1825
Illinois
Presbytery - Spring 1825 - Bear Creek Cumberland Presbyterian
Church - Montgomery County, Illinois
Neill Johnson
was received as a candiate for the ministry.
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 36]
1828
Rev. David
W. McLin--who, perhaps more than any other man, gave shape to
the early operations of the Church in Illinois--founded a school
at his own house or in his neighborhood, where he taught candidates
for the ministry. Rev. J. M. Miller, pastor of the church at Enfield,
where Mr. McLin first settled and taught this school, says: "In
early times candidates for the ministry boarded free with families
here and were taught by Rev. D.W. McLin. Among these candidates
I recollect J.S. Alexander, B. Bruce, A. F. Trousdale, N. G. Furguson,
and, I believe, Neill Johnson; perhaps Joel
Knight, too." Mr. Miller adds: "I know that
Neill Johnson, a young minister, dressed himself for marriage
at my father's house (James Miller), and married Miss Rolofson."
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 122]
1829
Sangamon
Presbytery - 20 April 1829 - House of William Drennon, Sugar Creek,
Sangamon County, Illinois
Neill Johnson,
licentiate, produced a regular dismission from the Illinois
Presbytery, and was therefore accordingly received.
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 47]
1829
Sangamon
Presbytery - Fall 1829 - Lebanon Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Neill Johnson was ordered to prepare for ordination
at the next session.
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 50]
1830
Sangamon
Presbytery - Spring 1830 - House of Needham Roach - Morgan County,
Illinois
The order for the ordination of Neill
Johnson was extended until the next session.
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 50]
1830
Sangamon
Presbytery - 29 September 1830 - Schoolhouse near Robert Smith's
- Macon County, Illinois
30 September 1830 - Mt.
Zion camp-ground
At this Presbytery Neill Johnson
was ordained. He preached his trial sermon from I. Peter iii.
18. Mr. Campbell preached the ordination sermon and Mr. Foster
presided and gave the charge.
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 51]
1835
Illinois
Synod - 21 October 1835 - Sugar Creek Cumberland Presbyterian
Church - Sangamon County, Illinois
Rev. Neill
Johnson was Moderator.
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 70]
1835
Illinois
Synod - 20 October 1836 - Rushville, Illinois
Just
one year from the passage of the order originating Rushville
Presbytery, we find the Synod in session at Rushville,
Illinois, October 20th, 1836, at which time and place the following
resolution prevailed--Minutes p. 19:
Resolved,
That a new Presbytery be stricken from Sangamon
Presbytery [Mackinaw
Presbytery], to be composed of the following members,
Neill Johnson, James
McDowell, James E. Davis and Archibald Johnson. ... That
Neill Johnson be the first Moderator, and in case of his
failure, James
McDowell.
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 70]
1838
Sangamon
Synod - 18 October 1838 - Rushville, Illinois
Member
absent, Neill Johnson
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, page 72]
1854
Neil Johnston
[sic Neill Johnson] - Fairfield, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Missouri
Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1854, page 91]
1857
Neill Johnson
- Bateville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Missouri
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1857, page 70]
1865
Neill Johnson
- Auburn, Baker County, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Pacific
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1865, page 207]
1869
Neil Johnson,
Stated Clerk, McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Pacific
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1869, page 86]
1870
Neil Johnson
- McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Pacific
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1870, page 81]
1871
Neill Johnson
- McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Pacific
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1871, page 81]
1872
Neill Johnson
- McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Pacific
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1872, page 122]
1873
Neill Johnson
- McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Pacific
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1873, page 99]
1874
Neill Johnson
- McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Pacific
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1874, page 98]
1875
No report
from Oregon Prebsytery
1876
Johnson,
Neill, McMinnville, Ore.
Oregon
Presbytery - Oregon
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1876, page 93]
1877
Johnson,
Neill, McMinnville, Ore.
Oregon
Presbytery - Oregon
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1877, page 88]
1878
No report
from Oregon Prebsytery
1879
Johnson,
Neill, McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Oregon
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1879, page 92]
1880
Johnson,
Neill, McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Oregon
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1880, page 119]
1881
Johnson,
Neill, McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Oregon
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1881, page 91]
1882
Johnson,
Neil, McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Oregon
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1882, page 121]
1883
Johnson,
Neil, McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Oregon
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1883, page 129]
1884
Johnson,
Neil, McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Oregon
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1884, page 119]
1885
Johnson,
Neil, McMinnville, Oregon
Oregon
Presbytery - Oregon
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1885, page 134]
1886
Not found
in presbyterial lists.
1887
No report
from Oregon Presbytery
1888
Johnson,
Neil, McMinnville, Ore.
Oregon
Presbytery - Oregon
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1888, page 172]
1889
No report
from Oregon Presbytery
1890
Mortuary
List
Johnson, Neill - Oregon
Presbytery
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1890, page 113]
This good man died at his home in McMinnville, Oregon, April 24, 1890. He was born in Cumberland county, North Carolina, September 7, 1802. He moved with his parents to Christian county, Ky., in 1807, and professed religion in the old Bethel church in 1821. He joined presbytery in 1825. He was a student in Cumberland College under Dr. Cossett in 1826. Returning to Sangamon, Illinois, in 1827, he was licensed to preach the gospel. He was married to Esther Roberson [sic: Roelofson], in White county, Illinois, on the 7th of October, 1828. In 1830, he was ordained.
The first twenty years of his work in the ministry were spent in Illinois and Iowa. In 1851 he moved to Oregon with his family, consisting of his wife and nine children. He settled in the French Prairie, Willamette Valley, and assisted in the organization of the first presbytery in Oregon. He preached with ability and power for nearly forty years. During the interval his wife died. He afterward married Mrs. Woods, a noble Christian woman, who continued a kind and faithful wife to him until the day of his death. May she be able in her bereavement to say, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Brother Johnson, for the last few years of his life, was at times absent-minded, so he did not take an active part in the work, and preached but seldom. He was of Scottish descent; positive in his character, lenient and forgiving in his disposition. Loving God and his people with a pure heart fervently. He often with flowing tears repeated his favorite hymn: "I love thy kingdom, Lord."
I have labored shoulder to shoulder with him for nearly forty years. We have waded swales from knee-keep to waist-deep in early days to reach our appointments. We have preached together in the open air and in barns, before our people were able to build houses, enjoying glorious revivals of religion. But now I find myself alone, the only pioneer in the Oregon Presbytery.
Brother Johnson leaves seven children, thirty-eight grandchildren,
and twenty-three great-grandchildren. He was a preacher of the
gospel for sixty years. May his mantle fall on his descendants,
that, like Rechab of old, he may never lack a witness in his generations.
T. H. SMALL
Silverton,
Ore.
[Source: The Cumberland
Presbyterian, August 14, 1890, page 2]