Francis M. Johnson was born in 1791 in Virginia (per Parke County 1850 District No. 85 census records) Occupation: Farmer, Jackson Township - Value of real estate owned. $350.00. The farm is described as follows. Eighty acres (80) in section twenty-four, Eighty (80) acres in section twenty-three lower fourteen range of west.

1840 U. S. Census Index, Parke County, Indiana
Page 147 Line 8 Johnson, Francis

http://ingenweb.org/inparke/LandRecords/LandPatents.htm
Johnson Francis M Apr 1 1848
Johnson Francis M May 10 1848

District No. 1850 Parke County Census Records:
23 Johnson Francis 59 M VA
23 Johnson David J. 23 M VA
23 Johnson Nancy A. 17 F VA
23 Johnson S.C. 15 F IN

24 Johnson Alexander T. 26 M VA
24 Johnson Rebecca 29 F NC
24 Johnson Sarah M. 7 F IN
24 Johnson Samantha J. 3 F IN
24 Johnson Pamela C. 1 F IN

His wife Elizabeth passed away in 1836 as well as his son John B. who died in 1846.

In the 1850 Parke County, Indiana Census Francis' children listed were David J. age 23 born in Virginia, Nancy A. age 17 born in Virginia, and S. C. Johnson (daughter) age 15 born in Indiana, all living with him. His son Alexander and his wife Rebecca and children Sarah M., Samantha J. and Pamelia C. are living next door. A few doors away are his son James and his wife Jane and children Francis M. and George. Also living close by is daughter Sarah Branson, her husband George and a child named M. Caroline Johnson, age three.

To the best of my knowledge, these are Francis M. Johnson's children:

*Alexander F. Johnson - born abt. 1823 in Virginia. Alexander married Rebecca Taylor on February 16, 1843, in Vermillion County, Illinois. Rebecca Taylor was born abt. 1821 in North Carolina. Parents of Sarah M., Samantha Jane and Pamelia C. Johnson. Rebecca (Taylor) Johnson was born abt. 1822 and died on June 12, 1878. She was 56. Alexander F. Johnson married Eliza Parsons on November 28, 1878, in Vigo County, Indiana. Parents of George and Franklin Benjamin Johnson. Alexander F. Johnson died November 21, 1885, in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana. Alexander F. Johnson FAG#35419213 is buried beside his first wife Rebecca FAG#40086716. They are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Terre Haute, Indiana.

* Sarah Margaret Johnson - Birth Year: abt. 1826 Birthplace: Virginia. Married George W. Branson on March 12, 1845, in Indiana. Mary Caroline Branson age 3, was born in 1847. Home in 1850: District 85, Parke County, Indiana.

* David J. Johnson - born in 1827 in Virginia. Married Sarah Ann Crafton on August 23, 1889, in Parke County, Indiana. Home in 1870: Widner, Knox, Indiana. He was the father of Nancy, Francis M., William R. and Mary E. Johnson. Widower in 1880. Married Cilia Collins on July 22, 1880, in Knox County, Indiana.

* Barbara "Barbary" Jane Johnson - born abt. 1828 in Indiana. She married John M. Moore on April 12, 1849, in Parke County, Indiana. Barbary Jane (Johnson) Moore died on December 19, 1862. She is buried in the Cottage Grove Cemetery in Humboldt, Allen County, Kansas.

* Mary Elizabeth Johnson - Birth: April 30, 1830 Birthplace: Virginia. Married David R. Harney on June 13, 1847, in Parke County, Indiana. Parents of Infant, Henry C., George H., David Wesley, Susan Jennie and James M. Harney. David R. Harney was a Union Civil War soldier. He died on July 6, 1863, from wounds in Port Hudson, Louisiana. Mary E. Harney married James Hillhouse Martin on September 9, 1869, in Parke County, Indiana.

* John B. Johnson - Born November 14, 1831, Birthplace: Virginia - Died April 25, 1846 - Aged 14 ys. 5 ms. & 4 ds. Buried in Johnson Family Plot in Jackson Township, Parke County Indiana.

