The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1889-09-19
A CENTENNARIAN
Dies at Ills Home in MI.
Union
e---s srrrr
And the Death Of His Venerable
Wife
Ia Expected Momentarily by At
tending Phyaloiane.
Biographical sketch OF Man Who
Recently Celebrated His tooth
Birthday.

Mt, Union, Ia dead
He passed peacefully away at his
home Sunday morning,
Az the time OF his death hisyenorable
wife lay at deaths door aud her death
was momentarlly expected Monday
came and passed, stIll she fingered on,
Owing TO this state OF affairs DO ar
rangemenia had been made for Mr..
Johnson'S funeral up to Monday oven'
ing.
Mr.. johnson celebrated his one hun
dreth birthday Monday, April I, 1850,
al which time a large number OF his
relatives and friends Joined In making
merry the occaslon. speeches were
made and among Others Mr., johnson
spoke, The affair wan one Of much
pleasure. II was reported exclaSively
In the NEws-D DEnooRAr Of that date
Mrs Josiah HArtzell, Of this city, 10 u
niece OF Mr.. Johnsons and with her
husband attended the celebration. The
couple are now on AN extended north
ern and western tour but they win re'
turn for tho funeral n possible.
Az tho time Of the celebration Mr.
johnson was In good health and spirits
but his ago had told on him. AT that
time no stated no had 0mall hopes OF
surviving another year.
He was bothered much with asthma
but spent tho day In converting with
his friends. IIo waa an entertaining
oonyorsatIonalist and his great knowl.
edge on scientific and religious aubjecto
gave him much food with which TO re-
gale his hearers.
II ia said that up 70 Ave years ago he
kept q diary and II Ia pronounced tho
most complete and accurate hiatory OF
this part OF the State In existence. His
memory Of early events was remarka.
BILE.
BfAoRopmoAL,
MIR. Johnson was born IN washing.
ton county, Pa, aud Ia tho son OF Caleb
johnson and Elizabeth Nichols John
son. He came 70 Ohio ia 1898 with his
brother, Simon j. The men entered tho
lands upon which the families have
ever Slnoo resided, and after erecting
cabins, returned 10 Pennsylvania and
brought their families In 1894.
Simon died Ia 1860 and his widow
died in Canton In 1886 at the residence
OF her son, DR.. n. r. Johnson, In West
TuscarAwaa street. Out OF this vener-
able group OF early settlers, Mr.. John
son, Tho Oldest, ls the only one left.
Mr.. Johnson has been the most prom
inent citizen Of Washington county,
wnn n speaker OF some note, a surgeon
ana at one time a Justlce of the Peace.
lie was well.to do In business mat
tors. accumulated largo fortune,
raised large family, OF which II N.
johnson, Jr., late member OF the Ohio
Legislature, IL the most noted, and on.
ioys the nntlfactlOn OF knowing that he
mas mover had n elck day IN his entire
one hundred years OF existence.
Mr.. johnson was q largo aud powerful
nan and has been n great temperance
advocate. He was an ardent antl'slav'
cry man during tho war and his work
for the negros has made him q con-
apicuouS figure. IIe enjoyed the dis.
tinction OF having been aBchoolmate Of
the father aud mother of James q.
blaine, aud hls wife, still living, was
Blaine's teacher for q number OF years.
A LEADER.
In an account published At the time
of his celebration the following Ia TAX
an; Mr.. johnson was the leading man
in the community 10 all matters OK 70.
form. He was a gifted speaker and
was always heard from on all public
matters, and as q temperance ref0rmer
he was doubtless one OF the earliest In
the State. In 1893 there were three
distil cries IN Washin yton township, and
Uncle Ellis said II was q rare thing 10
find home where liquor was not
used. Everybody used II In warm
weather 70 secure cooling effects, aud
IN cool weather 10 secure warming Of
fecis. About 1928 movement was
inauRurated In the eastern States,
which asserted that whlokey wag not q
oneceseIty" that It's use as q beverage
was degrading and shameful, and that
n became ali lovers of morality and
gohrlety TO discourage It's use In
every proper way. MIR, johnson cham
pioned the new reform, though II was
quite unpopular. His first speech at
tracted wide attention, and reused the
thoughtful, moral people. He gained
quite q reputation and was invited TO
other townships TO speak. He 0rRnniz'
ed tho "Mt, Union Temperance Socll'
ETY." which all the bettor people joined.
ruRoUoH HIS EFFORTS
Every dlstlller in the township quit
the business and the sale OF liquor At
Mt. Union was forever abandoned.
Robert Hilton nc that time kept tavern
at the Mount Ho could not stand the
pressure OF Mr.. Johnson's temperance
argument, and one day he made n bon.
fire Of his liquors aud 9400 worth OF
Z notes he had taken for liquor. He said
that II II was wrong to sell, II was
wrong to collect, and the whole went
up in smoke, In the presence Of large
crowd Of people. r
HELD oFrioEs.