WI BIO - Dane Co - JOHNSON, Cornelius D.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 471-472

Cornelius D. JOHNSON, a prominent resident of Oregon Township, Dane County, 
WI, was born in the town of Chemung in Chemung County, NY, 21 Jul 1839. His 
father, Solomon JOHNSON, was born in Walton, Delaware County. The subject's 
grandfather, also named Solomon JOHNSON, was a native of NY, where he engaged 
in farming and in the lumber business. The elder Solomon removed to PA, 
where he carried on the lumber business and resided a few years, but finally 
returned to Walton, Delaware County [NY], where he passed his last days. 
Solomon JOHNSON, the father of our subject, was reared in Delaware County, 
and as his father had done, he engaged in farming and the lumber business, 
for a time running a saw engine in a saw mill in Chemung County.

In 1846 the father of our subject came to the Territory of WI, accompanied by 
his wife and two children, and there bought a tract of land on section 31 of 
what is now Dunn Township, building here a log house, which was the first 
home of the family in WI. Those were trying times. All the grain had to be 
hauled by ox team to Milwaukee as there were no railroads. [The first train 
ran from Milwaukee to Waukesha in 1851, and by 1857 was extended to Prairie 
du Chien, Grant County] It required great faith to believe that the time 
would ever come when life could be made easy in those wilds, but those who 
labored hard lived to see much comfort before [p 472] they passed away. Here 
Mr. [Solomon] JOHNSON improved the farm, erected buildings and resided there 
until 1875, when he removed to the village of Oregon [Dane County, WI] and 
lived there until his death in Aug 1877.

On 29 Dec 1836 he [Solomon JOHNSON, the subject's father] was married to Miss 
Polly BAKER, who was born in the town of Cummington [Hampshire County], MA, 
29 Mar 1816. Her father, David, as far as known, was a native of the same 
place. Until 1818 he lived there, but then with teams removed to Sidney, 
Delaware County [NY], where he bought a tract of timber land, cleared a farm 
and resided there until his death. The maiden name of his wife, the 
grandmother of our subject [submitter correction: "grandmother of our 
subject's wife"], was Rebecca HILL, and as far as known she was born in MA, 
but died on the farm in Delaware County [NY]. The parents of our subject 
[Solomon and Polly (BAKER) JOHNSON] had a family of seven children: 
Cornelius, Leroy (deceased), Demaris, Amelia R. (deceased), Horace, Frank 
(deceased), and Sheldon (deceased).

Cornelius D. JOHNSON was seven years of age when he came to WI with his 
parents, and remembers the incidents of pioneer life here. At this time 
Madison was but a small place, and the surrounding country was but sparsely 
settled, a portion of the village of Oregon being included in his uncle's 
farm. He attended the pioneer schools, the first one being kept in a log 
house. The seats were made of slabs with wooden pins for legs, and they had 
no desks. Cornelius D. JOHNSON commenced when young to assist on the farm, 
and resided with his parents until he was 21 years of age, but soon after 
went to learn the trade of carpenter. After marriage Cornelius D. JOHNSON 
operated his father's farm three years and then resumed the trade of a 
carpenter, and has since continued this.

On 18 Dec 1867 Cornelius D. JOHNSON married Lucy M. JONES, who was born in 
Fenner, Madison County, NY, and her father, Samuel JONES, was born in the 
same town, and his father, Baker JONES, was born 01 Jul 1768. Baker JONES 
was married, 04 Mar 1790, to Zeporah BAKER, who was born in Apr 1768. They 
both spent their last days on the farm at Fenner, Madison County, NY.

The father of Lucy M. (JONES) JOHNSON was reared and married in his native 
State [NY]. He inherited the old farm and resided there until 1858, when he 
removed to Genesee County, NY, and lived there five years, when he came to 
Dane County [WI], where he lived until about 1874, and then moved to Clay 
County and bought a farm near Spencer [Clay County, IA], where he still 
resides.

The mother of Lucy M. (JONES) JOHNSON was Lucinda COOK, and she was born in 
Fenner, Madison County, NY, a daughter of David and Lucinda COOK, who died in 
1849. She reared six children: David, Freeman, Arnold, Daniel, Laura, and 
Lucy M. (Mrs. Cornelius D. JOHNSON).

Cornelius D. and Lucy M. (JONES) JOHNSON have one daughter, Mabel L., who is 
a graduate of the Oregon High School [Oregon, Dane County, WI]. Cornelius D. 
JOHNSON is a Prohibitionist, and is also a member of the Village Board.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly