CAPT. CHARLES A. JOHNSON

FROM:The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887).  P. 710-711.

          Capt. Charles A. Johnson, a prominent farmer and stock raiser, was born in Flannigan Township in 1829, the tenth of twelve children of Robert and Elizabeth (Lewis) Johnson.  The father, English in Origin, born in 1792, was the son of John Johnson, who removed to Kentucky and then to Hamilton County, where he died. Robert was married in Kentucky, and in about 1819 settled some ten miles southwest of McLeansboro, and through life was well known and esteemed in his county. He died March 20, 1872, and his mother, born in 1793 in Christian County, KY., died September 21, 1865. They were married in 1811, and both were Members of the Regular Baptist Church. Educated in the County schools, our subject in 1849 married Nancy C., daughter of John and Nancy Irby, born in Tennessee in 1832. Their seven children are John W.; Martha J., wife of Robert T. Hungate; Mary L., wife of G. Sneed, of Kansas; Ruth E, wife of E. Herrelson; Nancy E., wife of J L. Sneed; Elizabeth and Laura, now Mrs. Lee. Since his marriage our subject has lived on his present farm, and transformed and increased the original tract of Government land to about 800 acres, making him one of the most extensive land holders in the county. He has one of the finest orchards in the county, of about thirty acres. In July 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fortieth Illinois Volunteers, as second sergeant, and became successively second lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain, which command he held until the war closed. His command was in the Army Of the Tennessee at Shiloh, Mission Ridge, where he was shot through both thighs and disabled for a time; all through Georgia with Sherman, on to Washington, where in the review he had command of a division. He was with his regiment during the entire service, except while disabled from his wound. In July 1865, after four yews' service, he was mustered out at Louisville, and resumed farming. He is a progressive man, and has given two of his children a college education and all a good one. He was a Democrat, and first voted Pierce, but since the war has been a Republican.  He is a member of the F.& A. M. and  F.M.B.A. the G. A. R. His wife and four children are members of the United Baptist Church.