My Genealogy Hound

JOHN JOHNSON, a comfortably situated farmer of the town of Ripley, was born in the town of Norwich, Chenango county, New York, in July, 1824, and is a son of Homer and Roxanna (Skinner) Johnson. The Johnson family is of English stock, but for two centuries has been American by residence. From its early New England home various branches have been planted in different parts of several States, where a numerous posterity exists to-day. Dr. Jonathan Johnson the paternal grandfather of John Johnson, was born in Connecticut, where he read medicine for four years and received his diploma April 3, 1791. In that or the following year he became the pioneer physician of Chenango county, where he soon acquired an extensive practice and he soon became an important citizen. He conducted his business affairs with such good judgment as to amass a large fortune in lands, mills and stores. He was a Presbyterian and a whig and married Hannah Graves, who lived to be ninety-six years of age.

Of their four sons and one daughter, but one, Homer Johnson (father) ever married. He was born October 31, 1803, (the third child) in the town of Norwich, Chenango county, where he followed farming until his death May 9, 1862. He was a republican and a trustee of the Baptist church and married Roxanna Skinner, by whom he had five sons and five daughters, of whom six are living: John, Mary, Jonathan D., Abbie, Emily and J. M. (see sketch). One son, Charles, was a minister of the Baptist church. Mrs. Johnson is a daughter of Daniel Skinner (maternal grandfather) who wedded for his second wife a Miss Green.

John Johnson was reared in his native town, where he was carefully trained to all kinds of farm work. He attended the schools of his neighborhood, which were then almost in the woods and afforded but a limited education. Leaving school, he worked with his father until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he commenced farming for himself, which business he has followed ever since. In 1869 became to Ripley where he purchased his present farm.

He married Delilah, daughter of Clark and Hannah Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had no children of their own but adopted and reared as their daughter Roxanna, who married Martin Harrington and died leaving one child, Truman, now residing with Mr. Johnson.

He owns fifty-six acres of good farming land, which he has carefully cultivated for the last twenty-two years. His farm is conveniently located to church, school and market. Mr. Johnson is a republican in politics and a member of the Baptist church.