This image and the biographical text are from the 1875 Atlas of Jackson County Ohio. Spelling and punctuation are as in the original book. The signature is in his own handwriting.
HON. ELIHU JOHNSON,
Of Jackson, in this county, is the oldest lawyer of our bar. He has been practising law for about fifty years. He was admitted to the bar in May, 1826, at Portsmouth. He was with Gov. Wm. Allen a student in the law office of Gazley & Gilbert, of Cincinnati, and was admitted in the same examination of the famous governor of Ohio. Mr. Johnson was born on the 28th day of June, 1798, in North Carolina. He was the ninth of ten children, whose parents were Adam Johnson and Christian Thompson. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and followed agricultural pursuits through life. His father died in 1815. His mother died somewhat later; both dying on their farm in North Carolina. The first occupation of Mr. Johnson was on the farm. At the age of twenty, on account of impaired health, he was compelled to travel, and visited his friends in Kentucky and Ohio. His early education was obtained at the common schools, and later at Mecklenburg Academy he obtained a good classical education. In 1818 he came to Cincinnati, where he taught penmanship for awhile, and in 1819 he got employment in the clerk's office of Hamilton County. He soon turned his attention to the reading of law, and having read for some time, was admitted to the bar in 1826. For several years he continued the practice and reading in Chillicothe. In 1829 he settled permanently in Jackson, and began the practice of his profession. He has practiced his profession ever since. He was prosecuting attorney of Jackson County for several terms. He was for two terms a member of the House of Representatives of the Ohio State Legislature. Mr. Johnson has never solicited public office, and yielded reluctantly to the call of friends and public needs, when he was brought before the people for political preferment. Politically, he is a democrat; voted first for Henry Clay. Religiously, be is a member of no church; was baptized and raised in the Presbyterian church. He was married in November, 1834, to Roana Rathburn, by whom he is the father of six children. Mr. Johnson is living in Jackson at the advanced age of seventy-seven years. His step is yet firm and his constitution indicates a life of temperate and industrious habits.
