A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--pages 1020-1021
Eli Johnson, one of the pioneer fathers of Hendricks County, residing in Guilford Township since 1857, is of English and Irish extraction. His great-grandfather, Henry Johnson, emigrated from Ireland in company with his family, and located in Randolph County, N.C., where he purchased a plantation, became a leading citizen, and was a respected member of the Presbyterian Church. Joseph Johnson, grandfather of our subject, was born in Ireland, and was a mere boy when he came in company with his father to America. He here married Nancy Lytle, owned a plantation and twelve slaves, and took an active part in the Revolutionary War for eight years. He died in Randolph County, N.C., a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church. Lytle Johnson, father of our subject, was born in Randolph County, N.C., in 1793, April 13th. He was reared on his father's plantation, and married Isabel Osborn, daughter of Peter and Susanna (Safright) Osborn, who were members of the Friends Church. Their children were born in the following order: Eli, Absalom, Abner, Henry, Robert, Sarah, Nancy, Susanna, Synthia and Rachael E. The father and mother were married in Randolph County, N.C., lived and died on the old plantation of over 400 acres, and Mr. Johnson also owned a number of slaves. He was a successful farmer, a Jackson Democrat, and a devout Methodist, having been a class leader and steward. They had so lived that they won the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
Squire Eli Johnson, subject proper of this notice, was born in Randolph County, N.C., March 25, 1814, and was reared on his father's plantation and received a very good education for that early day, attending the old, rude, uncouth log school-house, and using the ancient goose quill pen, but becoming so proficient that he eventually assisted the teacher in the performance of his duties. Shortly after completing his education he bade farewell to the scene of his boyhood and turned his face to the west, as it was then called, to seek his fortune in the new states, and in company with others, in 1837, located in Guilford Township, Hendricks County, on White Lick Creek. In 1841 he married Phoebe Kester, daughter of Richard and Sarah (Patterson) Kester, who were among the early settlers of this township. To this union were born the following children: Sarah J., Lytle, Rachael E., and Martha, all deceased. Mr. Johnson is a stanch Republican in politics, although he was formerly a Whig, and was honored by the Republican Party by election, in 1856, to the office of justice of the peace, and has been elected to the same office ever since, a fact that speaks highly for his standing, as a peacemaker in this community. He has seen the county and township transformed from a primitive wilderness, inhabited by the wild beasts of the forest, into blooming fields and the abodes of civilized man. Mr. Johnson and wife are members of the Christian Church, in good standing; Mr. Johnson is also a member of the F & A.M., and has held some of the minor offices. He has a good residence and two acres of land on the edge of the city of Plainfield, and a competency for old age, and he and his wife stand deservedly high in the esteem of their neighbors.