood serving as a part of the army of General Sherman for three years and eight months, after this time receiving his honorable discharge, as a result of the close of the war. Following his return from war service, Joshua G. Trueblood was married, on September 19, 1866, to Elizabeth P. Baynes, the daughter of Beezon and Lowry (Humphreys) Baynes. a sketch of whose lives is presented elsewhere in this volume. To the marriage of Joshua G. and Elizabeth Trueblood were born the following children, Lowry, Mary, Elwood, Lewis (deceased), Oliver. Thomas, Walter and William. Joshua G. Trueblood, after his marriage, secured a farm of eighty acres south of Hitchcock, a place which he improved and where he lived as a general farmer, until 1880, when he moved to another farm of eighty acres in Washington township, on this place, Joshua G.Trueblood having engaged extensively and with notable success in general farming and more especially in the breeding of high grade, purebred Poland China hogs and Cotswold sheep. The elder Trueblood was known as an expert on live stock, his judgment on matters of sheep and hogs giving him a place among the leaders of the business in the state and vicinity. Joshua G. Trueblood continued in his agricultural life until his death on May 23, 1906, after which time, a son, Walter, took up his work and is now successfully engaged in following the principles and methods of his father. Joshua G. Trueblood and his wife were active and devout members of the Blue River Society of Friends and were armong the most active in the support of the efforts and worship of the Hicksite Friends church. The elder Trueblood was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post, at Salem, and was a man who was prominent in the ranks of the Republican party, he not caring to serve in public office. Thomas B. Trueblood received his education in the township schools of his native township, and then, after a period as a farmer on his father's farm, Thomas Trueblood, with his brother, Oliver, went to the state of Colorado, where they lived for some time and then returned to Washington county, and purchased, jointly, a farm of one hundred and three acres, located east of the town of Salem. On this place Thomas Trueblood,and his brother engaged in general farming for about seven years, and then, disposing of this farm, the Trueblood brothers bought a farm of seventy acres, known as the old Knight farm, a place which they cultivated for six years. About this time, Thomas Trueblood moved to Salem, where he bought property, but continued to farm for two years then secured work in a factory for two years. After disposing of his home in Salem, Thomas Trueblood returned to farm life and bought a farm in Washington township, where he now lives and is successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits. On April 9, 1905, Thomas B. Trueblood, was united in marriage to Grace Idola Witter, who was born on January 30, 1885, in Washington township, the daughter of William J. and Margaret (Morris) Witter. To the marriage of Thomas B. and Grace Trueblood have been born two children. Russell Boyd and Blanche Elizabeth. Mr. Trueblood and his family are members of the Blue River Friends church. In politics, Thomas B. Trueblood is an active Republican, although he has not aspired to public office. Mr. Trueblood is a leading member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Salem.
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families. Illustrated 1916 B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana
Data Entry by Jerry Morris Mounts
One of the few remaining old settlers of Orange County, Ind., was born in Randolph County, N.C., May 4, 1818, and is the third of six children, only two yet living, born to William and Mary (Hopwood) Boyd, the parents now being dead. The parents of William Boyd were William and Rhoda (Davenport) Boyd, and they were natives of Ireland, coming to this country in the eighteenth century and settling in Virginia. William Boyd, Sr., served the Colonies faithfully in their struggle for independence. Jesse Boyd in 1839 started West on foot from his native country, and after walking 600 miles arrived in Orange County, Ind., where he found employment in the construction of the old turnpike, but afterward engaged in the manufacture of wheat fans. Elizabeth Hollowell became his wife March 13, 1842, and about this time Mr. Boyd engaged in farming,. This has always been his occupation, and although he commenced life's battle a poor boy, he has with the help of his wife accumulated about 1,000 acres of land, but having given about 700 acres to his children he now only owns 300 acres. Mrs. Boyd was born in Orange County, Ind., February 16, 1825, a daughter of William and Martha (Lindley) Hollowell, both sides of her family settling in Orange County previous to 1812. To Mr. and Mrs. Boyd these children have been born: William L., born June 23, 1843; Mary A., born November 1, 1844; Robert H., July 8, 1846; Franklin, March 1, 1848; Ruth E., born September 28, 1849; John T., January 16, 1852 ; Charles, August 25, 1853; Austin, April 25, 1855, died April 16, 1863; Owen C., February 3, 1858; Elwood, November 29, 1859; Martha J., November 10, 1861; James M., May 27, 1864; and Jesse, born July 20, 1866. The mother died May 2, 1881. She was one of the true pioneer women of her day and bravely aided her husband in his efforts to build up a home. Mr. Boyd married his present wife October 12, 1882. She was Miss Maria E. Brown, daughter of Hutcheson and Harriet (Banks) Brown, both of whom are now dead. Hutcheson Brown was one of the early pioneers of Washington County, Ind., and was a typo on the first paper published in that county. BothMr. and Mrs. Boyd belong to the Society of Friends.
