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- History of Vermilion County. H. W. Beckwith. Chicago, IL, H.H. Hill and Co., 1879. Chapter on Blount Township, page 400. W. H. Johns, Danville, grocer, is a native of Vermilion county, Blount being his native township. He had the advantage of free schools, and received a good education. In 1862 he entered the army in the rebellion of 1861-5, enlisting first in Co. A, 71st Ill, Vol. Inf., three-months service, under Colonel Gilbert, who was elected captain at Springfield, and made colonel at Chicago. After this term of service he reenlisted, in 1864, this time in Co. K, 135th Ill. Vol. Inf., hundred-day service, under Colonel Wolf. The first time he was mustered in at Camp Butler, Springfield, and the last time at Mattoon, Illinois, the 135th being mustered in at that place. Previous to his engaging in his present business he had been in the mercantile business, three years in the dry-goods and grocery trace, and five years in the lumber business. He is one of the natives of the county, hwo, by an honorable treatment of his friends and customers, has won for himslef a good name and reputation.
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.
Of this family William H. Johns spent his entire life in Vermilion county, supplementing his early educational advantages by study in the Danville Methodist Seminary. He was a young man in his teens when he responded to the country's call for aid to crush out the rebellion in the south, enlisting in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served during the entire time of his enlistment. He made a creditable military record by his unfaltering loyalty to duty, performing faithfully every service whether called to the lonely picket line or stationed on the firing line. After receiving an honorable discharge he returned home and became identified with commercial interests in Danville as proprietor of a grocery store. In that business he was quite successful and continued in that line for a number of years, after which he became associated with C. H. Giddings in the real-estate business. They bought and sold much property, negotiating many important realty transfers, and through their operation contributed directly to the welfare and upbuilding of the city.
He was thoroughly conversant with the value of property, knew what was upon the market and was thus able to assist his clients in making judicious investments.
In 1875 Mr. Johns was united in marriage to Miss Eva G. Swannell, a daughter of John Swannell, who was of English birth. He was a cabinet-maker by trade and owned and conducted a store in Danville, having arrived in this city at an early day in its business development. He had the first turning lathe ever brought to Danville and was well known as an early maker of furniture here. After the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south he responded to the country's call for troops and was assigned to duty with Company A, Seventy-first Regiment of Illinois Infantry, with which he entered the battle of Fort Donelson and there gave his life in defense of the principles for which the Union army stood. It was his daughter Eva who became the wife of William H. Johns and of this marriage there were born two daughters, Nellie and Evelyn.
In his political views Mr. Johns was an earnest republican, supporting the party from the time he attained his majority until his demise. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Modern Woodmen camp, and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church. He possessed many sterling traits of character, so that when he passed away on the 1st of May, 1899, the community lost an upright and valued citizen. He stood for progress along all lines and there was in his life history not a single esoteric phase. He was always a resident of Vermilion county and from his boyhood to his death he exemplified in his life those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard." (History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume III, by Lottie E. Jones, 1911)
Illinois datases of Illinois Veterans
Name: William H Johns
Rank: Corporal
Company: K
Unit: 135th Illinois Infantry
Height: 6'
Hair: LIGHT
Eyes: GRAY
Complexion: FAIR
Marital status: Single
Occupation: Student
Birth Date: Abt 1845
Birth Place: Vermilion CO, IL
War: Civil War
War Years: 1861-1865
Service Entry Age: 19
Service Entry Date: 26 Apr 1864
Service Entry Place: Danville, IL
Joined By Whom: O S STEWART
Period: 100 DAY
Muster In Date: 6 Jun 1864
Muster In Place: Mattoon, IL
Muster Out Date: 28 Sep 1864
Muster Out Place: Mattoon, IL
Muster Out By Whom: LT MONTGOMERY
Residence Place: Danville, Vermilion CO, IL
Record Source: Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls
https://www.ilsos.gov/isaveterans/civilMusterSearch.do?key=130675
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1845 - 1899 (53 years)
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