- PARSONS JOHNSON, insurance, loan agent and Notary Public,
East Bridge street; was born
- July 17, 1820, in Somers, Tolland Co., Conn.; removed to
Stafford, Conn., Chicopee Falls, Hampden Co., Mass., thence to
North Adams, Berkshire Co., Mass., where he was engaged in the
manufacture of cotton goods; this business being detrimental
to his health, he went to Greenwich, N.Y., and in 1848, manufactured
boots and shoes, firm of JOHNSON, WELLS & Co., for three
years; in 1851, went to Rutland, Vt., where he manufactured boots
and shoes on his own account, for three years, when he admitted
Mr. LITTLEFIELD as partner, the firm then being JOHNSON &
LITTLEFIELD, and continued for one year; from Rutland, Vt., he
removed to Beloit, Wis., in October, 1855, bought a farm of fifty-six
acres and farmed it for one year, then entered the farming and
produce business, selling at retail and shipping to market, and,
in connection with Mr. KING, under the firm name of KING &
JOHNSON, furnished supplies for the soldiers and necessary feed
for the horses of the 13th Wis. Regt., and the 9th Cav. Regt.
He then accepted the position of commercial traveler for BARRETT,
COSSET & SMITH, wholesale grocers, of Chicago; in 1871, went
into the insurance business, and is now representing the following
Companies: The Hartford, Conn.; Phoenix, of Brooklyn; The Fire
Association, of Philadelphia; Northwestern National, of Milwaukee;
The Milwaukee M.M.; the America, of Chicago; The Westchester,
of New York; The Imperial & Northern, of London, Eng.; The
Queen, of London, Eng.; The Lancashire, of London, Eng., and
the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co. In 1854, he was Justice
of the Peace in Rutland, Vt., for two years; in 1857, was Constable
in Beloit, and, about the year 1589, was elected Alderman of
the First Ward, in which office he served for seven years; about
the year 1868, he was elected City Marshal, and also appointed
Deputy Sheriff, under Sheriff PUTMAN for one year and under Sheriff
JOHNSON for two years. Mr. JOHNSON married, January 1, 1843,
Roxanna LITTLEFIELD, of Readsboro, Bennington Co., Vt.; they
have three children living - Mary A., Edgar M. and Emma E. Mr.
and Mrs. JOHNSON are members of the First Congregational Church,
at Beloit.
-
- Taken from "The History of Rock County, Wis."
(c)1879, p. 753.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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