Carey, Charles Henry. "History of Oregon." Vol. 2. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer Historical Pub. Co., 1922. p. 535. THOMAS WESLEY JOHNSON Thomas Wesley Johnson was an Oregon pioneer and a veteran of the Indian war and in his passing the state lost one who was closely and helpfully associated with the early development of the commonwealth and with its later progress as an office holder. He was born in Adair county, Iowa, in 1849, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wesley Johnson, both of whom came from New England. The mother's maiden name was Litton. They settled in Iowa at an early day in the development of that state and in 1861 came to Oregon, taking up their abode in the Waldo Hills country. They traveled with a large wagon train and a great number of cattle and experienced the hardships of a severe winter, with lots of snow. They had to cut down trees so that the stock could feed on the leaves. A great many of the cattle starved and froze to death, causing a heavy loss. Mr. Johnson had a family of thirteen children and they suffered many hardships and privations during the early days. When spring came they went to southern Oregon, where they resided for about five years, and on the expiration of that period the parents of Thomas W. Johnson removed to California. From the age of thirteen years Thomas Wesley Johnson depended upon his own resources for a living. He worked his way steadily upward, his industry and diligence constituting the rounds of the ladder on which he climbed to success. He engaged in farming as the years passed and in grazing cattle and for several years continued this business in southern Oregon and afterward removed to eastern Oregon. When Medford became a city he was chosen for the office of constable and filled that position for many years. It was while residing there that Mr. Johnson met and married Miss Hallie Hoyt, whom he wedded in May, 1895. She is a daughter of Samuel and Angeline (Davis) Hoyt, the former still living at the age of eighty-four years, his home being at Grants Pass. Both he and his wife were natives of the state of New York and he is a Civil war veteran. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became parents of two children, Lloyd L. and Lucile Blanche, the latter the wife of Warren Stewart of Portland. The son enlisted for the World war in March, 1917, becoming a member of Company F, One Hundred and Sixty-second Infantry. He was sent overseas in December of the same year and was on active duty on the western front, being invalided back home in December, 1918. He manifested the same spirit of courage and loyalty which ever characterized his father, who was a veteran of the Modoc Indian war. While thus engaged in suppressing the Indian uprising he and several of his companions became lost from the company and were two days and nights without food. One of the number became exhausted and Mr. Johnson assisted in carrying his companion until succor reached them. His son became a sergeant of his company and his military record is one of which the mother has every reason to be proud. It was in 1906 that Mr. and Mrs. Johnson removed with their family to Portland, where for a time he conducted a store and later he had a gasoline filling station, continuing in this business to the time of his death, which occurred August 10, 1920. He was always a stalwart supporter of the democratic party and he was one of the first members taken into the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Medford. He had many friends wherever he went, so that his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret wherever he was known. Transcriber's additional notes: Census Indexing 1860 JOHNSON THOMAS N 45 M W KY IA ADAIR WASHINGTON TWP 1880 JOHNSON WES 30 W IA OR JACKSON MANZANITA 1900 JOHNSON T WESLEY 49 M W IA OR JACKSON MEDFORD 1910 JOHNSON THOMAS W 59 M W IA OR MARION GEWAIS PCT 1920 JOHNSON THOMAS W 70 M W IA OR MULTNOMAH PORTLAND; 263 1/2-PCT ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.