From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

pages 832-833

James Johnson, one of the pioneers of 1836, was very prominent in the early history of Otsego Township and a history of the county would be incomplete without a mention of him. He was born in Otsego, Otsego Co., N. Y., Sept. 24, 1790, and was married in his native county Nov. 22, 1810, to Elizabeth Crandall, a native of Newport, R. I., born Aug. 26, 1792. Their five children were all born in New York and at the time they came West were all living. Three, Cyrenus, Edward C., and Elizabeth, came with them. James H., the second son, moved to Ohio the same year his parents came to Indiana. Orrin, the third son, remained in New York and in 1839 married Laura Barras, who was born July 2, 1814, and died in March, 1843. In 1856 Orrin Johnson came to Steuben County, and in 1860 went to California, returning to Indiana the following year, and since then has made his home with his brother, Edward C. In 1849 Cyrenus went to California but returned some years later and married in Otsego County, N. Y. Subsequently he returned to California and died there in 1864. Edward C. resides on the old homestead. Elizabeth, the second wife and now the widow of the pioneer, James Clark, now lives in Quincy, Mich. Mr. Johnson took an active part in the organization of the township and named it in honor of his native township and county. He was elected Magistrate, an office he held seventeen years. He is well remembered by all the old settlers for his honest, upright life. He died Sept. 10, 1856. His widow survived him till Dec. 10, 1861.

Submitted by Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com