COL B W JOHNSON
G.A.R
Married: Mary L Spears on the first of May 1851
March 6,1903 Atkinson Graphic BENJAMIN WHITE JOHNSON
Benjamin White Johnson was born near Brownsville, Penn on Jan 23,1822 and was
but one year old when the family moved to Stark Co, Ohio, at that time the
frontier of civilization.
He was married to Mary L Spears on the first of May 1851 and to their union
were born 3 daughters and 1 son. 2 of the daughters are dead, one, Flora D
Potter, being buried in Ohio and the other, Stella Johnson in Iowa. The other
daughter is Mrs India L Walker of Atkinson and the son is James K Johnson of San
Francisco.
Colonel Johnson's life was one of remarkable activity and usefulness, marked
with substation of services both public and private. In early life he secured
an academic education and afterwards taught school in Ohio, Kentucky and Penn,
using the money thus earned to pay expenses while studying law in the office of
his uncle in the town of California, Pennsylvania. When the war broke out he
closed his law office to become lieutenant Colonel of the 111th Ohio Infantry.
Also during this period he was a conductor on the famous underground railroad,
running from Louisville to Cleveland, and many a poor black man owes life and
freedom to Col Johnson and his friends.
At the close of the war he followed the tide of emigration westward and helped
to lay out the town site of Marshalltown, Iowa, and served as its mayor. He
served as representative from Marshall County and was later nominated for
governor, but was defeated on account of his temperance sentiments. He was an
ardent advocate of temperance and made fifty eight speeches on that subject
during one campaign in Iowa. He possessed a remarkable oratorical talent, and
was much sought for on special occasions, having delivered fifty six fourth of
July orations during his life time, and shortly before his death he said he only
wished to live to deliver four more to make it an even sixty.
An idea of Col Johnson's span of life, his experiences and his consequent
powers of interesting retrospection may be had from the simple fact, as stated
by him, that he saw the hole dug and the first telegraph pole erected on the
continent.
Mr Johnson was reared among the Quakers and their teachings made a powerful
impression on him. Throughout his life he was foremost in active philanthropy
and his acts of generosity would fill a volume, and yet, before death he said
that he had been paid three found for every kind act he ever performed.
He moved with his family to Holt County in July 1883 and had been a resident
here ever since, active in all things tending to the good of the greatest
number, and respected and esteemed by all. He was postmaster and although nearly
82 years old was an active real estate dealer up to the time of his last
sickness which resulted in death at 7 o'clock Monday morning, March 2. The
funeral and burial occurred from the opera house Wednesday and was universally attended, especially by the old soldiers, who mourn the loss of their beloved comrade who has preceded them a short space into the Great Beyond.
To his beloved wife, the companion of his earthly struggles for nearly fifty
two years, and to his other relatives is extended the sympathy of all friends,
whose grief indeed is scarce less than their own; for to know Col Johnson was to admire and esteem him. He died as he had lived a consistent Christian gentleman, exemplifying the good that may be wrought by a human life properly directed. He is dead, but the influence of his stalwart Christian manhood and unselfish life will live and bear fruit through years to come. He has gone to his well earned reward. May he rest in peace unto the day when his soul shall rise to eternal glory.
G.A.R
Married: Mary L Spears on the first of May 1851
March 6,1903 Atkinson Graphic BENJAMIN WHITE JOHNSON
Benjamin White Johnson was born near Brownsville, Penn on Jan 23,1822 and was
but one year old when the family moved to Stark Co, Ohio, at that time the
frontier of civilization.
He was married to Mary L Spears on the first of May 1851 and to their union
were born 3 daughters and 1 son. 2 of the daughters are dead, one, Flora D
Potter, being buried in Ohio and the other, Stella Johnson in Iowa. The other
daughter is Mrs India L Walker of Atkinson and the son is James K Johnson of San
Francisco.
Colonel Johnson's life was one of remarkable activity and usefulness, marked
with substation of services both public and private. In early life he secured
an academic education and afterwards taught school in Ohio, Kentucky and Penn,
using the money thus earned to pay expenses while studying law in the office of
his uncle in the town of California, Pennsylvania. When the war broke out he
closed his law office to become lieutenant Colonel of the 111th Ohio Infantry.
