John J Johnson
b. 1 December 1844, Cochranton, Marion County, Ohio, to John M. and Eliza (Odel) Johnson
d. 15 April 1931, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois

m/1. 1 June 1871, Scott, LaGrange County, Indiana
Caroline Ludwig
b. 5 May 1853, White Deer, Union County, Pennsylvania, to Joseph R. and Maria (Barrett) Ludwig
d. 28 August 1898, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois

m/2. 1903, Denver, Miami County, Indiana
Nellie (Forey) Keplinger

Children with Caroline Ludwig:

• Guy T. (b. 14 June 1873)
• Addie May (1882–1965) married Charles Sylvester Creek

John resided in Mt. Pisgah and Middlebury, Elkhart County, Indiana, and in Mexico, Miami County, Indiana. He emigrated from Indiana to Champaign County, Illinois, in 1894. There may be descendants of John Johnson’s siblings in Elkhart, LaGrange, or Noble counties, Indiana, with the surnames Goodsell, Deal, Appleman, Tinklepaw, and Kingsly.

His family has letters written by John J. Johnson from 1862 to 1864 while he was a member of Company G of the 88th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, of LaGrange County, Indiana,
during the Civil War. The 88th Regiment participated in the battles of Stone River, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge, Chattanooga, and Kenesaw Mountain and took part in Sherman’s march to the sea. John Johnson was present at the Grand Review in Washington, D.C., on 24 May 1865. The Johnson family also owns a “rubber” blanket with numerous bullet holes in it, which may have saved Johnson’s life during his military service.

After the war John Johnson resumed his education and served as a teacher for many years. After working for some years as a miller, he worked at the University of Illinois in the water survey department until he retired in 1925 at age 81.

John’s second wife, Nellie (Forey) Keplinger, was the widow of John Keplinger, whom he met by answering a marriage advertisement.

Submitted by:
Ruth E. Hill
Raleigh NY