Silas H. Johnson who is now living retired in the city of Indianapolis at 660 E. 46th street is a worthy representative of those hardy pioneers who blazed the trail through the forests, faced the blizzards of the prairies and oft times matched their wits against those of the wily red man that they might found homes for themselves and their descendants. They were the pathfinders for civilization and to them is due the honor of reclaiming the wilderness and making it to blossom like the rose. They were a type of men and women distinctive unto themselves and with their passing the world sustained the loss of the highest type of man and womanhood that modern civilization produced. God-fearing, courageous, self-sacrificing and generous to a fault, they bequeathed to their children a heritage more precious than wealth or power and so long as time shall last their memory will be cherished by those who will follow after them. Silas H. Johnson was born January 31, 1848, in what is now the city of Indianapolis. His parents, Oliver and Pamelia (Howland) Johnson, were like himself, natives of this state and county. The first of the family of whom we have any definite record was Jeremiah Johnson, grandfather of Oliver. He was a native of Virginia, of Irish and German descent. He moved to Kentucky prior to 1795. His son John Johnson, grandfather of our subject, was born in Kentucky in 1798 and was brought to Indiana by his parents in 1805, his father having entered government land, in Franklin county, this state, in that year, and founded what was known as Johnson's Forks. Jeremiah Johnson, greatgrandfather of our subject, was a blacksmith by trade and followed that calling in the village of Brookville. In 1818 he made a journey on horseback to what was then known as the "New Purchase" which is now a part of the city of Indianapolis, and purchased several quarter sections of land, one for each of his children and on one of these quarters the present state fairgrounds are now located. In March, 1822, John Johnson brought his family to Indianapolis and from time to time added to his holdings until he became one of the largest land owners in Marion county and from these holdings his descendants have amassed substantial fortunes. He was a man noted for his integrity and uprightness and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him. His son, Oliver Johnson, was four months old when the family removed to Marion county and here he passed his entire life. At the time of his death he had resided in this county for over eighty years. His home farm in Washington township was one of the show places of the county. In 1855 he purchased 160 acres adjoining the city for $55.00 an acre, which he developed and on which he erected handsome buildings, the farm home being situated at what is now the corner of No. 4451 Park avenue, and it is still standing. The subject of this mention grew to manhood on his father's farm attending the district school which was built across the road from the old home farm. The old school house is still standing, but has been moved to the rear of our subject's present home. Its first location was at what is now Central avenue and 46th street and on that spot a school has existed through all these years, the present one being known as No. 70. Mr. Johnson recalls many incidents of early school life, one being that a single water pail and tin cup served for all the sixty or seventy pupils attending. The old school house was elevated quite a little distance from the ground and oft times pigs would congregate under the floor in order to keep warm and create such a disturbance that the teacher would appoint one of the older pupils to go out and drive them away. In those days it was a well-founded truth that "to spare the rod was to spoil the child" and the teacher was always armed with what was then known as the "gad" and which he did not hesitate to use when the occasion demanded. School was generally held about three months in the winter, beginning in December and closing by March 1, as the boys' services were needed at home to assist in putting in the spring crop. In 1869 he was united in marriage to Laura A. Wright whose death occurred in 1892. She bore him two children: the elder, Mary Alice, is now the wife of Prof. J. S. Puett of this city; the younger daughter, Olive, is now Mrs. R. F. Shackelford and has one son, Lowell. In 1894 Mr. Johnson contracted a second marriage, the lady of his choice being Ora Etta Atkinson. To this union have been born two children, Howland A. who married Hazel Roudebaugh and who has one son Robert Silas. Mary Esther, the second child, is now the wife of Lieutenant Burton D. Varian, a resident of this city. They have one child Burton D. Jr. Mr. Johnson has devoted his entire life to farming and still owns and operates a large farm near Millerville. In religious matters he and his family hold membership in the English Lutheran Church, located on the Millerville Road which has been the place of worship of the Johnson family for many years. This church was organized in 1823 by twelve families who came from Maryland bringing their minister with them. The Oliver Johnson Woods Addition to the city of Indianapolis lying between Central avenue and College, and 44th and 46th streets is a part of his father's old farm purchased in 1855 and which is now one of the most desirable residence districts in the city. Mr. Johnson has passed his entire life in this immediate neighborhood and has been, like his father, one of the representative and progressive citizens, lending his aid to all worthy projects which would tend to the development of the county and state.
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