Name: Elijah Johnson
   Born: 22 Aug 181184 144 
  Place: Fayette Co., PA
   Died: 14 Apr 188984 144 
  Place: Caldwell Twp, Appanoose Co IA
 Buried: 
  Place: Zoar Cemetery, Exline, Appanoose County, Iowa
Married: 6 Nov 1832
  Place: Probably Fayette County, Pennsylvania84 144 

Elijah Johnson
"Genealogy & History of
The Johnson Family in America"²

Elijah and Anna's youngest son was named Phineas Porter Johnson. This is notable because a Phineas Porter is found in Fayette county PA (Elijah's birth place) as early as 1799 when he appears on the tax list for Dunbar township. As was the case with Elijah, three of Phineas's children (Phineas Jr, John and Mrs Sarah McFarland) moved to Belmont county Ohio and eventually to Appanoose county Iowa (c1855), where Elijah died in 1889. An article written by Bert Porter (1880-1957) published in 1946, refers to Elijah as "uncle." It's evident, however, that he was known as Uncle Elijah Johnson by the community. This, for instance, comes from The Centerville Journal, 2 June 1886: "Uncle Elijah Johnson, an old resident of Caldwell township, but who has been in Illinois during the winter, has moved his residence back to Exline." Nonetheless, it needs to be noted that the Porter and Johnson families were living near one another c1800-c1840 in Fayette county PA, c1840s-1855 in Belmont county OH, and then in Appanoose county IA during the remainder of the 19th century.

The following is from Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County Pennsylvania. The Maryland origin for the Porter family is noteworthy because, according to the 1880 census, Elijah's mother was born in Maryland.

Phineas Porter is recorded as being overseer of the poor of Dunbar township in 1803...[He] was born in Maryland. He was a tanner. He came to Fayette county about the year 1800 and established a tannery in Dunbar township.¹

From the 1799 tax list of Dunbar township, Fayette County, PA:²

Horses Cattle Acres Mager Foster 1 2 - William Johnston 1 2 100 Isaac Johnston 1 1 - Elijah Johnston - - - Jacob Lowry - 1 - Benjamin Lowry - - - Phineas Porter, tanner 4 4 150 James Paull, 2 slaves 5 6 450 Joshua Porter, schoolmaster - 1 Jonathan Paul, blacksmith - - -

From Cincinnati Memories 1875-1875, undated:

The following is from Lewis Wood, a long resident of Cincinnati and vicinity, having been born in Pleasant township.

I was born in a log house, March 9, 1859, in Pleasant township, about six miles south of Centerville. My parents came to Centerville from Powhatan Point, Belmont County, Ohio, in 1854, by steam boat to Alexandria, near Keokuk, thence by wagons. The Porters, McFarlands, Johnsons, Monroes, Hendershots, and Marings came from Ohio about the same time and vicinity.

Obituaries

According to a 1978 certified copy of Elijah's death certificate, he died of diabetes. It gives the date of his death as 13 April 1889. However, that is clearly a typo as all three known obituaries, as well as his tombstone, state that he died on the 14th.

This obituary is as found in Descendants of Elijah H. Johnson by Stephanie Ernst.

Appanoose Iowegian - April 18, 1889
Volume 7, #4

Elijah Johnson of Caldwell Twp. died at the home of his daughter-in-law on Sunday morning. We have not the particulars but understand his death was the result of old age and a general breaking down of the system. Mr. Johnson was an old settler of this county and a man highly respected by all who knew him.

We have been acquainted with him for over 20 years and have never heard aught but good spoken of him in that length of time. He leaves a large family of children and grandchildren to mourn his loss.

Appanoose county researcher, Jo Porter, tells me that the following obituary was published on 8 May 1889 in either the Centerville Journal or the Centerville Citizen.

Died, near Exline, April 14th, 1889, Mr Elijah Johnson, aged 77 years, 7 months and 22 days. Mr Johnson was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, August 22d, 1811, and was married to Annie J Foster Nov. 6th, 1832. He removed to Belmont county, Ohio, soon after his marriage, where he remained until 1855, when he removed to Caldwell township, this county, where he has resided ever since. His wife died Feb 18th, 1879. There was born to them nine children, of whom six are living, and who were with him during his last illness, and rendered all the attention that was possible to give to a loving father. Mr Johnson was one of the best and most favorably known men in the community in which he lived. He was converted when he was 22 years old, and lived a consistent member of the M E Church, always contributing freely of his means, time and talent in support of the church of his choice. His home was always the home of the minister, and all who knew Uncle Elijah Johnson unite in saying that truly another patriarch is gone, but will not be forgotten by those who lived under his influence and christian example. He never hesitated in saying that he was ready and willing to go at the call of his Master. He will be missed by all who knew him.

This obituary, written by K P Morrison, appeared on 15 May 1889, the name of the newspaper not noted.

Elija Johnson was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, August 22nd, 1811, and was married to Anna J Foster, November 6th, 1832. Embraced religion in the twenty-second year of his age at a camp meeting near Connelsville, Pennsylvania. Moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1842, settling in Belmont county, remained there until 1855, when he came to Iowa and settled in Caldwell township, Appanoose county. He died near Exline, in great peace, April 14th 1889. Father Johnson during his long life was an active worker in the M E church, the church of his choice. Father and Mother Johnson were loved and respected by all who knew them; there home was always a home for the itinerant preacher; they were devoted christians and he will be sadly missed by the church and the community, as was Mother Johnson who preceded him to the land of rest. "They rest from their labors and are followed by their works."

Father Johnson leaves four sons, two daughters, and relatives and a host of friends to mourn; but their loss is his eternal gain. Funeral services were conducted by the writer at Zaor Chapel. May the consolations of religion sustain the heavenward ones.

