"The North Loup Loyalist", North Loup, Nebraska, Friday, Apr. 13, 1923, p 1. With the passing of Byron Johnson North Loup lost one of her earliest settlers and one who always took a prominent part in the development of the country. As with all active pioneers a complete obituary would read like a romance. He and his brother, Gilbert, were among the first to come to this part of the Loup valley with a view to make it a permanent home. Byron did not stay long but returned to his Minnesota home. In 1872 he came back, homesteaded and this place had since been his home. His homestead was, we believe, the old Pierce farm near Sumter, Later he bot the farm now occupied by Floyd Wetzel. This place he developed until it is one of the best in the valley. After selling it he moved to the village and here he died very suddenly Tuesday, April 3, while at work around the house. Byron was born at Natick, Rhode Island, July 12, 1847, so was nearly 75 years and 9 months of age. When he was but a babe his parents moved to Berlin, Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood. In 1866 he went to Minnesota, coming her about six years later. May 19, 1880 he was united in marriage with Miss Maud Stewart, who, with five of the six children born to them, survives him. Eva died about three years ago. In 1879, following a revival, he was received into the fellowship of the Seventh-day Baptist church, and being a man of strong convictions he was ever faithful and loyal to the vows he took many years ago. He was a man who followed his convictions of what he thot was right and duty. In his younger days when he was very active in political and civic affairs and because of the confidence people had in his integrity he was chosen to fill many places of honor and trust. He was a member of the state militia as were many of the young men of the early days when threatened Indian out breaks frightened the settlers. The place occupied by men of the type of Byron Johnson is hard to fill. Funeral services, conducted by pastor H. L. Polan, were held at the Seventh-day Baptist church, Thursday, April 5 and the body was laid to rest in the city of the dead which overlooks the valley where he spent so many years of an active, useful life. They Came to Milton http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=jonsaunders