Disberry Johnson

  General Notes:

Research of Deena Cross on Gen Circles

Crawford County Forum, Aug 6, 1869, Bucyrus,(Courtesy of Ken Nemire)
"Death of one of the oldest pioneers of Crawford County"
"Desbery Johnson was born Oct. 15 1766, and died in Galion, Crawford County, Ohio, Wednesday July 28, 1869, aged one hundred and two years, nine months and thirteen days. Of his birth place little is known. His father, James Johnson, moved from Virginia to Pennsylvania about the year 1762. Here, Desbery and his twin brother Griffith were born. Soon the Indians began to ravage the country, and James, with his wife and three children were compelled to retrace their steps over the hills of Pennsylvania to Virginia for safety, carrying the three children on their back. After serving an apprenticeship in Charleston, Va, Desbery, at the age of twenty two, left his native home for Kentucky's wilds, remained in Kentucky four years, then came to Charleston, on the Ohio River. He was married at the age of thirty to Jinsy McGee. From Charleston he moved to Harrison Co., Ohio. Here his wife died. He was married again in 1817 to Mary Cooper, his present widow, whose age is eighty-three years. In 1821 he moved to this county one year after the County was organized. Following an Indian trail from Mansfield to Galion, which then numbered two houses, he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Polk Township, where he remained forty-five years, was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he filled for several years and was highly honored for his impartial judgment and decisions. His family consisted of fourteen children, eight girls and six boys, and his grandchildren number ninety-two. the number of great grandchildren cannot be ascertained correctly at this date, but the probable number exceeds on hundred and fifty, three great great grand-children are living in this County, one of whom attended his funeral, representing the fourth generation.

"Among the incidents of his early life of which he loved to rehearse was that of seeing tropps mustered for Washington's army, and of his two brothers Henry and Jojn, escaping from the Indians after being prisoners, the circumstances of which are these. The two boys being some distance from home one evening, observed two men approaching whom they supposed were their friends but proved to be Indians. They were captured and conveyed through the woods about fourteen miles. The youngest of the boys, John, was greatly alarmed, being only eleven years old, but was encouraged by his brother telling him of the fine times they would have with the Indians, hunting and fishing; in the meantime he was breaking down small saplings which was amusement for the Indians, to serve as a guide to their home if released. They camped on the bank of a small stream. John was closely secured, but Henry was such a good Indian, they thought it useless to secure him. After all was quiet, and the Indians asleep, Henry arose, released John, and placed a gun in his hands and bade him fire at one, as he raised a tomahawk to dispatch the other. This done, they shouldered the gun and started home, guided by the broken saplings.

"His father (James Johnson) was a prisoner with the Indians three years and was released after the treaty of Virginia. After his release he was met by the son at Cincinatti O., after an absence of twenty years. At the age of twenty-six he became of member of the Presbyterian Church, with which he stood identified until his death, a period of seventy-six years"

Disberry married Jennie McGee, daughter of Hugh McGee and Rosanna Morrison, circa 1796. (Jennie McGee was born circa 1775-1780 and died circa 1812 in Harrison County, Ohio.)

Disberry next married Mary Cooper on 29 Jun 1817 in Harrison County, Ohio. (Mary Cooper was born circa 1786.)