Also during this period he was a conductor on the famous underground railroad,
running from Louisville to Cleveland, and many a poor black man owes life and
freedom to Col Johnson and his friends.
At the close of the war he followed the tide of emigration westward and helped
to lay out the town site of Marshalltown, Iowa, and served as its mayor. He
served as representative from Marshall County and was later nominated for
governor, but was defeated on account of his temperance sentiments. He was an
ardent advocate of temperance and made fifty eight speeches on that subject
during one campaign in Iowa. He possessed a remarkable oratorical talent, and
was much sought for on special occasions, having delivered fifty six fourth of
July orations during his life time, and shortly before his death he said he only
wished to live to deliver four more to make it an even sixty.
An idea of Col Johnson's span of life, his experiences and his consequent
powers of interesting retrospection may be had from the simple fact, as stated
by him, that he saw the hole dug and the first telegraph pole erected on the
continent.
Mr Johnson was reared among the Quakers and their teachings made a powerful
impression on him. Throughout his life he was foremost in active philanthropy
and his acts of generosity would fill a volume, and yet, before death he said
that he had been paid three found for every kind act he ever performed.
He moved with his family to Holt County in July 1883 and had been a resident
here ever since, active in all things tending to the good of the greatest
number, and respected and esteemed by all. He was postmaster and although nearly
82 years old was an active real estate dealer up to the time of his last
sickness which resulted in death at 7 o'clock Monday morning, March 2. The
funeral and burial occurred from the opera house Wednesday and was universally attended, especially by the old soldiers, who mourn the loss of their beloved comrade who has preceded them a short space into the Great Beyond.
To his beloved wife, the companion of his earthly struggles for nearly fifty
two years, and to his other relatives is extended the sympathy of all friends,
whose grief indeed is scarce less than their own; for to know Col Johnson was to admire and esteem him. He died as he had lived a consistent Christian gentleman, exemplifying the good that may be wrought by a human life properly directed. He is dead, but the influence of his stalwart Christian manhood and unselfish life will live and bear fruit through years to come. He has gone to his well earned reward. May he rest in peace unto the day when his soul shall rise to eternal glory.
COL B W JOHNSON
G.A.R
Married: Mary L Spears on the first of May 1851
March 6,1903 Atkinson Graphic BENJAMIN WHITE JOHNSON
Benjamin White Johnson was born near Brownsville, Penn on Jan 23,1822 and was
but one year old when the family moved to Stark Co, Ohio, at that time the
frontier of civilization.
He was married to Mary L Spears on the first of May 1851 and to their union
were born 3 daughters and 1 son. 2 of the daughters are dead, one, Flora D
Potter, being buried in Ohio and the other, Stella Johnson in Iowa. The other
daughter is Mrs India L Walker of Atkinson and the son is James K Johnson of San
Francisco.
Colonel Johnson's life was one of remarkable activity and usefulness, marked
with substation of services both public and private. In early life he secured
an academic education and afterwards taught school in Ohio, Kentucky and Penn,
using the money thus earned to pay expenses while studying law in the office of
his uncle in the town of California, Pennsylvania. When the war broke out he
closed his law office to become lieutenant Colonel of the 111th Ohio Infantry.
Also during this period he was a conductor on the famous underground railroad,
running from Louisville to Cleveland, and many a poor black man owes life and
freedom to Col Johnson and his friends.
At the close of the war he followed the tide of emigration westward and helped
to lay out the town site of Marshalltown, Iowa, and served as its mayor. He
served as representative from Marshall County and was later nominated for
governor, but was defeated on account of his temperance sentiments. He was an
ardent advocate of temperance and made fifty eight speeches on that subject
during one campaign in Iowa. He possessed a remarkable oratorical talent, and
was much sought for on special occasions, having delivered fifty six fourth of
July orations during his life time, and shortly before his death he said he only
wished to live to deliver four more to make it an even sixty.
An idea of Col Johnson's span of life, his experiences and his consequent
powers of interesting retrospection may be had from the simple fact, as stated
by him, that he saw the hole dug and the first telegraph pole erected on the
continent.
Mr Johnson was reared among the Quakers and their teachings made a powerful
impression on him. Throughout his life he was foremost in active philanthropy
and his acts of generosity would fill a volume, and yet, before death he said
that he had been paid three found for every kind act he ever performed.
