Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, 1903, pp. 556-557.

NOAH JOHNSON

This gallant ex-soldier and at present a resident of Union township, Wells county, Indiana, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 27, 1826, a son of James and Rebecca (Baxter) Johnson, also natives of the Keystone state. Solomon Johnson, grandfather of Noah, was a native of Wales and, with two brothers, came while young to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where he married Fannie Warren, and where he and his wife passed the remainder of life. Solomon, who was born January 3, 1765, died July 24, 1843, and Fannie (Warren) Johnson, who was of German descent, was born August 1, 1772, and died June 15, 1838. They were the parents of fourteen children, namely: Pattie, born December 23, 1791; Joseph, born February 15, 1793; Jacob, born July 17, 1794; Rebecca, born June 3, 1796; Dorcas, born February 28, 1798; Eliza, born February 27, 1800; James, born January 18, 1802; Abram, born January 8, 1804; Eliza, born December 7, 1805; Anna, born September 29, 18--; J. B., born April 18, 1810; Sarah B., born October 28, 1812, and William, born November 22, 1820. James Johnson was reared a farmer in Pennsylvania, was married in that state, then removed to Ohio and in 1853 came to Indiana and settled in Allen county, where his death took place. To James and Rebecca Johnson were born fourteen children, of whom Noah was the first born and of whom eleven still survive.

Noah Johnson was also reared to agriculture, and educated in the district schools and married Miss Sarah Thomas, a daughter of Enos and Margaret (Cameron) Thomas. Sarah Thomas was educated in Ohio and came from Columbiana county, Ohio, to Wells county, Indiana, with her husband in a wagon. Here Mr. Johnson purchased the farm he still continues to occupy and cultivate and which he wrought out from a dense forest. Although Mr. Johnson went in debt for the greater part of his purchase, he eventually succeeded in liquidating the incumbrance and is now in good circumstances. The marriage of Mr. And Mrs. Johnson has been crowned with eight children, namely: Emmett, born in 1847; Amizet, born May 13, 1850; Rebecca, born August 14, 1852, and now the widow of Zeph Babcock; Margaret, born December 5, 1855, and now the wife of Frank Detier; Elizabeth, born April 23, 1860, and now the widow of W. W. Greek; Bethena, born July 14, 1858, is still at home; Albert L., born October 17, 1862, and Ella, born July 7, 1866.

After his marriage and when he was well settled on his farm the great Civil war broke out, and Mr. Johnson, filled with patriotism and indignation, tendered his services, and his life if necessary, to the government, enlisting in Company E, Thirty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, October 17, 1862, under Capt. Harry Deam, at Bluffton. He took part in the Vicksburg campaign, the battle at Port Gibson, the fight at Champion Hill, back of Vicksburg and at Jackson, all in Mississippi, and after the last campaign he was transferred to New Orleans, Lousiana (sic), where he did garrison duty until December, 1863. He also took part in the Red River expedition, and the fight at Brownsville, Texas, and was honorably mustered out after the close of the war in 1865, but with partial loss of eyesight, for which catastrophe the government allows him a pension of one dollar per day. In politics Noah Johnson was first a Whig, but on the founding of the Republican party joined its ranks. Mrs. Johnson is a devout member of the United Brethren church, in the radical branch of which she is an ardent worker.

Enos Thomas, the father of Mrs. Johnson, was one of the earliest justices of Columbiana county, having been appointed to his office by President George Washington. Seth Thomas, Mrs. Johnson's grandfather, was a native of England, married Martha Kirk, also a daughter of Albion's isle, and this couple were the progenitors of the present family bearing their names in the state of Indiana. The Johnson family are among the most respected residents of Union township, Wells county, and, having been married for more than half a century, may be well considered as among the patriarchs of the county to which they have contributed so much of their labor and enterprises in redeeming it from the wilderness and in making it the pleasant abode that it is today.