Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-11-06
ONE OF GENERAL JACKSON'S MEN,
ABRAHAM JoHEsoHs EvESTFUL LIFE
OF LOG YEARS AND gI4 INDIAN WIFE.


ABRAHAM JoHKsoHis EvESTFUL LIFE
OF 106 YEARS AND gIs INDIAN WIFE.
Just beyond the Moosie River,
few miles northeast Of Scranton, in the
primative village of Salem, theEe lives
centenarian whose history reads Ike
page plucked from one Of the Leath-
erstockiag romauces. Abraham John
son is now 10G years old-halc, hearty,
unimpaired in intellect, and gifted
with remarkable memory. His fam.
ily record shows that he was born in
the State of Vermont early in the year
of 1873, near Lake Champlain. His
father was Revolutionary soldier,
and Il short time before General Bur
goyne's surrender, October II, l777.
Abraham johnson was Captain of
company Of Oneida Indians in 1914,
under Gen. Macomb, who commanded
at Plattsburg in the absence of Gen.
lizard. He refers with great pride 10
the battle of Plattsburg, and shows
two wounds which he received on that
occasion. One of them is bayonet
thrust below the knee, and the other n
sword cut on the neck, lie says that
after he was cut down by gigantic
"Redcoat" ano her thrust bayonet
through his leg to ascertain if he were
dead. He SAYS he bore the punish
ment rather than suffer the indignity
of being taken prisoner, aud was ac-
cordingly 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 soon
restored him to strength and health.
But while she healed his bodily
wounds, she inflicted one still deeper
ON the warrior heart, and he fell dcs-
perately in love with her. She event
ually returned his affection, and they
were married after peace had been re-
stored between the United States and
Great Britain. They made their home
in Sussex county, \. j., where the
dark-cycd daughter of the forest taught
her soldier husband how 20 earn n
livelihood by baskc. making. \ daugh.
ter was born to them aud they named
her Martha. She Is at present known
a. Mrs. Ellsworth, and lives in Lacka.
wanna county. a. years went by
| Arabian .Iohuson's Indian wife began
TO pine for her old home and the rude
associations of her childhood. She
gradually failed in health. and finally
i'm response To- her repeated longine-
for her people, her husband carried
her back to the Oneidas, where she
died and was buried rs became the
daughter Of an Indian chief. Little
Martha found home and shelter for
n time with an uncle in Sussex county,
hut when she grew up she joined the
Oneida Indians, and lived among her
mothers kindred where she married n
man with the unromantic name OF
Brown. After his death she married
Ellsworth, her present husband, and
returned 10 civilization. She Is a
proud of her princely ancestors as il
they bore the proud name of the Plan'
tagcnets. or owned the high and haugh
" spirit of the Tudors. Since the los'
of his Indian wife. Abraham johnson
has remained single. He still talks Of
General Jackson to the day of his
death. Althoug il entitled to pension
for his soldierly services in defense oi
the flag, he does not receive penny
and is permitted to remain a charge
ON Salem township. lie is probably
the oldest man in Pennsylvania.