The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1871-12-27

= November 11th, 1871.
PROFESSOR REYNoLDs
Dear Ssr-M Miss Elizabeth John
son informs me that you are pre-
pairing a memior of her father, the
late Rev. w. B. johnson, and re
quests that l will communicate to
you any facts or "reminiscences l
may have of him:
DIR. johnson had charge of the
Greenville Female Academy when
| came to Greenville to read law
in 1924, and had been there two
or three years. He moved from
Greenville to Edgefeld about the
year 1880. For five or six years
| saw DIR. johnson every day or
two, heard him preach every Sab
bath, and was frequently in his
company at his house and else
where. He had a great many
young ladies boarding in his house,
and frequently had his young
friends there to spend the evening,
His eldest daughter, Miss Mar
johnson, was a very remarkable
young lady, then just grown, and a
great favorite with all who had the
pleasure of her acquaintance. She
was highly educated, and her mind
had been well cultivated. She al.
ways made the social gatherings a,
her fathers pass off pleasantly
But her life was a short one. In
the bloom of youth, she died sud
denly from having a tooth extract
ed. Her death was deeply mourn
ed by the community. None OF
his other children at that time were
grown. DIR. johnson had her like
ness taken whilst corpse by a
miniature painter who til e n
happened to be in the village. She
was the pride Of his heart, and he
was anxious to have some memo
rial of her loved features, for her
brothers and sisters to look upon
in after.life.
The Female Academy became a
most fouIishing institution under
his care and superintendance.-
Young ladies came from all the
DistrictS in the upper part OF
the State TO receive his instruc
ton, and complete their
education. He was a fine scholar
himself, and a most admirable
teacher. He possessed in an emi
nent degree the faculty of impart
ing knowledge to his pupils. AL
who left his school were thorough.
ly educated. He was very strict
disciplinarian, and most accurate
and exact i'll all his teaching. His
pupils had the greatest reverence
and respect for him. There was
something in his calm, sedate dig.
nifty, which awed every one in his
school, and made them afraid oi
his reproof. They could not neg
lect their studies.
For some years after DR.. John
son took charge of the Greenville
Female Academy, there was nc
church of any denomination in the
village. The old Court House was
used every Sabbath as church
DIR. johnson determined to make
an effort to build church, and
carried abont the subscription list
himself. He succeeding in raising
funds to erect the old Baptist
Church, which, however, was to be
free for all ministers of the orthor
dox faith. But although, DR.. John
son YVES successful in building G
house for the worship of God, be
was never able to organize 6
church in Greenville. His ser
mons were able and learned, bul
he did not possess that fire and en-
thusiasm in his preaching, which
stirs the heart, and moves the feel
ipgs of an audience. L have since
seen in Greenville, dozens baptized
in one day, whose conversion was
under the preaching of greatly in
ferior ministers. Indeed religion
is more an affair of the heart than
OF the head. DR.. Johnsons man
ner in the pulpit, was cold, precise,
and formal, as were his manners al
all times. q He 0 was, however
pleasant and soctable, and talked
WELL. q % 3 ~ Ssa ~,
I remember on one occasion, thor.
was to be q ball ut the. Mansion
House, and preaching in the old
Court House the same evening"
The buildings were very near eacl
other, apd the young men appoint
ed o committee to wait on DR.
Johnson, and make arrange mept