The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-24
AN OLD PIONEER.
Sketch of the Life of James johnson.

Sketch of the Life of James johnson.
Another old settler OF Indianapolis and
Marion County has gone to that country
from whose bourne no traveller ever returns.
James Johnson departed this life on the
night of May 16, aged eighty years and eight
days He was a native of GraysOn County.
Virginia, from whence he removed at an
early age to Butler County, Ohio, and from
there to this city on the 18th OF March, 1923.
His first residence was an old hewed log
house on the lot on Market street which
afterward became the home of Harvey Bates
Mr.. Johnson's own account of his expe-
rience in settling this country best illus
trates the trisls of the early settlers. In a
communication to 1.-The Locomotive in
1857. after abiding to bis first residence
here, he says:
old frame on the corner OF Washington and New
Jersey streets In this old shell / winteTed aud
fever shaking sometimes three times day and
sometimes only once in three days. / moved
TO "a cabin l built the farm
(which was his home during his life five mi es
from the city on the Charlottesville Road) ON the
18Th of March, 1924 without its being chlnked OF
daubed, or loft or floor being in IL, having ouly
built up OF wood as nigh the mantle log. In
| this situation com menced trying to make farm
-ague still visiting me now and then. / was
| there in the woods, and not very well situated
| wi bout horse or any thing of consequence. ex-
cept very good cow, with horns, and n dog which
had disease called the Sizes But succeeded that
spring in clearing out about three of grouud
and fencing IL, cuti and splitting the rails and
carrying them on my shoulder to make my fence.
| l got my corn planted on the 18th of June, 1924
| | succeeded. with the help of neighbpr and his
horse TO do the blowing, in raising or p of fo8-
/ der and some SOUND corn, OF which l used part
| for bread In the me 'ntime l had 10 carry my
meal from Indianapolis my shoulder having
made small crop of corn the year before on the
| donation land, and what is now known as
| BlackfOrd's addition to IgdianapO Is. Whenever
| we wanted grist of meal | would go over to
town, shell the corn and take IL to old Hr. Isaac
Wilson's mill on Fall Creek, get il ground. shcul
| der IL up aud start for home. wade White River
| and make the trip with about one bushel oE meal
| which would generally last about four weeks -
| And he adds:
I'm the fall of the year 1924 my father died and
| at the sale of his personal property bought a
old horse a. his blacksmith tools. Being rather
blacksmiibing business, so as to do the work Of
some of my neighbors; in fact, was not very par
tcular whether 1t was iron Or wood work they
wanted, could turn my hand to anything |
did dress out the guns. mend the locks, shoe the
horses, sharpen the plpws, repsir the old wagons.
aud make and mend shoes for the neighb0rS.
ana so in this way have been able to get along
part of my time, always ready to take hold OF
any work that was pr per to be done. and If |
CDulO uOt Reb the ldTRtSJ ITlce lot my WOlk 4
would take what could get"
Mr. johnson concludes this sketch of his
own life and experience wi b q sentiment
and rule that ever governed him. which was
not only the secret of the success which fol-
lowed, but which should have universal APP
plication. He says:
81 have made it a rule never To be idle more than
could help, believing that is was better To have
small income than to be spending what had
made waiting for speculation. In fact think
there is nothing that will help a man along the
world better than 20 be always employ ed--no
matter what the pay is, he at work"
And following this rule Mr.. Johnson &C.
cumulated large fortune.
For fifty years Mr.. Johnson has been iden-
titled with the progress and prosperity OF the
CT and county. For eleven years he was a
Justice OF the Peace for Wayne Township
when the Magistrates of the several Town
ships were a Bard to transact the business
of the Comfy. When Hon. Jesse II.
Bright was United States Marshal for Ind
ana Mr.. Johnson was his principal deputy
And he represented this County in the beg
islature two sessions, in the years 1888 and
1885,
Mr.. Johnson was in elligent and decided
in his convictions upon ali questions of pub
lie, policy, and during his long life was
identified with the Democratic party he
was a man of strict probty in all his bust
ness ana social TeldtlO1S, IdlJuAul 10
every trust confided to him. His
home interests and associations were
ever foremost in his Thoughts and
anxieties. He was kind, indulgent and
devoted husband and father, good neigh.
Dor and valuable citizen. During long
sickness. when life was gradually but surely
wasting away, he was patient and ever
thoughtful and considerate for the children
who waited upon and watched over him
with flial affection. He looked upon his
end profoundly, and sauk gently to bis
eternal rest. He leaves six children, Mrs.