The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 280
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES/ TOWN OF IRA

W. Petty, June 15th, 1859; Letitia, who was born September 28th, 1836, married Stephen Olmstead, October 28th, 1855, and died September 6th, 1869; Margaret A., who was born October 30th, 1838, and married Doctor James Benton, November 19th, 1853; George A., who was born Nobember 15th, 1841, and married Julia Tucker March 21st, 1865; Mary C., who was born February 26th, 1844, and married Arthur W. Tucker October 18th, 1864; John E., who was born July 18th, 1846, and married Mary Flagler, August 10th, 1867; Gratie, who was born February 11th, 1849, and died September 25th, 1850; Charles L., who was born July 26th, 1852, and died April 14th, 1855; Charles who was born June 17th, 1857, and is now preparing himself for the law with his brother Frank.

ROBERT JOHNSON.

ROBERT JOHNSON is the third son of Edward Johnson, a native of Grimsby, England, who came to America and settled on lot 45, in the town of Ira, Cayuga County, in the year 1816. Edward Johnson was a cabinet maker by trade, but followed farming in this country. He married Ann Clayton, in England, about the year 1796. There were born to them twelve children. He died April 9th, 1843, aged 71 years, and his wife died July 1st, 1855, in her 84th year.

Robert came with his father to this country. He was left in Albany, when the family were on their way to Cayuga County, and there he worked at his trade of brass moulder for about six months. He then went to his father's in Ira, going the entire distance on foot. He worked with his father on the farm about three years, then went to Philadelphia, Pa., where he was employed about one year by his brother, the late Lawrence Johnson, Esq., who was an extensive type manufacturer. He returned to the home of his father and remained there, employed on the farm, until 1829. On the 1st of January, 1829, he was married to Mary M. Earl, daughter of Reuben and Susan (Cary) Earl. For eight years after their marriage they lived in a house on his father's farm. He then purchased ninety acres of land on lot 31, and has added by purchase from time to time until his farm now contains 165 acres.

They had two children. The elder, Charlotte, was born October 14th, 1829. This daughter, from the age of ten years, was an invalid till her death, which occurred November 3d, 1877.

The second child, Lucy S., was born December 8th, 1841. She was united in marriage with C. Walcott Burritt, January 20th, 1863.

Mr. Johnson has been Overseer of the Poor in his town, and held the office of Excise Commissioner for twelve years. He has settled many estates.

In politics he is a staunch Republican.

Robert Johnson Burritt, son of C. W. and Lucy Burritt, was born May 20th, 1874.

JOHN TURNER KNAPP.

JOHN TURNER KNAPP is the second child of Uz and Abigail (Sherman) Knapp. His father was born in Vermont and his mother in Connecticut. They moved from Vermont and settled in the town of Moreau, Saratoga county, N. Y., about the year 1797. They remained there, his father following the trade of shoemaker, until 1810, when they removed further west, to the town of Cato, Cayuga County. His father here was engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes and leather until his death, which occurred in the year 1816, one year after the death of his wife, in 1815. There were born to them five children, viz.: Sallie, John T., Abigail, Betsey and Mary, all of whom are now dead, except John T., who was born May 19th, 1802, in the town of Moreau, Saratoga county, and came with his parents to Cato. As soon as his strength would permit he was put into service in his father's tannery grinding bark, and when not employed in that capacity he was engaged in fitting boots and shoes, and at the time of his father's death, being only fourteen years old, he was so skillful as to be able to make and finish a pair of boots or shoes in a manner nearly equal to that of some of the best workmen in his father's employ.

The facilities for obtaining an education were meager in those times and young Knapp was able to attend school only during the winter months, which he did with the exception of one year, up to 1816, about eighteen months all told. After his father's death he lived with his half brother for about two years, working summers at his trade and going to school winters. In the year 1818, being anxious to finish his trade of tanner and currier, he went to Oswego and engaged with Shopley & Card, with whom he remained a little more than one year.

In 1820 he went to what was then Cato, now Victory, Cayuga County, and was engaged there from that time until 1854, in the manufacture of leather, boots and shoes and lumber, owning and operating a steam saw-mill, and carrying on a general country store.

In 1853 he was elected sheriff of the County. Owing to the sudden death of sheriff Fancher, Mr. Knapp was appointed December 7th, 1853, by Governor Seymour to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Fancher, and moved to Auburn and took possession of the County building on the first of January, 1854.

In the spring of 1858 Mr. Kanpp moved to the village of Cato, where he now resides, and

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