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JOHN JOHNSON, a farmer, of Rochester, was born in Rochester township, Sangamon county, October 23, 1828, a son of Andrew and Mary (Williams) Johnson. His father was from Scotland, and his mother of Vermont. His father died when he was but three years of age, and his mother when he was fourteen.
The subject of this sketch received a common school education, and was raised on a farm; left to his own resources at an early day, he labored by the day and month, as employment was offered, putting forth an unusual amount of energetic industry to maintain himself, and also to lay by something for future need. He devoted his time industriously to farm labor, and in March, 1849, married Phoebe Bell, born November 1, 1830, the daughter of Robert and Susannah (Baker) Bell. By this marriage they had five children: Isaiah B., John A., Minnie S., Lovina J. and Robert S., who died in infancy. His wife died February 17, 1871, and for his second wife he married Teresa Taff, June 1`3, 1873, who was born October 21, 1846, near Mechanicsburg. He is now the owner of three hundred and eighty acres of land, which is under good cultivation, and worth $50 per acre. He and his family are members of the Christian Church, at South Fork. Politically he is a Republican.
Mr. Johnson's son, I. B., was married to Anna Loveless, in April, 1871, and his father gave him a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, one-half mile distant, worth $50 per acre. His daughter, Laura, married Henry Hedrick, in December, 1870, and he also gave her eighty acres of land, two miles distant; she had five children, all of whom yet live, but Laura died August 29, 1881.