Bogan-Pfahler-Kehrer-Reber-Volkmer

From Biography of Nathan Cooper " Edward Coopers father (George) died. leaving a widow (Mary Wood Cooper) and six small children: she married one Disbury Johnson, who was himself a widower with all equal number of children, as his second wife: by this union six other children were born in all, eighteen children in one family. Thus came the above-mentioned family to this vicinity. The said Johnson, with the six Cooper and eleven of his own children (his eldest daughter having married. did not come), set out for Crawford Co. with a four-horse team, driving some cattle and hogs; and, of all the herd, an old sow was complimented as being the best leader through the woods, consequently, she was assigned the duty of carrying the bell. They arrived where Galion is now located on Oct. 15, 1821. Johnson died at Galion, some time ago, in his 104th year."

The only Disberry Johnston or Johnson in PA or OH in 1820 is as below Series M33 Roll 93 Page 20 Ohio - Harrison County - Cadiz Twp - 1820

Desberry Johnston 2 3 - - - 1 3 3 - 1 - // 2 - - - 13 Meaning: Eleven Children 2 Males <10 years old 2 Unknown males 3 males 10-16 Edward Cooper 10 years, Henry Isacc 16 years, 1 unknown male 1 male >45 Disberry ~ 50 years 3 females < 10 Amelda 2 years, Eliza Jane 2 years 3 female 10-16 Mary 12 years, Elizabeth 16 years - 1 unknown female 1 female 26-45 Mary (Wood) ~ 35 years

"Death of one of the oldest pioneers of Crawford County"

"Desbery Johnson was born Oct. 15 1766, and died in Galion, Crawford County, Ohio, Wednesday July 28, 1869, aged one hundred and two years, nine months and thirteen days. Of his birth place little is known. His father, James Johnson, moved from Virginia to Pennsylvania about the year 1762. Here, Desbery and his twin brother Griffith were born. Soon the Indians began to ravage the country, and James, with his wife and three children were compelled to retrace their steps over the hills of Pennsylvania to Virginia for safety, carrying the three children on their back. After serving an apprenticeship in Charleston, Va, Desbery, at the age of twenty two, left his native home for Kentucky's wilds, remained in Kentucky four years, then came to Charleston, on the Ohio River. He was married at the age of thirty to Jinsy McGee. From Charleston he moved to Harrison Co., Ohio. Here his wife died. He was married again in 1817 to Mary Cooper, his present widow, whose age is eighty-three years. In 1821 he moved to this county one year after the County was organized. Following an Indian trail from Mansfield to Galion, which then numbered two houses, he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Polk Township, where he remained forty-five years, was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he filled for several years and was highly honored for his impartial judgment and decisions. His family consisted of fourteen children, eight girls and six boys, and his grandchildren number ninety-two. the number of great grandchildren cannot be ascertained correctly at this date, but the probable number exceeds on hundred and fifty, three great great grand-children are living in this County, one of whom attended his funeral, representing the fourth generation.

"Among the incidents of his early life of which he loved to rehearse was that of seeing tropps mustered for Washington's army, and of his two brothers Henry and John, escaping from the Indians after being prisoners, the circumstances of which are these. The two boys being some distance from home one evening, observed two men approaching whom they supposed were their friends but proved to be Indians. They were captured and conveyed through the woods about fourteen miles. The youngest of the boys, John, was greatly alarmed, being only eleven years old, but was encouraged by his brother telling him of the fine times they would have with the Indians, hunting and fishing; in the meantime he was breaking down small saplings which was amusement for the Indians, to serve as a guide to their home if released. They camped on the bank of a small stream. John was closely secured, but Henry was such a good Indian, they thought it useless to secure him. After all was quiet, and the Indians asleep, Henry arose, released John, and placed a gun in his hands and bade him fire at one, as he raised a tomahawk to dispatch the other. This done, they shouldered the gun and started home, guided by the broken saplings.

"His father (James Johnson) was a prisoner with the Indians three years and was released after the treaty of Virginia. After his release he was met by the son at Cincinatti O., after an absence of twenty years. At the age of twenty-six he became of member of the Presbyterian Church, with which he stood identified until his death, a period of seventy-six years"

From "History of Northwest Ohio, 1917" p388 "Disberry Johnson was one of the noted pioneers of the county: His arrival greatly swelled the population. His wife had died, leaving him a widower with six children, and he prudently married a widow with six children, in order to avoid family controversy. By this marriage there were an even half-dozen more little Johnsons. When Johnson decided to move to Crawford County, one of his daughters had already married, and there were nineteen in the cavalcade which reached here in 1819. He served as justice of the peace for many years, and died in 1868, at the advanced age of 104, leaving many descendants all over the country. "