He attended the Frontenac schools. As a young man, John held a series of jobs, including working in a grocery store in Joplin (MO), and top hand at Mt. Carmel (Coal Mine) No. 9.
He was married to Carrie Pugh on March 28, 1917 in Girard.
John and Carrie had two children, Johnnie Jr., born September 10, 1917, and Helen, born September 27, 1920. John drove a delivery truck for the Frontenac Bakery. He often took his children with him on his route.
John, along with his brothers, Camile, Emile, and Henry purchased a mine called "Big Six Coal Company, Mine No. 1. On June 21, 1922, a rock fell on Emile and the brothers decided to sell the mine. He was employed for several years by the Santa Fe Railroad. He later was employed as a clerk by the Kansas City Southern Railroad. At that time he bought the farm on Lonestar Rd from the Lanyon (sp?) Co. in 1942, and worked for 30 years before retiring in 1960 from both farming and the RR.
John died on April 14, 1978 at the age of 83. He is buried in Girard Cemetary.