Bio: Johnson, Jacob Astor (1819 - 1902)
Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
----Source: 1891 Biographical History of Clark & Jackson Counties, WI; Chicago: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY, Page 302-303.
Surnames: Johnson, Davidson, Taylor, Richards, Marsh, Herkimer
Jacob Astor Johnson,
one of the most respected citizens of Melrose, was born in Ostego,
NY (26 Aug 1819), a son of Jacob and Betsey (Davidson) Johnson, who
were natives of Berkshire County, MA. His paternal grandfather,
Barachiah Johnson, was also a native of the same county. His
maternal grandparents were Richard and Elizabeth (Beach) Davidson,
the former a native of Hartford Co., Ct, and the latter of NY. The
two grandfathers were in the Revolutionary war. Our subject has
four brothers and three sisters, namely: John J., William L.,
Delevan, Barachiah, Lydia, wife of Amon Taylor, of NY; Olinda, wife
of Henry Richards, of NY; Betsey, wife of John Taylor, of NY.
Mr. Johnson spent most of his early life in his native State. Four
years and a half he lived i Massachusetts, and while there reached
his majority, and there cast his first vote, it being for General
William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the United
States.
In 1857 he came to Wisconsin, locating in Melrose Township, Jackson
County, where he engaged in the lumber business. He built the first
saw-mill of any consequence in Melrose Township, in which he
afterward took an interest. Three years afterward the mill was
destroyed by fire. Mr. Johnson had devoted his spare hours to the
study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. His
fellow-citizens, recognizing his efficiency, elected him District
Attorney in 1862, and at the ensuing election in 1864 he was
elected to the same office. When he first came to the this county
few improvement had been made, and it possessed no railroad
advantages. He has taken an active interest in the politics of the
county; has been chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Melrose
Township, and ex-officio member of the County Board, and for one
year chairman of the County Board of Supervisors.
He is temperate in all things, and on the question of temperance he
is radical; and to these views and his firm convictions the of
Melrose owes much of its sobriety and prosperity. Away back in
1852, in the early organization of the Good Templars, he connected
himself with that order, and was a delegate from Fly Creek Lodge,
Otsego County, NY, to the first grand lodge meeting ever held,
which convened at Ithaca, NY, when a new and complete ritual of the
order was made. He volunteered to take the first initiatory service
for the purpose of demonstrating the workings of the new ritual. In
1865 he organized Melrose Lodge, No. 222, I. O. G. T., which has
now over fifty members, including himself and family. In 1867 he
was elected Grand Councilor of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, when
he began lecturing in the interest of temperance, and organizing
lodges in different counties in the State. He has organized between
150 and 200 lodges, and by his eloquence and earnestness induced
thousands to connect themselves with this great temperance order,
which has saved hundreds from filling drunkards' graves. Many happy
homes, filled with the comforts of life, can be traced back to the
influences of this benevolent organization. Three attempts have
been made in Melrose to carry on a liquor trade in connection with
other lines of business, but meetings were held by the good
citizens, Mr. Johnson being a leading spirit in such meetings.
Resolutions would be passed boycotting the merchant, and he would,
like the Arab, fold up his tent and silently steal away. So the
township of Melrose has never been cursed by the sale of
liquor.
May 3, 1846, Mr. Johnson married Miss Matilda Herkimer, daughter of
Henry G. and Silvia (Martin) Herkimer, who was born in Herkimer
Co., NY, which was named after Mrs. Johnson's great-grandfather,
who was a member of the Safety Committee in the time of the
Revolutionary war. Mr. Johnson has had the following named
children: Orinda S., now the wife of Sidney R. Davis, of Clark
County; Mary B., wife of Lewis B. Marsh, of the same county; the
youngest, Carroll B., a thorough-going young businessman now
filling the responsible position of bookkeeper in the First
National Bank at Steven's Point, WI.
Mr. Johnson was for many years a Republican, and was closely
identified with the formation of that party. He is now a strong
Prohibitionist, or third-party man. During his long residence in
the county he has ever sustained a reputation for integrity and
good citizenship, and his voice has always been heard advocating
principles of morality and temperance. The world is better by
having such men living in it.
Click here to see a photo scan of the actual biography.
Wisconsin Death Record
Name: Jacob Astor Johnson
Gender: Male
Burial date: 07 Mar 1902
Burial place: Melrose
Death date: 06 Mar 1902
Death place: Melrose, Jackson, Wisconsin
Age: 86
Birth date: 26 Aug 1819
Birthplace: Otsego, New York
Occupation: Attorney At Law
Race: White
Marital status: Married
Spouse's name: Matilda H. Johnson
Father's name: Jacob Johnson
Father's birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's name: Betsy D. Johnson
Mother's birthplace: Massachusetts
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