Henry Brayton Johnson
Surnames: Amble, Cheeney, Edwards, Grems, Knickerbocker
Regions: Jefferson and Oneida Co., NY; Walton, Delaware Co., NY
Johnstown, Rock Co., NY
From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 965, 966
HENRY BRAYTON JOHNSON, a pioneer settler of Rock County of 1844, dating his residence in Johnstown from the 4th day of July of that year, is a native of New York. He was born in the town of Walton, Delaware County, May 15, 1818, and is a son of Chapman and Hanna (EDWARDS) JOHNSON, whose birthplace was also in Delaware County. The family was founded in Rhode Island many years previous to the Revolutionary War. The great-grandfather served in the French and Indian War begun in 1755, and also aided the colonies in their struggle for independence. The father of our subject was a soldier in the War of 1812.
When Henry was a young lad he removed with his parents to Jefferson County, N.Y., and was reared to the occupation of farming, but afterward engaged in lumbering and merchandising in the town of Natural Bridge for a few years. Leaving his native State in 1844, he came directly to Rock County, Wis., settling in Johnstown Township, where he engaged in farming. His landed possessions at one time amounted to 500 acres, but he has recently disposed of all of it with the exception of seventy acres. In 1846 he removed to Johnstown Center, where he built a hotel, operating the same for eighteen years, at the same time carrying on extensive agricultural operations. In 1869 he erected another hotel, of which his son, Horatio Seymour, is now proprietor. He was also for several years engaged in merchandising in that town, keeping a general store.
In Jefferson County, N.Y., Sept. 23, 1846, Mr. JOHNSON was joined in wedlock with Miss Margaret GREMS, who was born in Oneida County, N.Y., and is a daughter of John and Elizabeth GREMS. Her people were descended from the old KNICKERBOCKER stock of the Empire State. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson two children have been born: Edwin Chapman, who married Miss Fronie CHEENEY, daughter of Henry CHEENEY, is now living in Janesville, Wis.; Horatio Seymour married Miss Lillian AMBLER, daughter of Hiram AMBLER, and is now conducting the Johnson Hotel at Johnstown Center, in connection with which he operates his farm of eighty acres in Johnstown Township.