copyright 1884 Goodspeed Brothers and Company, Chicago
Data Entry by Jerry Mounts
Was born in the township in which he now resides [Paoli], February 20, 1825, and is the grandson of Owen Lindley, who, with his family removed from North Carolina to this county in 1811. His son James was born in the Old North State, as was his wife Rachel Thompson, the former's birth occurring November 8, 1785, and the latter's July 15, 1790. They were married in their native State, which they made their home until 1817, when they came to Orange County, this State, which they made their home from that time on. They were Friends or Quakers, as were their entire family of twelve children, one of whom is Solomon Lindley. He was brought up to hard labor, receiving his education in the log-schoolhouses. His union with Miss Mary Cloud, occurred March 17, 1852. She was a native of this county, born July 24, 1826, died November 14, 1875. October 10, 1878, Mr. Lindley was united in marriage with Miss Parthena Trueblood, a native of Washington County, Ind., her birth occurring June 10, 1836. By the first marriage there were three children: Thompson C., Clara P. and Anna A. Mr. Lindley began for himself as a poor boy, and now has a fine home and a competency. Like his ancestors, he has always voted in opposition to the pro-slavery party, and is a consistent member of the Society of Friends. He owns a well-improved farm of 500 acres.
copyright 1884 Goodspeed Brothers and Company, Chicago
Data Entry by Jerry Mounts
A son on Simon P. and Marguerite Cynthia Gresham, (nee Wilson), Kentuckian and Indianian by birth respectively. His father was one of the early merchants of Fredericksburg, Washington County, Indiana, where he, John M. was born June 7th 1860. In 1888 he published he eight edition of Perrin's Kentucky History for the city of Louisville. His latest edition is the "Souvenir, " 1889. His mother, a widow, and two sisters, Ida Belle and Cora May, reside at Salem, Ind.
Data Entry by Jerry Mounts
Was born in New Albany, Ind., June 24th, 1833, and is a son of James and Angelina (Loraine) Collins--the later was a native of Petersburg, Va., when she married to Mr. Collins. They afterwards emigrated West and settled in Indiana. The former, James Collins, was also born in Virginia, came to this State about 1816, and settled in farming. He was a man of considerable local prominence. He represented Floyd county two terms in the Legislature, beginning in 1836, and State Senator from that District in 1840. His father, James Collins, came from Virginia in 1816.
Data Entry by Jerry Mounts
Was born in this (Washington County) in 1852, and is a son of Asa and Mary (Maudlin) Elliott, also natives of this county. The father of the former, Henry Elliott, was a native of Russell county, Va., came to this State in 1815, settling in this (Washington) county, where he engaged in farming. His wife, Lutisha Reese, was from Tennessee. The maternal grandfather of the subject, Nathan Maudlin, was from North Carolina, came to Indiana in 1814, and settled in this county. He was a farmer, and for many years before his death served as a justice of the peace. His wife was Rachel Brown, of Randolph county, N. C. Asa Elliott, the subject, was educated in the common schools of the county, and at Prof. May's select school of Salem. After quitting school he taught for eight years and in 1877 began to read law during his vacation from school work. After proper reading he took a course at Central Law School of Indiana, at Indianapolis, and was admitted to the bar in 1879, the year before he came to Salem and commenced practicing, which he continued until 1882 when he took a post graduate course at the same school and read in the office of Henry N. Spann, of Indianapolis, Ind. He then came back and has been practicing here ever since. He is a young man, well versed in the law and is rapidly growing into prominence as a lawyer. In 1880 he married Miss Emma Rudder, a daughter of Elder James Rudder, a minister of the Christian Church. Mr. Elliott is a member of the Salem Lodge No. 21, and of Salem Royal Arch Chapter No. 38 of Masons.
Data Entry by Jerry Mounts