Ira G. Johnson

Ira G. Johnson was born on May 19, 1846 in Ohio, the son of David M. (1817-1892) and Chloe (Munson, 1817-1885).

David took his family and left Ohio and by 1857 had settled in Michigan. By 1860 Ira was attending school and living with his family in Casnovia, Muskegon County.

Ira stood 5’9” with blue eyes, dark hair and a light complexion, and was a 17-year-old farmer possibly working in Tyrone, Kent County when he enlisted in Company F on February 8, 1864, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, crediting Tyrone, and was mustered the same day. (His older brother Eli had joined Company F in 1861, and they were both possibly related to John Johnson who also enlisted in Company F.) Ira joined the Regiment on March 27, was wounded on May 12, at Spotsylvania, Virginia, and subsequently hospitalized. He was still absent wounded in the hospital when he was transferred to Company F, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and he remained absent wounded through January of 1865. He was mustered out on July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Following his discharge from the army Ira returned to western Michigan and settled for a time in Casnovia.

He was married to New York native Eunice A. (b. 1855), and they had at least one child: Harriet (b. 1876).

By 1880 he was working as a farmer and living with his wife and daughter in Tyrone, Kent County. 1885 he was living in Sparta, Kent County and in 1888 and 1890 he was residing in Casnovia, Tyrone Township, Kent County. In 1920 he was living with his older sister Rachel Squires in Casnovia. (Another sister Mary and her daughter lived nearby.)

Ira was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Bonner Post No. 306 in Casnovia, as well as the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association. In 1864 he applied for and received a pension (no. 444712).

Ira died on July 9, 1921, in Kent City, Michigan, and was buried in South Casnovia cemetery: block O, lot 80, grave N 1.

In 1921 his widow applied for a pension (no. 1179557) but the certificate was never granted.