K P Morrison

Family

Elijah Johnson and Anna Jane Foster had the following children. See "Descendants of Elijah H Johnson" for additional information.

Left: Mary Elizabeth, Back: Thomas Irvin,
Right: Phineas Porter, Front: Virtue Waters.

The gentleman on the right is identified as Phineas Porter Johnson but he looks like Wesley Phillip Johnson. (Compare the hairline, the part in the hair, the beard and the top of the ear, which points slightly away from the head. It's obvious, too, that this man was one of the older children, not one of the younger, as was Phineas.)

Census Records

Johnson is, of course, a difficult name to research. It would probably be meaningless, for instance, to list all Johnsons from the 1840 Belmont County, Ohio census. I need to be very specific in the research. To that end, Elijah was living in Mead township in that year (series M704, roll 378):

                         Males         Females
   28 Christian Johnson  0002000000000 000120010010
   29 Margaret Johnson   0102100000000 020001000000
   31 Martin Johnson     1100010000000 110001000000
   33 Elijah Johnson     2000100000000 000010000000
   33 Thomas Johnson     2220001000000 100101000000

Thomas is the eldest male Johnson found in the township. It may be significant that he's listed only two entries below Elijah. Since Elijah's son Wesley was born Oct 19, 1839 in Pennsylvania, it's a pretty safe bet that Elijah had just recently emigrated. However, there was already a Thomas Johnston in Mead township by the 1820 census (page 290). But he may have been of a Scots-Irish family that later gained some prominence in Belmont county. (See Belmont County Ohio Biographies.)

The 1850 census for York twp, Belmont county, OH (series M432, roll 661, page 50) lists the following household. Could the 85 year-old, Ruth Johnson, have been Elijah's mother?

      Elija Johnson 37 m Farmer Penn
      Ann     "     37 f        Penn
      Ruth    "     85 f        Virginia
      William "     14 m        Penn
      Westley "     10 m        Penn
      Mary    "      8 f        O
      Alfred  "      6 m        O
      Thomas  "      3 m        O
      George  "   5/12 m        O

We find the Phineous Porter [Jr] family on the previous page. There are McFarlands living on either side of Elijah. Following his family is Joseph McFarland and his wife Sarah, sister of Phineas Porter Jr.

"Elizah" Johnson appears on the 1860 census in Caldwell township, Appanoose county, IA, page 685 and on the 1870 census, same place, as "Elisha Johnson", page 373.

Elijah is found living with his son, Thomas, in Appanoose county, Iowa in 1880.¹³⁴ His father is listed as being born in Pennsylvania and his mother listed as being born in Maryland. (Note, however, that there is a Ruth Johnson, born ca 1765 in Virginia, living with Elijah in 1850.)¹³⁶

Two Johnsons (although there were a lot of Johnstons) and one Foster are listed on the 1800 census for Fayette county, Pennsylvania.¹³⁵

                                   |Free White Males   |Free White Females
                                   |    10  16  26     |    10  16  26    
        HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD          |to  to  to  to  45 |to  to  to  to  45
PG#  LN#  LAST NAME   FIRST NAME   |10  16  26  45  up |10  16  26  45  up
==========================================================================
561  14   JOHNSON     Humphrey       1   .   .   .   1   4   3   .   1   .
594  22   FOSTER      John           2   .   .   1   .   2   .   .   1   .
597  12   JOHNSON     William        .   .   1   .   .   1   .   1   .   .

John Foster and William Johnson were living in Springhill Township. Humphrey Johnson was living in Luzerne Township. (It's worth noting that Elijah's eldest known son was named John Foster Johnson and the next son was named William.)

Four Johnstons are found enumerated on the 1800 census for Dunbar township. Phineas Porter is found in page 517.

1800 > PENNSYLVANIA > FAYETTE > DUNBAR TWP Series: M32 Roll: 38 Page: 514 Jesse Johnston 00100 00100 Ephraim Johnston 10010 10100 William Johnston 01201 00201 Elija Johnston 12101 31001

The 1810 census for Fayette county has 16 Johnsons and 15 Johnstons, including an Elijah Johnson in Dunbar township. Phineas Porter is found on page 217.

1810 > PENNSYLVANIA > FAYETTE > DUNBAR TWP Series: M252 Roll: 54 Page: 219 Elijah Johnson 00201 01001 Ruth Brown 11000 00010

William Foster, Phineus Porter and Elijah Johnson Sr are found on the same page in 1820. William and Elijah were presumably 26-45. Elijah is shown with no male children. Phineus is shown with four, but he was known to have three sons (John 1800, Moses 1807, Phineas 1819).

1820 > PENNSYLVANIA > FAYETTE Series: M33 Roll: 103 Page: 135 p135 Henry Ferry 000100 10100 Dunbar twp William Foster 410010 22110 These four names are in order, one after the other... Elijah Johnson Sen 000010 10100 John Norris 010110 00111 James Paul 000111 10101 Phineus Porter 120101 10101 p159 John F Foster 100010 00200 Georges twp p189 Thomas Foster 200010 30010 German twp John Foster 010010 10010 James Cosgray 210010 00100 Charles Foster 200100 01100 p190 Elespay Foster 100000 11101

Virtue Waters Johnson

This quilt was made by Elijah and Anna Jane Johnson's daughter, Virtue Waters Johnson Benefiel Beer. The image is found at http://www.quiltindex.org/basicdisplay.php?kid=49-7E-8EF. Apparently, it was made by 1900.

Minnesota Quilt Project/Minnesota Quilters, Inc.