G. W. JOHNS. junior member of the law firm of Robinson. Boggs Johns, Fairfield, Ill., was born March 7, 1849, in Edward County, Ill. He is a son of George J. Johns and grandson of Robert Johns, both of whom were of English birth, his father, G. J. Johns, being a native of Cornwall, where he was born April 6, 1820. He came, when twelve years of age, to the United States, and located in Albion, Edward Co., Ill., where be grew to manhood, and where he spent the remainder of his life.
He was married February 18, 1848, to Harriet Smith, a native of Albion. Ill., and daughter of Moses Smith, one of the old citizens and leading merchants of that place.
In the early part of 1862. he recruited a company of men for the service, which company was attached to the Sixty-third Regiment Illinois Infantry, and known as Company B. of which he was elected Captain. He was afterward tendered a commission as Lieutenant Colonel by Gov. Yates., which honor he was compelled to decline, loss of health disabling him for active service and necessitating his resignation. which was effected in November, 1862. George W. Johns though but fifteen years old at the time, obtained admission into the ranks as a private in Company H, of the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteers, in which he served about six months.
His early education was obtained while a student in the public schools of Albion, Ill. He afterward entered the State Normal School of Bloomington, Ind., where he graduated with the degree of B. S. in 1869, and in the following year graduated in the law department of the same institution. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and entered on the practice of his profession in Carmi, Ill. There he remained for two years coming thence to Fairfield. Ill., and in 1872 formed his present partnership, which is (non readable) of the ablest law firms in Southern Illinois. He was Journal Clerk of the House of Representatives in the Twenty-eighth General Assembly, was appointed Colonel and Aid decamp on Gov. Cullom's Staff in 1878 , which position he held until the election of Gov. Cullom to the United States Senate in January, 1883, when he resigned, but was reappointed to the same rank by Gov. Hamilton.
G. W. Johns was married, November 17, 1875, to Mary E. Barnhill, of Fairfield, Ill. Three children have blessed this union -
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