He moved with his family to Holt County in July 1883 and had been a resident
here ever since, active in all things tending to the good of the greatest
number, and respected and esteemed by all. He was postmaster and although nearly
82 years old was an active real estate dealer up to the time of his last
sickness which resulted in death at 7 o'clock Monday morning, March 2. The
funeral and burial occurred from the opera house Wednesday and was universally attended, especially by the old soldiers, who mourn the loss of their beloved comrade who has preceded them a short space into the Great Beyond.
To his beloved wife, the companion of his earthly struggles for nearly fifty
two years, and to his other relatives is extended the sympathy of all friends,
whose grief indeed is scarce less than their own; for to know Col Johnson was to admire and esteem him. He died as he had lived a consistent Christian gentleman, exemplifying the good that may be wrought by a human life properly directed. He is dead, but the influence of his stalwart Christian manhood and unselfish life will live and bear fruit through years to come. He has gone to his well earned reward. May he rest in peace unto the day when his soul shall rise to eternal glory.
G.A.R
Married: Mary L Spears on the first of May 1851
March 6,1903 Atkinson Graphic BENJAMIN WHITE JOHNSON
Benjamin White Johnson was born near Brownsville, Penn on Jan 23,1822 and was
but one year old when the family moved to Stark Co, Ohio, at that time the
frontier of civilization.
He was married to Mary L Spears on the first of May 1851 and to their union
were born 3 daughters and 1 son. 2 of the daughters are dead, one, Flora D
Potter, being buried in Ohio and the other, Stella Johnson in Iowa. The other
daughter is Mrs India L Walker of Atkinson and the son is James K Johnson of San
Francisco.
Colonel Johnson's life was one of remarkable activity and usefulness, marked
with substation of services both public and private. In early life he secured
an academic education and afterwards taught school in Ohio, Kentucky and Penn,
using the money thus earned to pay expenses while studying law in the office of
his uncle in the town of California, Pennsylvania. When the war broke out he
closed his law office to become lieutenant Colonel of the 111th Ohio Infantry.
Also during this period he was a conductor on the famous underground railroad,
running from Louisville to Cleveland, and many a poor black man owes life and
freedom to Col Johnson and his friends.
At the close of the war he followed the tide of emigration westward and helped
to lay out the town site of Marshalltown, Iowa, and served as its mayor. He
served as representative from Marshall County and was later nominated for
governor, but was defeated on account of his temperance sentiments. He was an
ardent advocate of temperance and made fifty eight speeches on that subject
during one campaign in Iowa. He possessed a remarkable oratorical talent, and
was much sought for on special occasions, having delivered fifty six fourth of
July orations during his life time, and shortly before his death he said he only
wished to live to deliver four more to make it an even sixty.
An idea of Col Johnson's span of life, his experiences and his consequent
powers of interesting retrospection may be had from the simple fact, as stated
by him, that he saw the hole dug and the first telegraph pole erected on the
continent.
Mr Johnson was reared among the Quakers and their teachings made a powerful
impression on him. Throughout his life he was foremost in active philanthropy
and his acts of generosity would fill a volume, and yet, before death he said
that he had been paid three found for every kind act he ever performed.
He moved with his family to Holt County in July 1883 and had been a resident
here ever since, active in all things tending to the good of the greatest
number, and respected and esteemed by all. He was postmaster and although nearly
82 years old was an active real estate dealer up to the time of his last
sickness which resulted in death at 7 o'clock Monday morning, March 2. The
funeral and burial occurred from the opera house Wednesday and was universally attended, especially by the old soldiers, who mourn the loss of their beloved comrade who has preceded them a short space into the Great Beyond.
To his beloved wife, the companion of his earthly struggles for nearly fifty
two years, and to his other relatives is extended the sympathy of all friends,
whose grief indeed is scarce less than their own; for to know Col Johnson was to admire and esteem him. He died as he had lived a consistent Christian gentleman, exemplifying the good that may be wrought by a human life properly directed. He is dead, but the influence of his stalwart Christian manhood and unselfish life will live and bear fruit through years to come. He has gone to his well earned reward. May he rest in peace unto the day when his soul shall rise to eternal glory.
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