Biographical Sketch of

Rev. Baker Johnson

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 529 and 530

Johnson, King

Rev. Baker Johnson, deceased, was one of the early settlers of Marquette 
County, and a native of Littleton, New Jersey, where his birth occurred 
Oct. 23, 1803. The family was founded in America by Malon Johnson, the 
grandfather of our subject, a short time prior to the Revolutionary War, 
the family settling in New Jersey. Our subject was reared in his native 
State, and at an early age determined to devote his life to the ministry,
and began making preparations to that end. He devoted considerable time 
to teaching before he entered upon pastoral work, and as he was a superior
scholar was very successful in prosecution of that profession. He was 
graduated from Princeton College, and not long afterward was united in 
marriage with Miss Electa J. King, daughter of Rev. Barnabas King, a 
Presbyterian minister of Rockaway, New Jersey. Soon after Mr. Johnson 
received a call from the church in Greenville, New Jersey, later was 
pastor at Colville, New York, and afterward was engaged in Strausburg and 
at Middlesmithfield, near Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He then returned to 
his native state, and engaged in teaching at Newton. In 1854, wishing to 
change his location and believing that it would be for the best interests 
of his growing and somewhat numerous family, he came to the West to seek 
a home. He was also influenced by the fact that the Presbytery of which 
he was a member was desirous of establishing a parochial school, in 
Portage, Wis., and in consequence he and his family took up their abode 
in that city, where he engaged in teaching for about a year and a half. 
At the same time he filled appointments to preach at various points.

In 1855 we find Mr. Johnson a resident of the town of Oxford, Marquette 
County, where he purchased 210 acres of land. He afterward added to that 
amount a tract of 150 acres, but leaving his farm in the care of his 
sons, he continued to discharge his pastoral duties. His work after coming
to this county was principally in the mission field, but he preached at 
various places, and was actively engaged in the ministry until 1877, when,
on account of his advanced years and failing health, he found it 
impossible to travel longer, and retired to private life. He died very 
suddenly, on the 18th of October, 1886, and his wife survived him but a 
few months, also dying suddenly, on the 14th of April, 1887.

Mr. Johnson was one of the most highly esteemed and well-known pioneers 
of Marquette county. He spent the best years of his life in the work of 
the ministry, to which he was greatly devoted, and, without doubt, he 
was instrumental in a greater degree than any other man in the building 
up of the church and the establishment of Sunday schools in this portion 
of the State. It was through his influence and labor that the church in 
Oxford was established, which has been such a prominent factor in the 
moral and religious growth of the community. The success and welfare of 
that institution was ever to him a matter of pride, and he deemed no task 
too great which would promote its interests. His wife, as will have been 
seen, was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister, and ever proved a 
valuable assistant to her worthy husband.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, seven of whom are yet 
living: Susan, the eldest, has been a teacher of recognized ability for 
many years, and is now principal of the schools in Oswego, Kansas. Thomas 
is a Presbyterian minister, now located in Beaver Dam, Wis.; Sarah is 
living on the old homestead; William is the next younger; Caroline is a 
teacher at Carroll College, in Waukesha; Barnabas K. owns and occupies the
old homestead farm; and Elizabeth is engaged in teaching in Oswego,  
Kansas. The two deceased are Edward and Catherine, who died in New Jersey 
in early life.






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