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Source:
1812 History of Sandusky, Ohio
with Portraits and Biographies
- Publ. Cleveland, Ohio: H. Z. William & Bro.
1882
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J. C. JOHNSON.
This gentleman is the first professor of architecture who
settled in Sandusky county, and for that reason, rather than
four his early settlement, deserves mention in this history.
He was born in the town of Wentworth, State of New
Hampshire, on the 8th day of December, A. D. 1828. His
father was Henry Johnson, who was Justice of the Peace in
his native town for more than thirty years, and all the time
also a farmer, and reared a large family who left home,
especially the sons, in early maturity. His mother was
Rebecca (Brown) Johnson. Henry Johnson's father and
the father of his wife were both soldiers in the War of the
Revolution, and were with General Washington at Valley
Forge, where the army underwent such terrible suffering in the
service.
John C. Johnson, a subject of this notice, was a
graduate of Wentworth Academy and intended to study and practice
law, but a strong natural inclination to mechanics diverted his
intentions, and he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner.
After learning the trade he worked in the towns of Manchester
and Nashua for a period of about two years. He then worked
at his trade in many towns and cities in Massachusetts and
Connecticut until he felt himself master of the trade and able
and qualified to do good work anywhere among men of the same
vocation. In 1852 he started from New England for the West
there to carve out his future fortune single-handed and alone.
Mr. Johnson meantime applied himself to the study of
architectural designs and drawings, and made great proficiency
and soon was prepared to make accurate and reliable plans and
specifications of all buildings in whole and also in the
minutest detail.
Mr. Johnson struck the West at Akron, Ohio, in
the year last named, 1852, where he worked at his trade, about
one year. From Akron he went to Warren, in Trumbull
county, Ohio. Warren at that time being without a railroad
was quite elated by the acquisition of a down East mechanic, who
could design and display on paper any architectural design for a
fine picture in whole and in detail, and who was able to
distance at that time all competition in talent for
architecture. At this place and in its vicinity Mr.
Johnson built some of the finest buildings in that section
of the State, and gave a new impetus to taste and convenience in
the building of public and private houses.
Here Mr. Johnson married Celia Sigler in
the year 1857, and moved to Cleveland, and there followed
draughting and building one year. He returned to Warren,
and in 1860 removed to Fremont, Ohio, where he carried on the
business of architect, and of contractor to erect buildings.
Mr. Johnson has furnished Drawings, plans and
specifications for some of the finest and bet architectural
works in Northwestern Ohio and Northern Indiana, and elsewhere.
His skill has been called in requisition as far away as Kansas,
Indianapolis, and various parts of Tennessee. The new Ohio
penitentiary is one of the finest buildings of the kind in the
West, and is built according to the design of Mr. Johnson.
This is considered the best building of the kind in the United
Sates, and like many of the courthouses, and jails designed by
him has been extensively copied for like buildings in other
place and many States.
Mr. Johnson was one of eighteen competing
architects who submitted plans for the elaborate and costly
State House at Indianapolis, a building to cost two millions of
dollars and stood a tie vote with one other competitor for
adoption; but his competitor in this design was a resident of
Indiana, and State pride gave the Hoosier the first, and real
merit gave the Fremont architect the second premium for
excellence in design, and yet Mr. Johnson's general plan
for the building was afterwards followed in its construction.
The best architectural skill of the whole country, from Boston,
New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati,
Indianapolis, and Louisville were in competition, and the merit
of even second choice was a high compliment to the State of Ohio
and to Fremont in particular. The Indianapolis Sun said it
was the highest compliment paid any State.
Mr. Johnson has introduced into Fremont an
improved style of tasty and convenient residences and public
buildings
Here a permanent testimonial of his skill may be seen
in the beautiful and well proportioned City Hall, designed by
him and erected on the northeast corner of Fort Stephenson Park.
Mr. Johnson is highly esteemed as a man and citizen, and
has for some years been a member of the City Council of Fremont.
Source:
1812 History of Sandusky, Ohio with Portraits and Biographies -
Publ. Cleveland, Ohio: H. Z. William & Bro. - 1882 - Page 831 |
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JOHN A. JOHNSON
was born in Canfield, Trumbull county at that time, but now in
the county of Mahoning. After receiving a fair academic
education he studied law in the office of judge Newton,
in Canfield. He came to Lower Sandusky and commenced the
practice of the law in the latter part of the year 1839.
In 1842 he formed a partnership in practice with Cooper K.
Watson, under the name of Watson & Johnson.
This firm had the benefit of Mr. Watson's growing
reputation, and for a time did a large legal business.
In 1842 Mr. Johnson married Almira B. Hafford.
In 1849 he left his practice and his family, in Fremont, and,
with several other citizens of the place, went, to hut gold in
California, and was absent about fifteen months. A few
months after his return he sold his farm and residence near the
town, and moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he died many
years ago. His wife and four children - three sons and one
daughter, are still living.
Mr. Johnson was in every way an exemplary man.
While residing in Lower Sandusky he was a member of the
Presbyterian church, and acted as its trustee in building the
first brick house of worship for the society.
