New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-11
OLIVER JOHNSON DEAD.
END OF THE LIFE OF THE EMINENT ADO.
LITIONIST AND WRITER.

yesterday afternoon at 80 o'clock About five
weeks ago Mr. Johnson took cold while out walking
and bronchitis set I'm. which added TO heart trouble
from which he had suffered time, caused his
death lie took to his bed and constantly attended
by his daughter. The funeral will be held tomorrow
afternoon In the Church of the Messiah, at Park
ave. and Thirty -fourth-st. this city
While Oliver Johnson had been prominent as an
editor and writer for many years. yet the most pro
ductive period OF his long and honorable career was
that In which he devoted mind, hand and heart with
all the energies and intensity of his being to the great
movement against slavery. Always an industrious
and patient worker, useful citizen and noble and
sincere man. in that crowning struggle for principle
and righteousness in American public life, he was
pioneer and leader. The moral force required for
loyal service in the Abolition came with his
blood lie sprang from line Of God fearing Purltals
His family originally lived in Massachusetts, although
his parents shortly before his BIRTH had removed to
Vermont. He was born In Peacham, In that state. on
December o. 1909. and the edge of four
score when he died. 1t long and noble life, rch
in associations with many of the most diSinterested
leaders of American progress, and unsued by selfish
ness, sordd ambition dlsOyalty to principle.
AS was usual among the sturdy grangers of that
time, he passed his youth his fathers farm with
intervals of attendance at the district school. lie
was more fortunate than many of the young men OF
his neighborhood In having the advantage OF an occa
was finished at eighteen, and he apprenced In
the office of The Watchman,' at Montpelier, VT. Of
which General Ezekiel p. Walton the proprietor
After he became familiar with the various branches OF
country newspaper work, his ambition widened' anu
at the age Of twenty he to Boston to find wider
scope for his talents Obtaining from Leonard W.
Kimbal place as iourneyman printer, he soon De-
came very useful to his employer. When the latter
In 1881, began the publication of a semi-monthly
mar 8 Tba Cbpfzf Gold be toolx
as his partner. This magazine, Of which Mr. john
son the editor, established TO oppose the
spread of Universalism, and had the support OF ue
Rev. Drs. Beecher Wisner. Jencks and other evangel
cal clerGmen of Boston. lis popularity was not I'M
mixed, for many of its adhercnts were not pleased
with its attacks slavery. Mr.. Johnson was an
AbOlitionist from the beginning OF his career.
In 1880 the young editor became acquainted with
william Lloyd Garrison. who had been released only
few months before from Baltimore jail. into which
he had been cast for his denuncatons of citizen OF
Massachusetts for carrying cargo Of slaves from
Baltimore to Now Orleans From that time Mr. John
a hearty and aggressive enemy of slavery.
lie became warm adherent OF Garrison and like that
great leader uncompromslngly in favor of imme-
dlac emancipaton They carried their zeal TO such
pitch that they looked all halfway measures ana
compromises Objectionable, and even opposed the
Colonization Society prOslavery in its tendencies
on November ID 1881, fifteen persons met at the
office OF Samuel f. sewall to consider the eXpedcncy
of forming an anti slavery society," 1t was the under
standing that such society should be formed IL
twelve persons could be found who would unite on
the basis of immediate emancipation. Only nine
could be mustered and no action was taken oh
December 10 another conference was he'd, at when
there present Mr. Sewall, Ellis Gray Loring anu
David Los Child. all Boston lawyers; william LIoyd
Garrison editor, and Isaac Knapp, publisher, OF Inc
Lberaor7 Oliver Johnson, Robert b. Hall, Isaac
Joshua
Child Mr.. Sewall Mr.. Garrison, Mr.. lOring and MI
Johnson appointed committee 10 prepare
constitution which adopted on January l. 1857
The organization known as the New England Anti
slavery Society. Mr. Johnson was appointed mem
Der of the board of counsellors, consisting of Fix
persons He at once made " The Christian Soldier
a champion of the cause. He had intended to enter
tie ministry. but from that timo he threw his whole
soul into the Of the negro. The intervals OF
rest were very few and scant during the next thirty
three years. He abOred almost without ceasing both
a. lecturer and editor, in arOusing public sentiment
against what he considered a National and
wicked blight American civilization. Mr. Garrison
and his followers in December, 1888, organized the
American AntiSlavery Society at a convention held
In Philadelphia. This society, with IFS auXIiaries,
continued the agitation with everincreasng Vlgor
and bitterness until the Rebellion began and powder
and ball replaced arguments and appeals as weapons
against slavery.
TWO years after its foundation, The Christian
soldier of which Mr. johnson had become sole editor
and proprietor, sold to Henry X. Stockton
While Mr.. Garrison was In Europe in 1888 Mr. John
son had charge Of The Liberatcr7 and afterward
assistant editor. After spending year I'm Port Gin
ton, Ohio with his brother he for q short time
printer on The Free Press al MlddlebTy. Conn.,
During this interval his zeal against saveowning had
not diminished, and I'm 1896 he gave up work on The
newspaper devote all his time TO the interests Of
the great crusade. lie became agent Of the Ameri
can Anti-slavery Society, and travelled over various
parts Of the country lecturing and organizing branch
societies. After visiting Pennsylvania, he spent
several years in Rhode Island, where his doctrines
met, the whole, with hospitable reception, since
he mobbcd only once while there. He went from
town 10 town, often foot. featuring whenever an
opportunity presented itself and everywhere preaching
against the National nlquty. he REGARDED it. From
1897 to 1859 he corresponding secretary and gen
eral agent Of the Rhode Island Anslavery society.
becoming afterward publisher of The Liocraor" Mr.
Garrson's paper. The great leader Of the anti
slavery movement had absolute confidence In his
friend and associate, and wherever he himself went
on a lccturlng tour absent from Boston for
any other reason, he called upon him TO conduct the
organ OF the Abolitionists. In the scenes attending
The divisions III the AntlslaNery parry In lsJg ana
1910, Mr. Johnson took leading part standing firmly
for the old organization and resisting with all HIS
might the sectanan conspiracy 10 put down Mr Car
rson so that tho proslaVery churches might be cOfs
restless activity seemed TO have taken possession
OF the Editor and agtator for he seldom remained
than a few years I'm one place In 1910 he came to
this city 10 become the local editor of The Anti
Slavery standard" which place he gave up year
later lydia Maria Child succeeding him. After n
year spent In Eastern Indiana he male a ccturing |
tour IN Western New-Yorh with jacob Ferris retuin-
ing 10 Boston in 1912 10 print The Liberty Bell' and
other anii-~!avery publications. He also cor
respondent Of The Tribune. which was founded by Mr..
Greeley in l54l. Mr.. Greeley acquired high a rc-
gard for Mr. JOhnsOn's abilities writer that I'm
ls41 he made him an assistant on the editorial staff
II Tho Tribune. After four years Mr.. JOhnsOns |
health seriously impaired that be com !
% ABANDON the
stone Mass. where he founded The Chronicle This
enterprise fell through I'm six months. owing tn the
failure Of friends TO fulfil their promises Of assistance
and Mr.. Johnson went To Philadelphia assistant /
odor OF The Republic daily published I.
during tlJ campaign Of 1913 by the Free SOilcis. l
The next work in which he engaged tn editing Of
" The Practical Christian" the organ of the Ilopcdale