James Noah Johnson
Of the old-time families of Grant County, none better deserve perpetuation in the biographical annals of this section than that of Johnson, the first record of whom begins here in 1835, only a few years after Grant County was organized, and which has been continued with honor down to the present. The Johnson's have for years been reckoned among the largest land holders in the county, and as they acquired their property by good business judgment and strictest honesty, so likewise were they always worthy factors in the development and in the civic and social activities of the county.
The late J. Noah Johnson, who died at his home at Upland in 1893, was of the third generation of the family in its identity with grant County, and his children in turn have taken honored positions in the social and business affairs of this county. He was born on the old Johnson home in Jefferson Township in 1858. His grandfather John Johnson of Scotch ancestry and of that substantial stock which formed so important an element in early Pennsylvania settlement, and of course of Presbyterian faith, was born in Pennsylvania, march 22, 1787, was a pioneer settler in Ohio, and spent most of his active career in Guernsey County of that State, where he died in 1862. He was a man of enterprise who saw much beyond his immediate horizon, and one evidence of this was given when in 1835 he came to Indiana, and entered one hundred and sixty acres in Section Eight of Jefferson Township in Grant County, and entered land to twice that amount in Delaware County. Securing this land, he returned to his old home in Guernsey County, where he lived until his death. He was married in that county to Mary Burns, and her birth also occurred in Pennsylvania, so far as known. Both were strict adherents of the Presbyterian Church. Their children were named as follows: John, James, Jane, William, Ebenezer, Jess, Martha and Nancy. All these children were married except Jess, who is now the only survivor, and is a resident of Mill Township, this County. James, Nancy and John many years ago came out and settled on the land entered by their father in Indiana. Nancy married a Mr. Crow and they spent their lives in Delaware and Grant Counties, Indiana, dying on the Crow farm, now occupied by W. O. Modley, near Matthews. John J. died not many years after he came to his father's farm in Jefferson Township, Grant County.
James Johnson, who was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, November 2, 1821, was married July 4, 1843, in that county to Elizabeth Schriver, who was born in Guernsey County of German ancestry in 1825. In a month or two after their marriage they came out to Indiana, and took possession of the quarter section of land in Jefferson Township entered by his father in 1835. Though the early settlers had been at work for ten or fifteen years, Jefferson Township still presented a great expanse of uncleared wilderness, and it was in the midst of the woods that James Johnson and wife began life in a log cabin. Eventually they developed their land into a beautiful farm, and the substantial frame house which finally replaced the log cabin is still in a state of fine repair, and occupied by the granddaughter of James Johnson. Besides the large dwelling house, James Johnson put up many other buildings, cleared up a large acreage for cultivation, and actually added by his own labor and management thousands of dollars in practical value to his home community. Few men of that time were more successful than James Johnson, who extended his possessions until at one time he was the owner of more than three thousand acres, most of which was situated in Grant county. He raised more cattle and sheep than any other man in Jefferson Township, and was also an extensive dealer in timber. His death occurred at the old homestead in Jefferson Township, December 1, 1908, when in advanced years. His wife passed away in January, 1902. They were Presbyterians, and belonged to the strict sect of that religion, and endeavored to bring up all their children in the same faith. Their children were John, Solomon, Emma and James Noah, all of whom were farmers and were married and had children of their own except Solomon, who, while married, has no children.
The late J. Noah Johnson spent his early life on the old homestead, was a farmer, inherited much of his father's business ability, and increased the talents inherited from the preceding generation. He lived on the farm in Jefferson Township until after his wife's death, when he moved to Fairmount. He was engaged in the banking business there a short time, when his father, James Johnson, organized the Upland Bank and Noah Johnson became its Cashier and remained so until his death, November 10, 1893.
J. Noah Johnson married Bell Conley, who was born at Upland, and who died May 16, 1890. The Conley's were likewise a well known old family of Grant County. The children of Noah Johnson and wife were:
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Bertha, wife of Charles Snyder, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
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Alva, engaged in the real estate business at Marion, and who has a family of two children.
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Elva, a twin sister of Alva, and the wife of Charles F. Marley, whose individual sketch appears on other pages. Mrs. Marley was born on her grandfather's farm, April 30, 1885, was well educated in Grant County schools and through her grandfather's will has become the owner of five hundred and eighty acres of land. She was married February 8, 1909, to Charles F. Marley.
Source: Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914, page 933.