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| Hugh Johnson, farmer and lumberman, sec. 6, Chippewa Tp., was born in Middlesex Co., Can., June 18,1833, and is the son of Alexander and Mary (Nesbit) Johnson. They were natives of Scotland, where the father was born, in February 1794, and the mother in January 1800. They came from their native land to Canada in 1820, and lived on a farm till the death of the senior Johnson, which occurred Oct. 4, 1874. In 1882 the mother became an inmate of the family of her son. Mr. Johnson became “his own man” at the age of 18 years, working as a day laborer on a farm and as a hand in the saw mills of the vicinity where he grew up to manhood. He was married in 1860 to Margaret, daughter of John and Wealthy (Degraw) Whiting. The parents were born in the State of New York, the daughter in Caradock, Middlesex Co., Can. After his marriage, Mr. Johnson operated as a farmer in the Dominion for 12 years. He sold out and in July, 1876, came to Chippewa Tp., Mecosta Co., bought 136 acres of land on sec. 6, and engaged exclusively in agriculture until 1882. In that associated with his brother, John, he erected a sawmill has since diligently engaged in manufacture of lumber. The mill has all the most desirable modern fixtures, with a capacity to saw daily 12,000 feet of hard or soft lumber. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been the parents of five children. Three are still living, Amelia L., Alexander G., and Maggie L. Two are deceased, Wealthy A. and Mary E. The family attend the Baptist Church. Mr. Johnson is a Republican. |