Biographies

Source:
The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio
To Which is Added an Elaborate Compendium of National Biography
Illustrated
Publ. Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company
1902
 

MRS. BELLE C. JOHNSON was born on the farm adjoining the one on which she now resides, and is a daughter of George W. and Margaret (Morton) Davis.  She was one of four children, three of whom still survive.  Her sister Emma became the wife of Earl Squires, of Granville, Knox county, and her brother, John, is a resident of Mount Vernon, Illinois.  The father, George W. Davis, who was born on the farm in Clinton township on which Mr. John S. Abbott now resides, Jan. 9, 1821, was a son of Alexander and Isabelle (Beam) Davis.  The Davis family is of German descent, and George Davis, the father of Alexander, came to this state from Culpepper Court House, Virginia, about the year 1800 and settled on the land now owned by M. M. Kelly, which place at the time of the former's death descended to his son Alexander.  Alexander Davis was a soldier in the war of 1812, receiving for services rendered land warrants, which he afterward located in Iowa, taking up military lands in that state.      His wife came with her parents from New Jersey to the Buckeye state, and their marriage was celebrated in Knox county.  Their original homestead now constitutes the farms now owned by John S. Abbott, M. M. Kelly, Ransom Shinabury and C. C. Abbott, but later they sold their holdings here and went to Warren county, Ohio, where Mr. Davis purchased large tracts of land in teh Little Miami bottoms, near Morrow and there his death occurred.  George W. Davis, the father of our subject, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Knox county, and after reaching mature years he was given the old home farm, where he spent his entire life with the exception of three years when he made his home near the town in order that his children might enjoy the advantages of the city schools.  At his death he owned one hundred and eight acres of land at Hunt's Station, which was afterward sold to E. Hamilton.  Eighty acres south of Mount Vernon was sold to Dr. Pumphrey, while his home farm of ninety-two acres is still in possession of his wife, Margaret Davis.      His life's labors were ended in death in 1865, when he had reached the age of forty-four years.  He was a Republican in his political views, and, although never an aspirant for political honors, he took an active interest in the issues and questions of the day, and was at all times a pubic-spirited and wide-awake citizen.  Although not a member of any religious denomination, he attended the services of the Presbyterian church, and did whatever he could to spread the cause of Christianity among his fellow men.  His wife, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, was a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Welsh) Morton, who came to the Buckeye state in 1835, locating in Clinton township, Knox county.  The Morton family is of Irish extraction.      Mrs. Belle C. Johnson, whose name introduces this review, was reared to mature years in the county of her nativity, and was educated in the Mount Vernon High School.  In 1879 was was united in marriage to Isaac Johnson, and he, too, was a native of Clinton township, born on the 20th of December, 1818, a son of Nathaniel and Isabelle (Adams) Johnson.  He receivd his elementary education in the public schools of Knox county and Mount Vernon, after which he became a student in the Dennison University.  After his marriage, which occurred in his sixtieth year, he located on the farm on which his widow now resides.  He was very successful in his farming and stock raising interests, and at the time of his death his landed property in this county and western states comprised thirteen hundred acres.  He gave his political support to the Democracy, but was never a politician in any sense of the word, preferring to give his time to his business affairs.  Socially he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  He closed his eyes in death at his old home in Clinton township on the 21st of October, 1893.  The entire community mourned his loss, for he was a man of incalculable worth to his locality.  His career was that of an honorable, interprising and progressive business man, whose well-rounded character also enabled him to take an active interest in educational, social and moral affairs.  In all life's relations he commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he came in contact, and the memory of his upright life is an inspiration to the many friends who knew him well and were familiar with his virtues.      Three children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, namely:  Alice, who is a graduate of Harcourt Place Seminary, and attended school at the Granville Female College, is at home; Isaac Sterling is attending school at the Pennsylvania Military College, of Chester, Pennsylvania; and Harold C. is attending the Doane Academy, of Granville.  Mrs. Johnsonand her daughter are members of the Presbyterian church. Source: The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio - Publ. 1902 ~ Page 171

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