VOLTAIRE W. JoHNSoN', (50) born in Freedom, September 12,
1848; married first, at Monticello, Green county, Wisconsin, Sept. 24, 1866, by Reverend J. Dinsmore, "Freewill Baptist Minister," Edgar Wright and Emily Pacon witnesses, Ella Frances, oldest daughter of Joshua and Survins. (Cook) Crowell, born at West Yarmouth, Mass., October 30, 1847, who died at Alpha, December 2, 1880, and is buried in Bethel cemetery; married second, at Charles City, Floyd county, Iowa, September 22, 1888, by Reverend Coates, Mrs. Coates witness, Mrs. Almira C. Staples, nee Almira C. Rich, born in Malone, Franklin county, New York, July 16, 1848, daughter of Thomas and
Matilda
(Berry) Rich; widow of Merrit Staples; she died at Cedar Rapids, Lin county, Iowa, November 28, 1898, and is buried in Linwood cemetery at Cedar Rapids; married third, at Waucoma, Fayette county, Iowa, June 20, 1900, at Methodist Parsonage, by Reverand Daniel M.
Parker, Sarah E. Parker and Charles S. Parker witnesses, Mrs. Ann Brayton, nee Ann Willis, born in Mt. Pleasant township, Green county, Wisconsin, May 1, 1849, daughter of Solomon and Lovina (Evans)
Willis, and widow of Reuben Brayton.
He grew up on the farm and attended public school, obtaining the foundation of an education which has enabled him to acquire a thorough knowledge of affairs of life in many varied lines.
He enlisted before he was eighteen for the civil war, at Belville, Dane county, Wisconsin, August 27, 1861, in Company H of the Eighth Wisconsin infantry (the Eagle Regiment), and served three years, being discharged at Memphis, Tennessee, September 16, 1864, just after the Forrest raid into that city, having participated with his regiment in twenty-three battles, being all in which it had been engaged except one, from which he was prevented from sharing with them by sickness, having been slightly wounded at Abbeyville, Miss., on August 23, 1864, just four days before the expiration of his term of enlistment.
After returning from the army he carried on his father's farm until the removal of the families to Iowa in 1869, when he located on a quarter section of prairie land in Bethel township, which he fenced with smooth wire (forerunner of the present barbed wire so generally in use), which he farmed for several years, bringing it into a high state of cultivation, afterwards taking over the mill at Alpha, which he remodeled.
He was appointed to the office of county supervisor to fill out the unexpired term of his father, discharging the duties so acceptably that he was elected to the office for the next term, from which the requirements of private business compelled him to resign before the expiration of the term; and when, as alderman of Cedar Rapids, his official acts made him the logical candidate of his party for mayor his personal interests compelied him to decline to become a candidate.
After returning to Alpha he tended postoffice for several years, being deputy for his wife, she having succeeded to it upon the death of her first husband; but since the office has gone to others has entirely re. tired, devoting his time to caring for his little property and visiting his children and many relatives.
He is the largest in stature of any of the family, of a stern, forceful character; strong and clear of intellect; understanding all matters fully; discoursing fluently of events to intimates and friends, but with strangers is reticent and diffident; has been a most faithful and devoted son, caring tenderly for his mother when the infirmities of age pressed heavily upon her and her mental and physical powers
gave way.