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William M. Johnson was a West Mecca farmer, Civil War Veteran, and Trumbull County Representative. During his life, he knew much grief and hardship.

 

William Johnson, image from the Library of Congress.
Note how his missing right arm is disguised behind the arm of the chair.

 

He was born on Oct. 29, 1844, in Northamptonshire, England, the son of John and Mary Johnson.

 

“They immigrated to America in 1847 and settled on a farm in Vernon. When he was six, they moved to a farm in Hartford, where he was educated in the district schools. William worked on his father's farm until he was 19. In 1863, he enlisted in the 6th Ohio Cavalry, Co. D, and took part in the Battle of the Wilderness and in the battles around Petersburg and Richmond, Va. William was wounded, losing the greater part of his right arm, 1 Oct 1864, while with his regiment in the charge on the Weldon Railroad. A musket ball struck him, and he lay on the battlefield for 24 hours, almost dying from the loss of blood. A passing soldier kicked at the apparent lifeless body, and Johnson opened one eye, and the soldier yelled, "This one ain't dead yet." He was taken to City Point Hospital and later to Washington Hospital. After some recuperation, he went home on a 30 day furlough and returned to Washington, where he was appointed master of the 14 ward of the Judiciary Square Hospital.” –Thomas Kachur, “Mecca”(2002).

 

William was discharged on April 1, 1865, and returned home without his right arm. He enrolled at Hiram Institute, where he earned his qualifications to become a teacher. He married Florence Thompson, daughter of Timothy and Celina Thompson of Mecca, on Jan. 1, 1867.

 

1899 map overlaid on present day view.

William Johnson owned land directly north of West Mecca Cemetery

and also farther north on the west side of Bazetta Rd.

 

That same year, he and his wife settled in West Mecca, on property now occupied by Lil John’s Campground. Their Greek Revival house was built by John Davidson in 1851. In the 1982 Mecca Township inventory of historical homes, the house was described as having “Return cornice and entablature, and small frieze windows. Classical doorway with sidelights, transom and pilasters supporting entablature. Wing with open side porch supported by square Italianate posts. Door may be original with two vertical panels.” The house was razed in 2000.

 

William's home on Bazetta Rd., which once stood where Lil John's Campground is now.
The home was razed in 2000. Image from "Mecca" by Thomas Kachur.
The home was built by John Davidson in 1851. Moses Hickok owned it next,
then William, then William's son Frederick.

 

“The Johnsons had one of the finest farms in the neighborhood, specializing in the raising of sheep, in addition to a dairy.” –Kachur, “Mecca”

 

William Johnson, image from "Mecca" by Thomas Kachur

 

William and Florence had four children. Their daughter Mira died at 10 days old in 1874. They had twin daughters, Nina and Nellie, in 1875, but Nellie died during the diphtheria epidemic of 1878. They had one son, Frederick, who married Cora Love. Nina married Earl Love.

 

Nellie Johnson's stone at West Mecca Cemetery, by Ashley Armstrong

 

Florence died in 1894 in Mecca, aged 46 years. William remarried in 1895 to Mrs. Margaret (Lowery) Craft, the widow of George Craft.

 

On Oct. 21, 1898, at the age of 53, William died of heart failure at his home. He, Florence, and their daughter Nellie are buried in West Mecca Cemetery.

 

“At the time of his death, he was the State Representative of Trumbull County, an honor well deserved and faithfully discharged.” –Kachur, “Mecca”

 

Johnson stone at West Mecca Cemetery, by Ashley Armstrong

 

(This post was written for the Mecca Township Historical Society, as part of an ongoing series for Mecca.)

 

Resources

 

– Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve, 1896

– The History of Trumbull County by Harriet Taylor Upton, published 1909

– 1874 and 1899 Trumbull County Atlases

–"Mecca" by Thomas Kachur, c. 1970 and 2002 editions

–Familysearch.org tax, census, and vital records