Wayne County

Ethan A. Johnson

1884 Biographical Sketches of City of Fairfield

ETHAN A. JOHNSON, Fairfield, was born in Connecticut July 16, 1817, and when yet a child came with his parents to Southern Illinois, where his father soon after died. He was next deprived of his mother by death; then was cared for by an older sister who was married and resided in Terre Haute, Ind. Entirely thrown upon his own resources, he early acquired habits of industry, which characterized the whole of his after life.

He was married three times, all in Wayne County, first to Julia Gash in 1842. She was born in Wayne County in 1819, and died in 1845, leaving two children

  1. William H. Johnson now of California
  2. Julia A., deceased wife of Eugene Forest
His second marriage occurred in 1846, to Eliza M. Linton. She was born in White County in 1820, and died in 1854, leaving three children--

  1. Olive, deceased wife of Benjamin Organ
  2. Ethan A., died at the age of nine years
  3. Leo Johnson, now of California

John and Elizabeth Koontz, nee Knapp, were both born, reared and married in Pennsylvania, and after their marriage removed to Stark County, Ohio, where they remained several years, and until coming to Wayne County, Ill., in 1839. Here they lived pursuing the interest of the farm until the death of John Koontz many yam ago. The wife died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. B. A. Johnson, in Fairfield, in 1874. They had a family of seven children, of whom five are now living.

Barbara A. Koontz, daughter of John and Elizabeth Koontz, was born in Stark County, Ohio, August 1, 1824, and came to Fairfield, Ill., with her parents in 1839. She was first married to Joseph D. Shaeffer, January 26, 1843. He was a native of Somerset County, Penn. and was born August 17, 1813, and died in Fairfield, Ill., October 30, 1848. Of this family there were three children-

  1. Loretta Shaeffer, born June 4, 1844, and died in infancy
  2. John F., was born October 5, 1846, and died in Jefferson City, Mo., July 20, 1868
  3. Joseph D. Shaeffer. (See sketch)

Elizabeth (Koontz) Shaeffer and Ethan A. Johnson were married in Fairfield June 3, 1855. Mr. E. A. Johnson died in Fairfield, Ill., May 7, 1865, leaving four children-

  1. Charles Johnson, who was born June 8, 1856 (he is married to Miss Etta Baker)
  2. Libbie, deceased wife of Ulla Staley, was born March 25, 1858, and died April 22, 1881, leaving an infant daughter Libbie, born April 10, 1881, and named in memory of her deceased mother
  3. Harry K. Johnson was born. April 29, 1860
  4. Clara 0., the youngest of the family, was born June 2, 1863. She was married, March 10, 1882, to Frank Welch, now residents of Olney, Ill.
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