Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-02-11
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY II. 1875.
The morning papers contain full accounts

Inc morning papers Coutalu iuli aSooou'o "a
the sudden death of Reverdy johnson at the
Governors Mansion in Annapolis last night.
He had dined with the Governor and at the
close of the repast the conversation turned upon
the quality of some Madeira wine in the bottle,
and Mr.. johnson said, "Let me take glass OF
it, He took ouly the one glass, and shortly
afterwards said to Mr.. Carroll, Governor, will
you take me into the parlor p Governor Car
roll gave him his arm and escorted him into the
paror, where be sat down on sofa. Governor
Carroll remarked, "Mr. johnson, l think |
will have coffee brought in here" MIR. John
son replied, saying if the company wanted to
smoke they had better remain III the dining
room. Governor Carroll said: Very we'll,
sir will join you in "a few moments. Re
turning to the diping-room, Governor Carroll,
after short interval remarked: "Geutlemen,
suppose we 60 10 and join Mr.. Johnson" Mr..
Charles g. Kcer, Mr.. Johnson's son-ln-law,
who was present, said that Mr. johnson always
took nap after dinner, and he supposed be
bad gone to sleep. Governor Carroll then dis
missed the matter from his mind, and was sit
ting talking and smoking with his guests, when
one of the servants called him out ofthc room
and told him that Mr.. johnson was lying out
iu the yard on the stones There were large
wounds on the right side of the forehead and
face, the skull being fractured from the fore
head to the eyebrow. One finger of the LETT
hand was dislocatcd, and the right hand and
the knee caps were Gu. and abraded. These
contusions we're evidently produced by Mr..
Johnson's fall, as be struck against sharp pro
jcctiDg edge of granite; but whether the tall
was accidental, aud death resulted from the
fracture of the skull, or whether it was caused
by stroke of apoplexy, has not been deh-
nitely settled. Mr.. johnson when found was
lying upon the ground where some coal dust
was scattered about, and pool of blood was
about his head. Although his vision was very
feeble. he was very venturesome IN his golngs,
and wishing to 60 in the yard, did not call tor
assistance, but went out the front door and
down the front steps by himself Turning to
the left, he walked over the grass plot and down
short declivity to the brickcd area adjacent to
the basement of the building, and proceeded
towards the angle formed by the projecting bay
window. In turniDg himself about when close
to the wall he must have stumbled and fallen.
There we're loose pieces of coal lying on the
ground, and the superstition is that ne trod
upon one Of these. His head probably struck
the edge Of the projecting base of the wall, pro-
ducng the fracture of the skull referred to-
Mr.. johnson was born in Annapolis, May 81,
1896. His family on his fathers side was Of
English descent and on that Of his mother
French, and his ancestors were among the ear
liest settlers in Maryland, several of them hold
ing prominent positions under the colonial gov
erumeut. His father. j ohm johnson, was an
eminent lawyer, and was successfully attorney
general Judge of the Court of Appeals, and
Chancellor of the State His mother was a
daughter of Reverdy Ghisein, who was long
known as commissioner of the land Office at
Annapolis. He was admitted to the bar at
u Der Marlborro Prince Georges county, in
1915, when in his twentieth year; was soon at
ter appointed Deputy Attorney General of the
State Of Maryland, aud from that time until
his death was with slight intervals, in active
public life, among the positions he filled being
those Of United States Senator, Attorney Gen
eral of the United States and Minister Plenl-
poteptiary to Great Britain, and filling them all
with credit to himself and honor to Insecurity.
MIR. johnson was married November l6. 1919,
to Miss Mary Mackall Bowie, daughter of Gov.
Robert Bowie, of Prince Georges county, who
filed the executive chair Of Maryland in 1911.
She was sister of the late General Thomas
f. Bowie, and also of Mrs. Greene, OF Anna
polls. Mr.. johnson leaves twelve children,
about fifty grandchildren, and several great
grandchildren. Upon the 6ftieth anniversary
of their marriage, on the occasion of the cclc-
bration of their golden wedding, on the 10th
OF November, 1869, at which the late Rev. DR..
Mahan oficated nearly all the members of the
family were present The children Of Mr.. and
Mrs. johnson then present were Mary, widow
of the late Thomas II. Morris, Of Baltimore;
Mamie wife of John D. Prince, Of New York;
Louisa, wife of VIM. 4 Travers, of New York;
Emily wife of Washington Lewis, Of Clarke
county, Va; Lewis johnson; Eliza, widow of
the late Henry Daingcr6cld, of this city; Ma
tilda, wife of Chas. j. NJ. Gwinn, of Balti-
more; Camilla, wife Of Andrew Sterritt Ridge
"; Ella, wife of Charles g. Kerr; Edward
Contee johnson, Rcverdy johnson, jr, and
Bowie johnson, Of Baltimore Mrs. johnson
died March 49, 1873 aged seventy-two years.
Mr. Johnson life is said TO be insured for one
hundred thousand dollars. During the civil
war Mr.. johnson was opposed to dissolution
of the Union, and consequently took the part
of the North, but at the conclusion of HOSTILE
ties his patriotism and love of justice induced
him to affiliate with the Conservatives.
The Richmond correspondent of the Norfolk
Virginian says: Lieutenant Governor Thomas
will appear at the vioe-regal ball here on the