Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-10-30
JUDGE JOHNSON
PASSES SUNDAY

away at his home on Lynn avenue al
6:15 on Sunday morning. Although
he had been about town within {
fortnight, he had been in failing
health for some time. He had a mum
Der of ailments, among them kidney
trouble, which caused his death. He
was aged Is years.
Judge Johnson was born on Sank
Prairie, June 25, 1S41, seven years be-
fore Wisconsin became a state. He
was one of four brothers to become
a soldier in the Civil War, he being a
/ member of Co. F. 18th Wis. Vol Inf.
| Mrs. Johnson was also an early res
ident of Sank Prairie, her name be-
fore her marriage being Miss Marilla
bennett. At the close of the Civil
War Mr.. and Mrs. Johnson went to
Barnes county, North Dakota, where
! he. took up a soldier homestead of a
quarter section and purchased an adj
ditional 120 acres. He served as coun-
ty commissioner in that county for
five years and as county judge for
twelve years. He was also delegate
to political conventions on several
occasions.
In 1907 Judge Johnson and Mrs.
Johnson returned to Sank county To-
eating on Lynn street in Baraboo
They celebrated their golden wedding
on November 6. 1917
Besides his wife he leaves three
brothers: George w. Johnson, Orlan-
do. Fla, formerly Storm Lake, Ia
d. Joseph Johnson, Baraboo; and
James M, Johnson, Rice Lake, Wis.
There are also several nephews and
nieces.
Funeral on Tuesday at o'clock at
the home. conducted by Rev. E. c.
Henke, pastor of the Presbyterian
church, assisted by the G. A. r. of
which Mr.. Johnson was long a mem
Der. Interment at Prairie du Sac.
Of Pioneer Family
Judge Johnson was of pioneer
family, His father, William Johnson,
was born in Troy, New York, Septem-
Der 2, 1890, and when but two years
Of age moved with his parents, Ros-
well B. and Mary (Graves) Johnson
to Pennsylvania. In the keystone
state the son William married Mary
Tlberry, the event taking. place in
September, 1911 They had four chill
dren, Kary, Mary, Elizabeth and Rut-
han, all Of which are dead Mary
Tilberry Johnson died in 1928 and the
next year he married Mahala Thomas
daughter of Michael and Elizabeth
lWatz) Thomas OF the eight chill
dren John died in 1854, Benjamin in
1854, Roswell in 1894, and Thomas D.
il. 1849 The three surviving have
been mentioned in the foregoing.
Joined Movement Westward
The Johnson family left Ohio in
1886, joining the general movement
westward, greatly augmented by the
lead mining industry in Southwestern
Wisconsin and the defeat of the In
dams during the Black Hawk war in
1892. The family located at Belmont
where the father was sub-contractor
and assisted in erecting the first cap
itol building of the territory, now the
state of Wisconsin. The building is
still standing and was recen1y moved
to ( former
To Sank County
In 1893 the family left Belmont and
when the Wisconsin river was reached
the ice was. of sufficient thickness to
cross on foot The animals were left
in the care Of a pioneer and a claim
was taken at the foot of the bluff
along Otter Creek, about five miles
from Prairie du Sac. There they built
a small cabin, spent the winter in get
ting out rails and traded with a
camp of thirty or forty Indians near
by. The next spring Mr.. Johnson
plowed the first furrow IN the town
of Sumpter and in many other ways
was the pioneer of the region.
The Johnsons were assisted in
crossing the river by James S.
Alban, the first permanent settler in
Sank county. Mr. Alban has the
credit of being the discoverer of
Devils lake and was killed in the
battle of Shiloh. 1t was with much
difficulty the river was crossed by the
Johnsons part of the oxen almost
drowning.
The home of Mr.. and Mrs William
Johnson was the center of much
hospitality on the prairie. He was
most active and lived to be almost a
century old.
In all four sons were in the Civil
War, as previously stated. George w.
was a member of Co. X. 18th Wis. Vol
Inf, D. Joseph the 47th Wis. Vol. Inf.
and Benjamin of the Sd Cav. The
organization to which Judge Johnson
belonged has already been noted.
Judge and Mrs. Johnson have en-
joyed the evening of life among their
friends in the fullest measure. FIRE.
.quent visits from relatives and little
siournovc To fbo hononc nf ofhprc have