William James Johnson (1789-1845) - Find a Grave Memorial

William James Johnson

Birth

17 Dec 1789

Pennsylvania, USA

Death

23 Sep 1845 (aged 55)

Van Buren County, Iowa, USA

Burial

Bonaparte Cemetery

Bonaparte, Van Buren County, Iowa, USA Show Map

Memorial ID

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William James Johnson
(James) was born 17 Dec 1789 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and was christened 30 Apr 1790 in Old Hanover Chuch, Dauphin County Pennsylvania.
He accompanied his parents from Pennsylvania to Cincinnati, Ohio when just 12 years old, and in 1801 to Warren County where William grew into manhood.
He met Nancy Crain here whom he afterward married.
James served in the War of 1812. He later spent time in Fountain County, Indiana farming and in 1836 made settlement in Monmouth, Illinois. The following year he accompanied his son William J. to what is now Van Buren Co., Iowa.
The 1890 Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Co's. Iowa, 1832 Register of Pioneer Settlers, Van Buren Co. lists settlement in Van Buren Co. as 1837.

During the War of 1812, James had charge of ammunition at St. Mary's, Michigan, but he escaped and was able to reach his home in Ohio. He also worked on Canal in Miami River at Dayton, Ohio, but was a cooper by trade.
The Johnsons first came to America and settled in Maryland, afterwards going to Pennsylvania and Ohio where their homestead was at Springboro.
Margaret Johnson Willits was born on Clear Creek.
William Johnson and his son, William James, came to Monmouth, Illinois from Fountain County, Indiana, in 1836 and left the family there and came to what is now Van Buren County, Iowa, then a part of the Wisconsin Territory. In the spring of 1837 they brought the family to near Bonaparte, later moving to town, where they lived the balance of their lives.

He married Nancy CRAIN, daughter of William CRAIN and Mary SAWYER, on 11 Apr 1820 in Warren Co., OH. Nancy was born 21 Oct 1799 in OH. She died 9 Nov 1881 in Van Buren Co., IA and was buried in Bonaparte Cem., Bonaparte, Van Buren Co., IA.

Moved with her parents to Warren Co., OH as a child. At the age of 19 she married William Johnson and they remained in Ohio about 10 years before moving to Fountain Co. Indiana, where they remained for seven years. After trying their fortunes in the far west, they moved to Van Buren Co., Iowa in the spring of 1837.

Note: William Johnson was not related to Elizabeth Johnson Meeks.