Among the beautiful and valuable estates in
the vicinity of Peck, must be mentioned that of the
subject of this article, which lies one and one half
miles south from the town. This home place was acquired
by Mr. Johnson by homestead right in 1897, and the
excellent improvements that have enhanced the natural
beauty and value of the farm have all been placed there
by his labors. In addition to these, Mr. Johnson has a
fine orchard and his place manifests the excellent
skill, thrift and industry of the proprietor. Mr.
Johnson is a man of sound principles and a patriotic and
substantial citizen of influence and good standing. His
birth occurred in Illinois, on May 7, 1864, his parents
being Joseph and Susan (Heederick) Johnson, natives of
North Carolina. The father was born in 1814 and died in
1894. having been a farmer all his life and was a
pioneer to Benton County, Oregon. The mother died in
1882.
When Philip was but seven years of age,
the family made the weary journey across the plains with
ox teams to Benton County, Oregon, where the father took
a homestead and became one of the builders of that
County. Our subject worked with his father on the farm,
studied in the public schools and was one of the home
circle until he was seventeen, when he began life for
himself. He came to eastern Oregon later and settled
near Pendleton. He was in that country in the time of
the terrible Snake and Bannock Indian War. It was his
lot to be on picket and other duty and he was present
when Egan and Big Horn, the leaders of the savages, were
executed. Mr. Johnson also lived on John Day creek and
on Camas Prairie and was always devoting his attention
to farming and raising stock.
At the opening of
the reservation he came, and in 1897 secured the land
which was described above. Owing to the far reaching and
grand view to be had from his place, the farm has been
appropriately named the "Fair View Farm." Mr. Johnson
handles stock and does a general farming business. He
has plenty of natural spring water on the farm and it is
one of the most valuable places in this vicinity.
On December 24, 1881, Mr. Johnson married Miss Mary,
daughter of William and Harriette (Bellings) Groom,
natives of Missouri. The wedding occurred in Oregon and
to this worthy couple there have been born the following
children: Ernest E., Arthur X., Nora E., and William R.
Mrs. Johnson was born in Willamette valley on November
24, 1865, and has three brothers and two sisters, John,
Bird S., Lizzie Froxwell, Hattie Reeves and Fred, all in
Oregon except Bird S., who is on the reservation. Mr.
Johnson's brothers and sisters are all dead. His brother
David was in the Civil war.
In political
matters, Mr. Johnson holds with the Republicans and is
also a laborer for good schools. Nez Perce
Biographies Source: An Illustrated History of
Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah,
Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical
Publishing Company, 1903 |