Source:
1812 History of Sandusky, Ohio with Portraits and Biographies -
Publ. Cleveland, Ohio: H. Z. William & Bro. - 1882 - Page 383 |
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JAMES JUSTICE AND FAMILY. Among the pioneers of Fremont
who deserve a notice in this history, few are more deserving a
place than the subject of this sketch and his family.
James Justice was born in Bedford county,
Pennsylvania, on the 18th day of August, 1794. His father
was William Justice and his mother was Eleanor
Umsted. The father of Mr. Justice was of
English and his mother of German ancestry. At about the
age of nine years he removed with his parents from Bedford
county to Ross county, Ohio, about six miles from the old State
capital, Chillicothe. There he received a rudimentary
education, such as that early date in the history of Ohio
afforded, which was indeed limited compared with the grand
system of education now to be found in every part of the State.
In early life he manifested an uncommon inclination to activity,
a good share of which was wasted in the prosecution of innocent
mischief and resistance to authority. However, as he grew
to manhood, business activity took the place of mischief, and he
engaged at about the date of 1817 or 0000 1818 in the
flat-boat trade with New Orleans. The early settlers along
the Ohio river and navigable tributaries all looked to this
trade as a market for the bacon, dour and whiskey, so easily and
abundantly produced
in Southern Ohio at that time, and from
thence drew supplies by exchange, of sugars
and all those goods which we now term
groceries. Often, however, the flat-boatman
would sell his cargo and boat at New
Orleans for cash and work his way up the
river to his home the best way he could. In
this trade young Justice displayed first-class
financial talents and accumulated
considerable cash. He maintained regular
correspondence with the merchants of New
Orleans, and was at all times well Informed
of the prices of goods there as well as the
price of the products which were designed
for sale or exchange in the South.
Before engaging in the New Orleans trade
he had taken some interest in and
understanding of the business of tanning at
Chillicothe, but discontinued this to
volunteer under General William H.
Harrison in the War of 1812. He was with
Harrison at Fort Seneca at the time of the battle of Fort
Stephenson, Aug. 2, 1813.
After the war he resided at Chillicothe, and
for a time gave attention to the tanning
business. On the 12th of October, 1820, he
married Miss Eliza Moore, daughter of David Moore and sister to
John and James, deceased, two well-known citizens of
Ballville, and both millers and
manufacturers, and both wealthy and enterprising
men.
In the month of September, 1822, Mr. Justice removed from Ross to Sandusky
county, and first located in Ballville
township, and in what is now known as
Ballville village. The manner of his moving
from Ross county is quite in contrast with
the mode of travel at the present day. He
placed his wife and child on horseback,
while he started with them on foot. For a
time after his arrival at Ballville, Mr. Justice assisted his father-in-law,
David Moore, in
running his grist- and saw-mill at that place. After spending
probably two
years in this manner, he removed to Lower
Sandusky and erected a tannery on the north
side of State street, at the foot of the-hill, on
the west side of the river. With the tannery
he connected the business of harness and
shoemaking. Here, again, his financial talent
was displayed, and he accumulated money in
his business quite rapidly, and made large
savings after supporting a family. In this
business Mr. Justice simply managed the
financial department, leaving the manual
labor to expert workmen, whom he
employed in the different shops. About 1847
he turned the business over to his son, Milton J. Justice, and gave his attention to
investing and managing his capital. He made
large gains by buying and selling lands,
sometimes on his own account, and
sometimes in partnership with Rodolphus
Dickinson and Sardis Birchard. Mr.
Justice was prominent in the part he took in
constructing the Tiffin and Fostoria plank
roads, which for a time contributed so much
to the trade and prosperity of Fremont. When
the Wyandot Reservation at Upper Sandusky
was sold, and the Indians removed to the Far
West, Mr. Justice was selected by the
Government as appraiser of the land on
account of his soundness of judgment in
matters of value.
Shortly after coming to Lower Sandusky Mr. Justice was chosen by the Legislature of
Ohio one of the associate judges of the court
of common pleas of Sandusky county, which
office he filled with singular promptness and
fidelity for a number of years, under the first
Constitution of the State.
For a period of perhaps ten years Judge
Justice discharged gratuitously and
efficiently the duties of a member of the
board of education of the city of Fremont,
acting most of the time as treasurer of the
board, a position for which he was peculiarly and well
qualified. He was also
mayor of the village for a term.
When the First National Bank of Fremont
was organized, Judge Justice placed some
capital in the stock of that institution, and on
account of his well-known financial ability
and integrity, was one of the first board of
directors, and he held this position by
successive re-elections until the time of his
death, which occurred on the 28th day of
May, 1893, at the ripe age of seventy-eight
years, leaving a large estate for the support
of his wife and to descend to his four adult
children.
In person Judge Justice was a man of
impressive presence and strong magnetic
power, of large size, weighing over two
hundred pounds, light hair and complexion,
blue eyes, and full round head and face. In
business promptness and integrity no citizen
surpassed him. His punctuality in the
performance of all contracts and promises
was a marked feature in his character, and
his wonderful industry and activity in all
business affairs continued until the disability
caused by his last sickness compelled him to
reluctantly cease his labors. Those who enter
the First National Bank of Fremont may see
an admirable portrait of Judge Justice on the
south wall of the office, which was
presented by his children. The picture is the
work of his only living son, Milton J.