* Nancy Ann C. Johnson - born in 1833 in Virginia. Nancy Ann C. Johnson married James E. Cardwell on March 4, 1852, in Parke County, Indiana. She Married James Ball on April 2, 1857, in Parke County, Indiana. Parents of Elizabeth Alice and Dr. James T. Ball. She was James Ball's 3rd wife. James Ball died on May 17, 1862. He is buried in New Discovery Cemetery - FAG #25508060. Nancy A. was removed to Knox County, Indiana where she became the wife of Horace A. Edwards in Sullivan County, Indiana. Nancy later moved to Sullivan County. Mother of Franklin C. and Sarah T. Edwards.

(Nancy A. Johnson Ball and Horace A. Edwards Marriage, Abt. 1864 • Sullivan County, Indiana.)

* Susan C. Johnson - born in 1835 in Indiana. Married James Ellis on January 15, 1857, in Parke County, Indiana. Parke County's Probate Box 45, Johnson, Francis - Date Filed: 20 May 1863 - now Susan C. Morgan.

*James Johnson - born in Indiana. He married Jane Coleman on March 5, 1846, in Parke County, Indiana. Father of Francis M. and George W. Johnson.

Bureau of Land Management: Crawfordsville Indiana: April 24, 1820: Sale-Cash Entry (3 Stat. 566) Jackson Township, Parke County

Issue Date: 4/1/1848 State: IN Meridian: 2nd PM Twp - Rng:014N - 007W Section: 24 Aliquots: SE¼NW¼ County:Parke Total Acres: 40.00

Issue Date: 5/10/1848 State: IN Meridian: 2nd PM Twp - Rng: 014N - 007W Section : 24 Aliquots: SW¼NW¼ County: Parke Total Acres:40.00

inparke/LandRecords/LandPatents.htm
JohnsonFrancis M Apr 1 1848
Johnson Francis M May 10 1848

Parke County Obituaries: Johnson Francis (Estate) - Parke Co. Republican 8 Apr 1858 Page 3

Parke County Indiana - Index of Probate Box 36 - File 52 - Date Filed 11 Mar 1858
Decedent Johnson, Francis Children - Alexander Johnson, David J. Johnson, Susan Ellis, Barby Jane Moor, Sarah Margaret Branson, Nancy Ann Ball, Mary Elizabeth Harny (corrected in pencil to Harvey) & Alexander Johnson.

Grandchildren - Francis M. Johnson (son of James Johnson), deceased, John Wallice Cardwell (Nancy and Horace Edward's farmhand), Mary Caroline Branson and Rozela Branson.

Parke County, Indiana - Index of Probate Box 33 - File 10 - Date Filed 13 Apr 1859
33 10 Johnson, Francis M. Heirs - David J. Johnson, Susan Ellis, Elizabeth Harney, Barbary J. Moore, Sarah M. Branson, Nancy A. Ball, John W. Cardwell (farmhand), Francis Johnson, Alexander F. Johnson.

Parke County, Indiana - Index of Probate Box 45, File 2 - Date Filed 20 May 1863
Relatives of Decedent: David J. Johnson, Susan C. Ellis now Morgan, Babara J. Moore, Sarah M. Branson (deceased), James Johnson (deceased), Nancy A. Ball, Mary E. Harney, Alexander Johnson
Grandchildren - Francis Johnson (son of James Johnson), John W. Cardwell, Mary Caroline Branson and Rozela Branson

Executor - James Payne, Sr. Administrator - Alexander F. Johnson, Guardian for Branson children - Lemuel Branson Guardian for John Cardwell - A. F. Johnson - Guardian for Francis Johnson - John Coleman

Index of Probate Box 28 - File 13
Decedent: Johnson, Francis Date Filed: 19 Jan 1864 Legatees - David J. Johnson, Susan C. Ellis (now Morgan), Barbara J. Moore, Sarah M. Branson, Francis Johnson, Nancy A. Ball, Mary E. Harney, Alex Johnson & John W. Cardwell Administrator and guardian of John W. Cardwell - Alexander F. Johnson - Guardian of Sarah Branson's heirs - Lemuel Branson

Parke County, Indiana - Index of Probate Box 53 - File 25 -Date Filed 12 May 1866
Decedent Johnson, James - Minor heir - Francis M. Johnson Guardian of minor heir - John Coleman Mentioned - Frances Johnson of whom Francis M. Johnson is a legatee.

