St. Paul daily globe., 1889-12-08
GATES JOHN~ONS STEED.

'0ld Buckskinn was at least peculiar an
final. He was TOO small to be called a horse.
and was much too large 10 be classed as a
pony. In longevity he was an equine Mathu-
selah. For twenty-nine years Buckskin was
looked upon as an animal of more or less i'm
pOrtanee and responsibility by the family of
Gates A. johnson. In later years he was a
pensioner upon the bounty of the johnson
family, having faithfully served more than
his allotted time as a beast of burden. and in
the shafts of the family carryall. For years
a pet Of the little Johnsons, he lived
to be looked upon with respect by
the little gTand-Johnsons. He was a
few months over thirty-five years of age
when he lay down in Mr.. Johnson's stable
on Louis street last Sunday afternoon and
'croaked." His death was looked upon as
family misfortune, and it was with deep re-
gre, that the family saw his carcass loaded
on TO truck and wheeled away to the dump.
They have the satisfaction of knowing, how
ever that If there is any horse heaven, Old
Buckskin will sit around on the chancel rail
with harp, and that his merry horse laugh
Will go to swell the grand chorus. Buckskin
was purchased Of the Sioux Indians in the
north country by Mr.. johnson in 1860, and
was for many years identified with the busi-
ness affairs Of ST. Paul's present building in
spectOr. He was Mr.. Johnson's pack
horse during the time that he was employed
as engineer of construction on the Duluth
railroad, and was the only animal that the
engineer coulE depend upon to carry his per
sCnal effects over the great swamps. When
his owner settled down to city life. Buckskin
began 10 live a life of ease, and though Mr..
johnson had little use for him. it would have
taken considerable amount Of money to
l. ~
old horse. Soldiers prize highly their war
horses, and it was with a similar feeling that
Mr.. johnson looked upon the faithful ami
NAL that was so constantly with him during
his early struggles in the Northwest A bit of
history from 81. Paul publication. beginning
with the year in which Mr.. johnson and
Buckskin joined their forces, may be of in
terest. just before the war; when times were
very hard, in the winter of 1860, says Mai
Newson in Pen Pictures, Mr.. johnson ap-
piled to W. d. Washburn, the surveyor gen
eral TOR work, and fortunately secured a
contract of $4,000 TO survey some land
away upon the Mississippi river. Mr.. John
son had partner from Houston county, but
both were poor, and how to obtain money to
start with was a serious question. Finally
johnson mustered I'D courage enough to call
upon the Thompsons, of the Second National
bank, and lad his case before them,
stating that he could only give
them the word of gentleman
that the amount would be paid. They
thought that was Thin security but con-
sented to advance him $1,000 without any
security or even his note. So he secured his
outfit and started in on the contract The
winter was very severe. Just as they had
got fully under way up came the United
States marshal conveying the gratifying iIl-
telligence that Mr.. JohnSons partner had
been drafted. and. through his father, this
partner had TO raise $500, which he did, and
the two contractors again went ahead with
their job. It was not long before the mar
shal made his appearance the second time
with the news that Johnson's partner had
again been drafted, and this time he could
not pay $500, but was obliged to either go
himself or procure substitute, and this cost
him just $1,000. Then they soon after ex-
hausted the 50, 600 advanced to them bv the
bank and were forced to go to their moneyed
friends again for more. They received
$1,000 additional from the bank, and at the
end Of year completed their contract and
divided the profits of about $500 apiece out
OF their Old brOken.6Own outfit not reeeiv-
ing single penny in money for their years
work. Old BucksEin was part of Mr.. john
kon's profits.