Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-10-12

I
l"e community was startled and shocked
uay morning, by the announcer,,.,,
.'a' hon. William T. johnson. cashier of -
"rahhe National Bank. had died suda.,,.. :
paralysis OF the heart The deceased. fro,
MS long residence in Augusta, his active ruh
''c ana private life, was universallv kr.,~,
ana esteemed, and his demise vii, ,b~o
SHADOW of sadness over ~;a. -
Gle OF acquaintance. Mr.. johnson 70
.,ieo Monday evening, apparently !,
ms usual health. About midnight he c.,leJ
MS son Treby, who occupied an adio;n;,o
room and complained of feeling unwell. II
SAUL GU needn't feel alarmed: this i. on.
u my usual attacks" His son administered
'ne medicine which had been provided fo,
SUCH occasions, and at one O'Clock hi. s.,ha,
was sleeping sweeuy. At the breakfas,
"'ur' tuesday morning, Treby went into the
room to call his father for that meal and
found life extinct. DR.. H. II. Hill was sum.
nohed' who pronounced the cause o,
MS death paralysis of the heart. Mr..
johnson, wife Of the deceased, was in Port.
iand at the time of the sad occurrence. with.
er she had gone to attend the funeral of he,
brother who died Sunday. This double .fiic.
ZION must be severe blow to her.
William T. johnson was born in Farming.
ton, March 9th. 1915, and consequently at the
time of his death was &c years and months
OLD. Left an orphan when he was eipb,
years of age, by the death of his father. Young
Johnson's boyhood and early MANHOOD was
a struggle with INSTANTANEOUS. cir.
cumstances. Being of studious nature and
boy Of quick parts, he resolved to learn the
printers trade, and served an apprenticeship
in the 'Kennebec journal" and .Portland
Argus offices. He graduated a swift and
correct compositor, and at the age of 2lwas
printer of the Eastern Baptist" in Bruins.
wick. In 1888 he published the "Banpor
Democrat" In 1874, in company with Rich
ard d. Rice, he engaged in publishing 1.-THE
Age" in Augusta, and continued the publica-
ton after MIR. Rice relinquished his.interes,
upon being appointed to the bench. Up to
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise Mr..
johnson was democrat; but, vehemently OPP
posing that measure, was led by the contro-
versy into the ranks of the republican party,
with Hannibal Hamlin, Lot M. Morrill,, and
others. Preferring to sacrifice his business
rather than his principles, in 1856, he sold
THE Age" establishment to Fuller & Fuller.
In 1859 he was connected with the editorial
department of the "Maine Farmer"
He was clerk of the House of Rep
resentatives, in 1912, and the two following
years; represented Augusta in 1857
and So with James A. BickneIl, and in 1859
with James G.. Blaine was Speaker Of the
House in the latter year; and was elected
representative with John w. Chase in 1870.
He was Mayor of Augusta in 1868. Mr..
johnson was elected cashier of the Granite
Bank in 1860, and has continued to hold that
office in that bank and the Granite National
Bank to the present time. He was twice
married, and leaves four living children
three daughters ard son, Trcby johnson,
cashier of the Cobbossee National Bank,
Gardiner
During long and unusually busy life,
Mr.. johnson has won the respect, esteem,
and affection of all with whom he came in
contact He was man of genial nature
and sunny temperament, generous to fault,
public spirited. and always obliging. By his
own exertions he accumulated a competency.
He possessed vast fund of information
acquired by reading and observation, and was
charming conversationalist. He had a
taste for classical English and American
literature, and Bryant was his favorite poet.
In personal appearance Mr.. johnson was
very pleasing; and his sympathetic tempera-
ment and practical benevolence made him
hold warm place in the hearts of the peo-
Pile He will be deeply missed, at the bank.
in the church, and in the community, His
end was peaceful, and in the sweet slumbers
of ripened manhood he passed quietly into
the presence Of God.
"Lif-s race well run;
Life's work well done;
Tife's crown well won: