Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 406. JOSEPH D. JOHNSON a prominent farmer of Benton county, and pioneer of 1850, is a native of Missouri, born in Jackson county, near Kansas City, August 9, 1843. His parents were Charles and Kizia (Trapp) Johnson. The former was born in Tennessee, and emigrated in the early pioneer days to Missouri, where he was reared to manhood and married. Here he resided until 1850, when the family started across the plains to Oregon. During that long and tedious journey the wife and mother was taken sick with cholera and died, at a point known as Ash Hollow. The family continued their trip until they reached Benton county, where they located and were among the early settlers of the Willamette valley. Charles Johnson was always prominently connected with the history of the county until his death, which occurred, November 10, 1876. The subject of this sketch was the ninth in a family of twelve children. He has resided in Benton county, almost continuously since 1850, and has been a prosperous and thrifty farmer of this section. Mr. Johnson spent some three years in Idaho, between 1862 and 1865, and during that period was actively engaged in mining, but not being successful in that enterprise, returned to Benton county, and again engaged in farming. His present farm consists of seventy-five acres adjoining the city of Corvallis, all of which is devoted to general farming. In 1888 Mr. Johnson sold 120 acres of his farm land, which is now the property of the State Agricultural Association, upon which some of their most important buildings have recently been erected. In the city of Corvallis, in the year 1871, November 21, our subject was married to Mary Graham, a native of Tennessee, daughter of Dr. William Graham, whose sketch also appears in this work. Mrs. Johnson departed this life, June 25, 1892, leaving three children, namely: Charles L., William T., and James E. In political matters Mr. Johnson is a consistent Democrat, and in 1886 was elected County Commissioner, in which capacity he served his county for two years. Socially he affiliates with the A.F. & A.M., has passed the official chairs of the Blue Lodge, and is, at this time the presiding officer in the A.O.U.W. He is also a prominent member of the patrons of Husbandry, Grange No. 242. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.