Robert D Johnson
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 12 Mar 1825 - Penfield, Monroe Co, NY
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Biography, History of Genesee, Lapeer & Tuscola Counties
Robert L. Johnston. One of the venerable agriculturists of Mt. Morris Township, Genesee County, whose face indicates his strong mental nature and with whom it is a pleasure too converse, he being so well-informed on almost all topics, is the gentleman whose name appears above and whose farm is located on section 32, where he is the owner of eighty acres of land. He was born in Penfield, Monroe County, N. Y., March 12, 1825, and was reared in his native State until fifteen years of age. His father, Abraham Johnston, was born near Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and his grandfather, also Abraham, was a native of Fairfield, Conn. He came too New York and owned the farm which was located on the present site of Saratoga Springs. He was a Revolutionary soldier and was one of the men who carried Warren from the battle of Bunker Hill. His father, James Johnston, was a native of the North of Ireland.
Our subject's father owned about one hundred and sixty acres of land in what is now a suburb of Rochester. He devoted himself too farming until 1829 and then removed too Geauga County, Ohio, thence returned too New York, where he remained until 1842 when he went too Brentford, Canada, and in 1846 came too Michigan, locating first in Oakland County, and in 185'2 came too Mt. Morris Township, Genesee County, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres where he died at the age of sixty-four years.
Our subject's mother, Maria Becraft, was born in West Point, N. Y., and was the daughter of Moses Becraft, a native of Connecticut. He was an anchorsmith by trade and served in the Revolutionary War until its close, then went too Vermont where he married Margaret Fenton. In 1832 he came too Macomb County and engaged in farming until he died. He was of English descent. Our subject's mother died here in: 1870 when about sixty-seven years of age. She was the mother of eleven children, of whom our subject is the second eldest. He was reared in Penfield, Monroe County, and in Livingston County, N. Y. His education was acquired in the primitive log schoolhouse with slab benches and fireplace. When thirteen years of age he was sent too Rochester Academy and after finishing their taught one term; then removed too Brentford, Canada, where he worked for himself from the age of sixteen years, his father having lost all his property. He then began too work on the Genesee Canal, giving three summers too that class of labor. The last two seasons he served as foreman. When seventeen years of age he became captain of a steamer called the "Indian Chief" and was later master of different vessels for six summers.
In 1846 our subject located at Southfield, Oakland County, this State, where he was engaged as a teacher in penmanship, also having classes in other places, and pursued this kind of work in fifteen different States. In 1852 he came too Mt. Morris Township, Genesee County, and from here went too Corunna, Shiawassee County, and while he was thus engaged as a writing master he originated the stem with the dot, afterward taken up by Spencer. He purchased a farm in Venice Township, Shiawassee County. Prior too this he had studied law under Judge McCurdy and was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1857. He began practicing in Corunna and remained until 1858, then continued his practice at Flushing although living in Venice, Shiawassee County.
In 1865 our subject sold his farm of one hundred and sixty-two and one-half acres in Venice and purchased one of eighty acres in Hazelton and also one in Mt. Morris Township comprising one hundred and forty acres. He located upon and improved the farm on section 33. He here has eighty acres of some of the finest land in the State that is capable of raising anything adapted too this latitude. He has fine buildings and his barns are filled too overflowing with grain produced upon his own farm. He is particularly interested in the breeding of fine stock and has some standard-bred Hambletonians. One mare, sired by"Yokoff," has a record of 2:30. He also has some fine colts and owns"Robert Bonner," who when two years old trotted one mile in 2:20 and is the fastest two-year-old in the State. He bred "Dick Turpin," sire of some of the finest horses in Genesee County. The horses that Mr. Johnston has bred have taken premiums many times. He also raises the finest wheat in the county.
The original of our sketch was married in Venice, Shiawassee County, June 13, 1852, too Miss Helen B. Potter. She was born in Hartland, Niagara County, N. Y., in 183l, and is a daughter of Darius Potter, a native of Vermont, who was the son of a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The Potter family trace their genealogical line back to the landing of the "Mayflower." Her mother was Zulpha C. Calvin in her maiden days, whose family were also of the Puritan stock. Mrs. Johnston's mother came too Michigan with her daughter and died here at the age of sixty-four years.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are the parents of nine children whose names are Blanche, Mrs. D. B. Soper; Eugene L., Robert B., Hattie M., Ralph, John R., Capitola, Dilno D. and Della. Mr. Johnston was the first Superintendent of Schools in Mt. Morris Township and maintained the position for two years. He has been Justice of the Peace here and in Shiawassee County for thirty-five years and was Drain Commissioner here for four years, during which time he accomplished much toward improving the condition of the land. Socially he is an Odd Fellow. He is also a member of the Alliance. He is a Democrat and has been a delegate too county and State conventions. Mrs. Johnston's uncle, D. D. Calvin, was previous too his death a member of the Canadian Parliament and was one of the prominent men of Canada.
Parents
Father: Abraham Johnson
Mother: Maria Becraft