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- The following notes are excerpted from The History of Marion County, Ohio; Chicago: Leggett, Conaway & Co., 1883; online at (http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Marion/History1883/mhj1883.htm):
"WILLIAM G. JOHNSON, Sr., (Big Island Township) was born May 24, 1814, in Providence, R. I. His parents, Philip and Priscilla Johnson, came to Marion County about 1818. Philip Johnson dying soon after this, Mrs. Johnson returned to her native State. At five years of age, William was bound out to E. D. Bates, with whom he remained eighteen years, and by whom he was taught the tailor's trade. He was married to Elizabeth Bickford, daughter of John and Amy Bickford, of Marion. They have had nine children -- John B., Samuel C., Mary P. (wife of Edward Kesler), Newton M., Amy E. (wife of Benjamin Burns), Alexander (Baggage Master), Thomas R. (dead), William G., and Lydia A. (wife of Ross Burns). The first three years of married life were passed in Big Island Township; then he went to Marion till 1857, supporting a family of fourteen by digging wells and moving buildings. He worked seven years upon the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad. Mr. J. has always been a hard worker, having cleared in his time seventy acres of forest, land. He bought a farm of eighty acres at Gurley Station in 1857. but has disposed of that property. Mr. J. has been failing the past few years, losing his right eye by brain fever, 1869. Mrs. J., by breaking both arms, at different times, is permanently crippled."
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