Johnson OBryant

 

SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878

SURNAMES: BEAVERS, BENTON, CHAPMAN, FULKERSON, MCCUNN, OBRYANT, POWLESON, PRICE, ROUCK

 

JOHNSON OBRYANT, deceased. The quarter section of land which in 1851 became the property of the subject of this sketch, forms a part of section 27, in Sadorus Township, where he labored for a period of fourteen years, and built up a good homestead for his family. The people of that community among whom he went in and out, honestly and conscientiously, bear testimony to the excellence of his character and the correctness of his quiet and unassuming life. Although, perhaps, not the hero of many great events, he discharged his duty to the best of his ability, and was acounted a good and useful member of the community.

The birth of Mr. Obryant took place in Pike County, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1812. He was the second child of James and Sarah (POWLESON) OBRYANT, also natives of the Buckeye State, where the father's death took place. In 1846 the mother came to Illinois, and spent the remainder of her days on a farm with her son James, in Douglas County.

Johnson Obryant, when fourteen years of age, left home and went into Bainbridge, Ross County, to learn the tanner's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of nearly six years. A little before his twentieth year he was married, Oct. 22, 1840, to Miss Jane MCUNN, daughter of William and Nancy McCUNN. The young people at once proceeded westward, and crossing the Mississippi, settled near St. Joseph, Mo., where our subject was employed at his trade, and where for a brief time they enjoyed the comforts of a modest home. A year later his young wife died, leaving him with one child, a boy, Austin M., who was afterward cared for by his grandmother. He spent his boyhood and youth in this county, and although not strong physically was bright and intelligent, and when grown to manhood became Collector for Sadorus Township. While holding this office he mysteriously disappeared, and no trace was afterward found of him. It is generally believed that he was murdered for his money, as he was a young man of sterling integrity and excellent habits, and his honesty was never questioned.

Mr. Obryant followed farming in Missouri a little more than two years, and after the death of his wife came to Illinois, to the home of his mother and brother in Douglas County. He rented land near the farm of the latter, and remained there five years. In January, 1847, he was married to Miss Catharine, the second child of William and Nancy (BEAVERS) ROUCK. Mr. Obryant remained in Douglas County four years after this event, and then came to Champaign county, where he spent the remainder of his days, departing this life Feb. 28, 1868.

Mrs. Obryant, after the death of her husband remained on the farm with her children until the spring of 1887, when she moved north and settled on section 14, taking possession of 200 acres, which came to her from her father's estate, and where she now lives near a married daughter. Of her union with our subject there were born six children-Rebecca H., Mary P. and Lemuel R., born in Douglas County, and Isabell, Josephine and Emma, natives of Champaign. The eldest daughter, Rebecca, became the wife of John FULKERSON, a farmer of Pesotum Township, and died Oct. 27, 1868, leaving one child, a daughter, Minnie B., who followed her mother on the 18th of November, not quite a month later; Mary P. married Robert C. BENTON, a farmer of Sadorus Township, and departed this life Feb. 13, 1879, leaving one child, a son, Hugh J., who is now with his father in Missouri; Lemuel R., unmarried, is at home with his mother; Isabell became the second wife of her brother-in-law, R. C. BENTON, and died Feb. 16, 1882, leaving a child, Harry, who joined the mother in the other life, on the 13th of October following; Josephine is the wife of CHAPMAN, a harness-maker of Whiting, Jackson Co., Kan., where he conducts a harness-shop, and owns a farm near by, which is operated by a tenant; this daughter became the mother of four children-John Lemuel (deceased), Ralph B., Emma W. and Iva G. The youngest daughter is married to William PRICE, who is carrying on their forty-acre farm, and at the same time is also managing the farm property belonging to her mother. He is an active and enterprising young farmer, fully deserving of the confidence reposed in him. Mr. and Mrs. Price have two children-Catharine A. and Parker J. Mr. Obryant was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a quarter of a century, and Mrs. Obryant is a member of the same denomination.