My Genealogy Hound

Platt W. Johnson, who has a fine farm and home lying along Lake Angelus in section 7, Pontiac Township, Oakland County, has been a resident of the vicinity nearly his entire life. He was born at Ball Mountain, Pontiac township, August 10, 1841, and is a son of Edward and Lucy Ann (Jenks) Johnson.

His grandfather, Platt Johnson, was a native of Long Island, New York, and was a cooper by trade. He was an early settler in Oakland County, Michigan, and had the distinction of making the first grain cradle used in this county. He was a strong Jacksonian Democrat in politics. He was an honest, unassuming citizen, and liked by all who knew him. He secured a number of tracts of 80 acres of the United States government, built a log cabin and lived in a primitive way for some years. He built the old Blue Tavern at Ball Mountain and conducted it and the post office there for over 40 years, dying at the age of 86 years. His children were: Edward; Riker; William; Stephen; Abram; Charles Byron; Phoebe (Galloway); Catherine (Hurlbut); Mary A. (Buckbee); Ellen (Decker); Sarah (Buckbee); and Louisa, who died at the age of 16 years.

Edward Johnson, father of our subject, was born on a farm near Rochester, in Monroe County, New York, and lived there until he attained the years of manhood. He came to Oakland County in 1836 with his parents, and followed the trade of a cooper, in addition to which he engaged in farming. He acquired a farm from the government and lived upon it until his death in 1864, at the age of 53 years. He was a member, of the Baptist Church and for many years sang in the choir of the Oakland Church. He was a Republican in politics and a strong abolitionist. He was first joined in marriage with Angeline Gates, a native of New York, by whom he had one daughter, Eliza M. (Voorheis). He was later married to Lucy Ann Jenks, a native of Monroe County, New York, and a daughter of Jonathan and Lucy (Whitney) Jenks, her, mother being descended from General Shays, of old blue law fame. Two children were born of this union: Platt W. and Cornelia Weston, deceased.

Platt W. Johnson spent his early life at Ball Mountain, Pontiac township, working on the farm during the summer months and attending district schools during the winter. He remained at home until March, 1872, then traded the old farm for 160 acres near Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan, where he lived for seven years. Owing to the ill health of the entire family, he sold out and moved to Los Angeles, California, where he bought a piece of land and engaged in orange growing for three years and a half. His wife’s health becoming very poor, he sold out there and returned to Pontiac township, Oakland County in July,1882, purchasing a farm of 100 acres in section 7, lying along beautiful Lake Angelus. He extensively engaged in raising berries and grapes for some five years, and at the present time makes potatoes his principal crop. When 12 years old he was injured by a cultivator and his knee became stiff, making him lame. He lives along the lake and conducts a pleasure boat.

Mr. Johnson was united in the bonds of wedlock with Sarah Westoby, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, and was a daughter of George and Jane (Wilson) Westoby; her mother accompanied her to this country. Mrs. Johnson died January 1, 1898, leaving three children, as follows: Alice M., who keeps house for her father; Ada F., who married Fayette M. Thompson of Pontiac, and has three children; and Mark Edward, who is living with his father on the home farm. Our subject is a Republican in politics. He is a representative of the highest type of manhood, and has many friends who hold him in high esteem.