The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-12-04
ONE OF GENERAL JACKsON's MEN.
Abraham Johnsou's Eventful Life or log
fenrs-His Indian wife and Associa-
lions. 3

| Abraham Johnsen's Eventful Life or Io6
Yenrs-His Indian VILE and Associa-
New York Timesl
Just beyond the Moosic mountains,
| few miles northeast of Scranton, Pa, in
the primitive village of Salem, there
lives centenarian whose history reads
like page plucked from one of the
Misunderstanding romances. Abraham
Johnson is now LOG years old-hale,
hearty, unimpaired in intellect, and
gifted with q remarkable memory. His
family record shows that he was born in
the state of Vermont, early in the year
1773, near Lake Champlain. His father
was Revolutionary soldier, and was
killed at the battle of Saltwater, a short
time before General Burgoynes surren-
der, October 13, 1777. Abraham john
son was Captain of company of Oneida
Indians in 1914, under General Macomb,
who commanded at Plattsburg during
the absence of General lizard. He refers
with great pride to the battle of Platts-
burg, and shows two wounds which he
received on that occasion. One Of them
is bayonet-thrust below the knee, the
other sword-cut on the neck. He says
that after he was struck down by
gigantic cred Coat" another thrust
bayonet through his leg to ascertain if
he were dead. He says he bore the pun
ishment rather than suffer the indigna-
ton of being taken prisoner, and was
accordingly left for dead. The Indians
carried their bleeding and battle-scared
commander to their village, where he
was nursed and cared for by Oneida, the
beautiful daughter Of an Indian chief,
whose gentle care restored him to health
and strength. But while she healed his
bloody wounds, she inflicted one still
deeper on the warriors heart, and he fell
desperately in love with her. She eventu-
ally returned his affection, and they were
married after peace had been restored
between the United States and Great
Britain. They made their home in Sus-
sex County, N. j., where the dark-eyed
daughter of the forest taug ht her soldier
husband how to earn a livelihood by
basket-making. A daughter was born to
them, and they named her Martha. She
| is at present known as Mrs. Ellsworth,
and lives in Madison township, Lacka-
wanna county. AS years vent by Abra-
ham Johnson's Indian wife began to pine
for her old home and the rude associa-
tions of her childhood. She gradually
failed in health, and, finally, in response
to her repeated longings for her people,
her husband carried her back to the
Oneidas, where she died, and was buried
as became the daughter of an Indian
chief. Little Martha found home and
shelter for time with an uncle in Sus-
sex county, but when she grew up she
ioined the Oneida Indians, and lived
among her mothers kindred, where she
married a man by the unromantic name
of Brown. After his death, she married
Ellsworth, her present husband, and re-
turned to civilization. She is as proud
of her princely ancestors as if they bore
the proud name of Plantagenets, or
owned the high and naughty spirit of the
Tudors. Since the loss of his Indian
wife Abraham johnson has remained
single. He still talks of General Jack
son with great JUNCTION, and declares that
he will vote for General Jackson to the
day of his death. Although entitled to
pension for his soldierly services in de-
fense of the flag, he does not receive
penny, and is permitted to remain a
charge on Salem township. He is prob,
ably one of tie oldest men in 'Pennsyp
yania