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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Allen County, Ohio
And Representative Citizens
Edited and Compiled by
Charles C. Miller, Ph. D.
Assisted by
Dr. Samuel A. Baxter
Lima, Ohio
Published by Richmond & Arnold
George Richmond; G. R. Arnold
Chicago, Ill
1906
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ALBIA JOHN,
deceased, for many years one of the most highly respected
residents of German township, was born in Ross County, Ohio,
Oct. 14, 1831, and was a son of Griffith John, one
of the first settlers of Allen County, whose sketch may be found
in the general history of German township in Chapter VII of this
work.
Abia John was about one year old when he
was brought to Allen County, by his parents, who located in
German township, where he was reared and educated. He
learned the trade of carpenter; but remained at home, assisting
his father on the farm until he reached his majority.
Preferring to work at his trade rather than on a farm, he then
went to Illinois and remained in that State for four years,
working at various points as a carpenter, and at the end of this
period returning to Allen County. The death of his father
followed shortly after, and on his mother’s behalf the young man
then took upon himself the management of the general store,
which his father had conducted so successfully.
On Oct. 18, 1857, Mr. John was married to
Phoebe Ann Myers, who is a daughter of
Silas and Matilda (Bowman) Myers. The Myers
family moved from Butler County to Allen County in 1850.
Mrs. John was born in Butler County, Mar. 27,
1841, and was nine years of age when the family located in
German township, where she was reared and married. One of
her brothers, David H. Myers, resides in Marion township,
Allen County. He married Mary Ella Mounts, a
daughter of Rev. James Mounts, of Van Wert. The
children born to Mr. and Mrs. John were: Ulysses
Franklin, born Oct. 1, 1858, who died at the age of 28
years; David Newton, born June 28, 1860, who also
died at the age of 28 years; Olive Matilda, born
Dec. 7, 1861, also deceased at the age of 28 years; Silas
Meeker, born Oct. 9, 1863, who died aged 22 years;
Jehu Mounts, born Aug. 19, 1865, who resides with his
mother—he married Carrie Conrad, of Elida, who
died Apr. 2, 1890, and was laid to rest in Greenlawn Cemetery,
near Elida; Martha Evelyn, born June 14, 1867, who
married George Copus, of Elida, and died in 1900,
leaving two children —Howard Ray and Guy
Edgar; Jesse Roberts, born Sept. 8, 1869, who
is single and resides at home; Ella May, born
Sept. 28, 1871, who married James Wesley Johns and
lives at Findlay, Ohio; Tirza Arvilla, born June
23, 1876, who married Clinton Shock, of Texas, and
has one child— Emma Annetta, born Mar. 21, 1879,
died aged 16 years; and Pauline Myrtle, born Apr.
11, 1881, who resides with her mother and brothers on the old
homestead.
Abia John died Nov. 24, 1903, and his
burial was in Greenlawn Cemetery, by the side of his deceased
children. The death of the two oldest sons had weighed
heavily upon him, both of them being promising young men of
sterling character. David Newton John
was educated at the university at Lebanon, while his brother was
educated at Delaware. Both brothers taught school and
David Newton John was superintendent of four
schools in Texas.
The death of Abia John removed from
German township one of its most exemplary citizens. He was
a man of character and in tegrity, honest in his dealings with
his fellow men, kind in his treatment of his family and true in
every relation of life. His widow, who resides in Elida,
is a lady very highly esteemed and on account of her gentle and
kind neighborliness is known to every one as “Aunt Ann.”
Mr. John was a steward in the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He was no politician but served on the School Board.
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ. by Richmond &
Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 791 |
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ELIAS H. JOHNS,
one of the honored retired residents of Lima, was for a great
many years prominently identified with the city's business
interests and public affairs. Mr. Johns was born in
Fauquier County, Virginia, June 11, 1834, and is a son of
Elias and Adaline (Otley) Johns.
The Johns family were among
the pioneers of Washington township, Union County, Ohio,
removing there from Charlestown, Virginia. The father of
our subject was a man of enterprising spirit. When he
located in Washington township, in 1852, he erected the first
hewed-log house there. When his life approached middle
age, he removed from the farm to the village of Essex and there
engaged in mercantile business.
Elias H. Johns obtained his education in
Virginia prior to the removal of the family to Ohio and from the
age of 18 years until his enlistment in the Union Army he
followed school teaching. Mr. Johns was one
of the first patriotic young men of his neighborhood to respond
to the call for troops in 1861, becoming a member of Company B,
Second Battalion, 18th Reg., United States Infantry. With
all the loyal enthusiasm of the time he entered the service and
nobly performed a soldier’s duty and almost gave up his life for
his country. On the terrible battle-ground of Stone River,
he with scores of his comrads fell, and such were the prevailing
conditions that he was left to suffer without surgical care for
a number of hours. His life was in the balance when he was
taken to a hospital. From December until the following September
he was under treatment in army hospitals at Murfreesboro,
Nashville, Louisville and Camp Dennison. From the effects of
that dreadful day of battle, Mr. Johns never fully
recovered, although the day came when he was able to take a
position in the recruiting service, in which he spent the
remainder of his term of enlistment, being honorably discharged
in 1864. In spite of the injuries suffered when just in
the flower of his manhood, Mr. Johns has survived
many of his comrades and, approaching the evening of life, he is
still vigorous of mind and body, and in most entertaining manner
can recall those days which must always possess vital interest
for every true American.
After his return from his army service, Mr.
Johns came in the same year to Lima and entered into
business, opening up a grocery which he continued to operate
until 1879, when he became associated with Townsend &
Moser for four years, and later with the late Judge
Hughes, in the manufacture of furniture. Close
attention to business and careful investments have provided
Mr. Johns with ample competency, which his leisure
permits him to enjoy. He owns considerable property here,
including his pleasant home at No. 222 South Pierce street.
In 1857 Mr. Johns was married to
Elizabeth Cheney. of Union County, Ohio, a daughter
of William Cheney, who was a farmer all his life.
Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Johns,
two are now living, namely: Silas
Source: History of Allen County, Ohio, Publ. by Richmond &
Arnold, Chicago, IL - 1906 - Page 455 |
NOTES:
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