Justice, who is a natural artist and has set
forth his father's features with wonderful
accuracy.
The wife of the subject of the foregoing
sketch was not only one of the pioneers of
this county but possessed virtues in a
remarkable degree. She was born in
Huntingdon county, State of Pennsylvania,
on the 13th day of October, 1800, the
daughter of David Moore and sister of Mrs.
William Fields, now a widow residing in this
county, and also sister of the late worthy citizens James and
John Moore, of Ballville township, so
well remembered and esteemed by the people of the county as men
of high merit awl success in business and in usefulness to the
community.
At the age of fourteen years Miss Eliza
Moore emigrated with her parents from Huntingdon county,
Pennsylvania, to Ross county, Ohio. Her father, David
Moore, was of full Scotch blood, and her mother was born
in Pennsylvania. In 1820 she was married to James
Justice, near Chillicothe, and in 1822 emigrated thence to
Sandusky county, with her husband and only child and settled in
Ballville township. Her father had preceded her in coming into
the county and was then engaged in the erection of a gristand
saw-mill on the Sandusky River, in what is now known as
Ballville village. But Mr. Moore had not
then brought his family into the county. The journey from
Chillicothe to Ballville was made by Mrs. Justice
on horseback. The child, Nancy, she brought with
her, is now the wife of Dr. James W. Wilson, president of
the First National Bank of Fremont. The way was through an
almost unbroken wilderness.
The inhabitants of this northwestern portion of the
State were very few and very poor in the goods of this world,
but they were rich in that trust in God, irrepressible
cheerfulness, and indomitable courage which distinguished the
hardy pioneers of that period in this portion of the State.
After arriving at Ballville, Mrs. Justice passed a
short time in a fisherman's shanty, until a log cabin was
finished, in the performance of her domestic duties,, with
scanty means, and for nine months she never saw the face of a
white woman. In this shanty the only fireplace was a heap of
stones in one corner to prevent the fire from burning the wall.
Above the fire-place was an opening in the roof for the escape
of the smoke. If the rain put out the fire, Mrs.
Justice would be compelled to go a mile and a quarter to the
nearest neighbor's to obtain coals to rekindle her fire.
Among her cooking utensils she had what was called a Dutch oven,
an iron shallow kettle, with an iron lid or cover, in which all
her baking was done, by setting the kettle over coals and piling
coals on the cover. She often preserved fire in a stormy
time by placing brands and coals in this oven, and placing it
out of the reach of the rain in the back part of the shanty, and
thus saved the time and trouble of going to the neighbor's for
fire. Mrs. Justice survived her husband until the
17th day of October, 1876, when she died at the advanced age of
seventy-six years and four days. Her remains now rest by
the side of those of her husband, marked by it beautiful granite
monument, in that beautiful resting place, Oakland cemetery.
This venerable and respected pair reared a family whose
standing in society testify to the merits of their parents.
The family consisted of three daughters and one son, all
surviving them. Another son was born to them, named Granville
Moore, who died at Lower Sandusky at the age of six-teen
years. The names of the surviving children are:
Mrs. Nancy. E. Wilson, wife of Dr. James W. Wilson
(this daughter was born in Chillicothe, and was the child
Mrs. Justice brought on horseback from that place);
Minerva E., wife of Hon. Homer Everett; Mrs. S. Eliza
Failing, wife of Dr. John W. Failing, all now
residing in Fremont, and Milton J. Justice, now a
resident of Lucas county, Ohio.
On the 12th of October, 1870, this then venerable
husband and wife celebrated their golden wedding. The
occasion was of peculiar interest to a large assemblage of
friends there present to witness the ceremonies and festivities.
Among the other pleasant events of that evening was one of
peculiar interest and pleasure to all present, but especially to
Mrs. Justice. This was the presentation from
the children by Rev. R. L. Chittenden of a beautiful gold
ring, on the inside of which neatly engraved was the sacred
word, "Mother." This was surely a most fitting and
significant expression of enduring love and filial affection of
the children. Surely this pair of pioneers were honorable,
and honored by society for their virtues while living, and
honored in and by their posterity, who live to revere their
memories and imitate their virtues.
It is worthy of note, that Mrs. Justice
had received from her father as part of her outfit, a set of
Windsor chairs, painted yellow, a bureau, a table, stand, and
bedstead, all of solid black walnut and ornamented with brass
knobs or handles, which she preserved to the close of her life
and which are still kept by her daughter, in the family, at her
old homestead, now occupied by Mrs.Homer
Everett. The chairs were used by the aged couple at
their golden wedding above spoken of, and illustrates that care
and economy of Mrs. Justice which contributed so
much to the accumulation of wealth and the comfort of her
descendants.
Source:
1812 History of Sandusky, Ohio with Portraits and Biographies -
Publ. Cleveland, Ohio: H. Z. William & Bro. - 1882 - Page
552 |
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