| Notes |
- History of Vermilion County. H. W. Beckwith. Chicago, IL, H.H. Hill and Co., 1879. Chapter on Blount Township, pages 885-886. John Johns came here from Kentucky, having lived in Indiana, in 1829, and settled in the Copeland neighborhood. It was at his house that the first preaching was held. His brothers-in-law, Benjamin Stewart and John Mills, and his father-in-lase, Mr. Humphrey, came on here to live a few years later. They were all excellent people and much esteemed. Mr. Johns now lives in Danville. He remained in Blount, farming, until 1852, when he removed to D. and engaged in the line amd plaster trade. He is the father of ten children, eight of whom live in Danville. Mr. Mills now lives in Fairmount.
History of Vermilion County, Illinois. Jones, Lillie E. Chicago, IL, Pioneer Pub. Co., 1911. V.2, page 307-309.
Earnest and eminently capable, it is not strange that William H. Johns should have attained an enviable position in the business circles of Danville, nor that the city should profit directly or indirectly by his efforts. He was one of those successful Americans whose success is measured not only by material gain but also by intellectuality, aggressiveness, independence of spirit and sincerity of purpose. He was one of Vermilion county's native sons, his birth having occurred July 14, 1845, on his father's farm on the old Ottawa road.
His parents were John and Mary (Humphrey) Johns. The name of the former is engraven deeply upon the pages of pioneer history, for he was among the first settlers of Vermilion county, taking up his abode here in 1829 ere the Indians had left this part of the state to make way for the civilization of the white race. His birth occurred in Kentucky on the 25th of May, 1805, and his father was Judge George W. Johns, who was also born in the Blue Grass state and followed the occupation of farming. On leaving the south he crossed the Ohio river into Indiana and continued his residence in that state until his demise. John Johns accompanied his parents on their removal to Vigo county, Indiana, and through his youthful days met the usual hardships and difficulties which fall to the lot of the pioneer. He labored on the home farm, converting wild prairie into productive fields, and adding to the place such equipment as at that time indicated the march of progress along agricultural lines. He lived in Indiana until 1828 and spent the succeeding year in his native county in Kentucky. In 1829, however, he arrived in Vermilion county, Illinois, finding here the same conditions of frontier life which he had previously met in Indiana. Securing a tract of wild prairie and timber land in Blount township, he began the development of that place and evidences of his labor were soon seen in the cultivated fields, well kept fences and the substantial buildings which he put upon his farm. Tree by tree was cut down and the stumps grubbed up that the land might be plowed and planted, and he carefully carried on the work of general farming until 1866, when he retired to private life and removed to Danville to enjoy there the fruits of his former toil in a comfortable home which he occupied until his death.
John Johns gave his early political support to the whig party and when the new republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery he joined its ranks. He was twice elected to represent his ward on the board of city aldermen of Danville and was also a member of the state school board. He ever kept well informed on the issues and questions of the day and was always ready to support his position by intelligent argument. Both he and his wife held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Danville and were earnest and active supporters not only of the church but also of the temperance cause and of every movement that works for righteousness, truth and justice. The first Methodist services held in Vermilion county were on his farm in Blount township in 1829. He was honored wherever known because of his many sterling traits of character and his fidelity to the best interests of citizenship.
John Johns was married three times. For his first wife he wedded Miss Mary Humphrey, a daughter of John Humphrey, of Virginia, who removed from the Old Dominion to Kentucky, where he entered land from the government and developed a farm. By this marriage there were the following children: John, who was a soldier in the Civil war; Sarah, the deceased wife of Perry Copeland; Eliza, who became the wife of J. H. Miller and who has passed away; Sue, a resident of Danville; Martha, who married R. S. Partlow, of Oregon and is deceased; Margaret, the deceased wife of Charles Hacker; and William H. Mr. John's second wife was a sister of the first, while his third wife bore the maiden name of Miss Jane Myers. At her death she left a son and daughter; Charles, who is employed as clerk in Klein's clothing store of Danville; and Amelia who is engaged in the millinery business in this city.
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1805 - 1885 (79 years)
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