Parke County Wills Indexed - 1833 - 1891
Johnson Francis Date 11 Mar 1858 Book 2 Pages 115 - 117

Francis Johnson Will
In the name of the Benevolent Father of all, I Francis M. Johnson do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament.
Item 1st - It is my will that my just debts and all charges be paid out of my estate including my burial expenses.
Item 2nd - I devise and bequeath to my son Alexander Johnson and his heirs my farm for the term of five years to improve said farm in the best manner that he can for sale at the expiration of five years to have and receive all that he can make on the farm owning that time. The farm is described as follows. Eighty acres (80) in section twenty-four, Eighty (80) acres in section twenty-three lower fourteen range of west.
Item 3rd - I devise and bequeath to my son David J. Johnson my watch and fifty dollars to be drawn when the farm is sold.
Item 4th - I devise and bequeath to my daughter Susan Ellis fifty dollars to be drawn when the farm is sold.
Item 5th - I devise and bequeath to my daughter Barbery Jane Moor fifty dollars to be drawn when the farm is sold.
Item 6th - I devise and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Margaret Branson fifty dollars to be drawn when the farm is sold.
Item 7th - I devise and bequeath to my Grandson Francis Johnson One hundred dollars to be drawn when the farm is sold to be paid when he becomes of age.
Item 8th - I devise and bequeath to my Grandson John Wallace Cardwell one hundred dollars be drawn when the farm is sold to be paid when he becomes of age.
Item 9th - I devise and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Ann Ball fifty dollars be drawn when the farm is sold.
Item 10th - I devise and bequeath to my daughter Mary Elizabeth Harney fifty dollars be drawn when the farm is sold.
Item 11th - I devise and bequeath to my son Alexander Johnson one hundred dollars be drawn when the farm is sold.
Item 12th - I do hereby nominate and appoint James Payne Sr. Executor of this my Last Will and Testament hereby authorizing and empowering him to compromise, adjust, release, and discharge in such a manner as he may deem proper, the debts and claims due me. I do also authorize and empower heirs if it shall become necessary in order to pay my debts to sell my private sale on in such a manner upon such terms of credit or otherwise as he may think all or some part of my real estate and deed to purchases, to execute acknowledge and deliver in fee simple - I do hereby revoke all former wills made by me made.
In testimony, hereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 5th day of January 1858.
Francis M. Johnson
X mark (Seal)

JOHNSTON, FRANCIS ESTATE SALE P.C. REPUBLICAN 3/25/1858 3 ALEXANDER, F. JOHNSON, ADM.
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In the 1980s a neighbor, Mr. Walter Tucker told Gregg and Debra Schrader about a pioneer cemetery in the dense woods across the county road from their house. At the time the many acres of the woods were fenced for horses. She and her children Aaron and Brett set out to find the cemetery. They found the weathered headstones and footstones strung about a small area on a ridge in the woods. They stacked the decaying grave makers against the fence post. Over the years Debra and Gregg walked to the neglected site.

In June 2019 Gregg and Debra went to the cemetery after loggers had cut trees during the summer of 2018. They had communicated to the loggers about the cemetery when they started in the hopes that they would not damage the gravestones. They found several trees in close proximity cut but no damage was found to the gravestones.

In the summer of 2021, Gregg and Debra purchased a headstone. Along with the help of Lee Creed, they cleared the dense underbrush around the burial site. They mixed and poured a cement pad covering the three graves and placed the new headstone.

Note: The cemetery is on private property and it is advised not to enter without the approval of its owner.