I'm definitely interested in a
Johnson website. I am looking for information on my gggrandfather James
Penrose Johnson who seems to appear out of the clear blue about 1843 in Naperville, IL. He married
Cordelia Murray, they had 2 sons. He was said to be nearly twice as old as she was,she was 18 when they got married, born July 17, 1826. Cordelia died Feb 2, 1847 shortly after the second son, Edgar who died Jan 25, 1847. In 1850 James left for the goldfields of CA and died there. His 5 year old son Byron stayed with his
Murray grandparents.
James had 2 brothers that I know of: William and Samuel. I have more knowledge of William because he was mayor of
Appleton, WI 1862-64. Samuel lived in Green
Bay, WI. The father of these brothers was John who died in Tunnchannock, PA 1834. William had an uncle, Col. William
Johnson, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He lost a leg in the battle of Brandywine.
William was born July 27, 1811,
Philadelphia, PA. Died Nov 19, 1894,
Appleton, WI.
William married Lydia
Sophia Story May 19, 1845.
They had the follwing children:
Amos
Augustus, married, 1 son, 4 daughters
Sarah Louise, married C. D. Buckland, 2 sons, 3 daughters
De Witt S., married Beulah
Johnson, 2 sons, 1 daughter. After his wife died
De Witt was a postmaster in Rhineland, WI
Frances S.
Lena
William
Ina B. Frances and Ina were in the insurance business in NY
John Allen, married Bertha
Breitung, 2 daughters
The use of
Penrose as a middle name seems to be a common happening,I believe the Penrose's were Quakers but they seem to not trace the ladies of the family so I have no indication of how they were related.
I have the information on William because he was a public figure which makes it easier to trace. The family is said to be from the New Castle-Lancaster area of PA. Anyone working on the same line or descended from William or Samuel I'd love to hear from you. This is one of my brick walls.
