The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-04-15
JOSEPH r. JOHNSON.
TIE LAuRxNs MAN VINO WILL OPPoss SHELL
YoR Conan vss

~Nr'N.~~~ff
When the time comes TO noninstc o can
ddats for Congress from the Fourth District
the Democrats Of Laurens will divide. The
candidacy Of Joseph /. johnson brings him,
of course, into prominent notice, but distinct
from that, bis career has an interest aud q
lessou Of its own.
Mr.. johnson was born at Dreweriown. in
the nnrih~.--..Ss..u svv,ivn or Laurens county,
on the 28th Of February, 1860, and 10, there
fore, just turned thirty -four.
In his Infancy his father, a farmer in
comfortable circumstances, died and the
small estate in lands which ne eft was in
some way dissspated. The boy with only .
widowed mother 10 provide, was forced for
!. the most part TO make his own way. In his
boybood bs attended the country schools,
say two years and q half in oil L.
7. II. D.uisl, Thomson rraynham and
II. 8. Shumnto were his teachers. When
he was fourteen years old his mother
died and the same year, upon the advice Of
brother-in-law, he set out TO gain collegi-
ate education and matriculated ut Erskinc.
He hadn't dollar, but he had been at work
all Of his life and felt tina, he could 20 10
college and make living too. During the
first year OF the course he had to dcpsDd on
the labor Of his hands to make expenses,
cutting cordwood aud picking cotton, among
other things, in vacation. One Of bis many
expedient, was hauling freight from the town
Of Donalds into Due Wet in an OK cart which
constituted his capital stock in business.
After the young student had gained the
sophomore class an easier time dawned and
ho managed to make ends meet by selling
books and teaching school between scssisons.
The records Of Erskiue will show his high
standing in scholarship and the president
and professors viii testify TO tho high esteem
in which ho was hell.
The week following graduation, in June,
1878, he opened q school at Hodges where ho
taught for year and n half. During tho
summer vacation OF 1880 ho took the census
OF Cokesbury township. doing The necessary
travelling on foot. That was the nearest to
any political Office that he has yet held. In
September, 1880, ho entered Vanderbilt
University and remained there eight months
studying logic and modern Languages. SO
much for youth in which hard and cou-
stapt manual and intellectual toll combined
TO make man.
Leaving Vanderbilt, johnson commenced
the study Of law ut Laurcns under Col. j. W.
Ferguson and was admitted in 1881 llo
was successful rs n lawyer from tho hegiu-
ming. The public records il Luurons, Alb
bevile, Greenville and other counties will
prove that tho firm OF Johnson & Richey
has enjoyed a practice which will compare
favorabIy with any in the up country. Its
assisnmenl litigation. To- iasIS1ce, NO Wer1
known to The readers Of tho Daily NeWs.
While Mr. johnson has never before been
a candidate, or even active in politics, close
aud critical study havo made him II "spe-
cialist' IN questions Of naliona! politics. On
the silver and tariff questions he has inform
ed himself thoroughly. lie layors the free
and the unimitci coinage Of silver and is
tarif reforncr in the strict democratic
sense. lie is u forciblc and ilu,nt speaker
If elected to Congress, careful preparation.
tho samo sort that ho is accustomed to give
to law case or anything tha, hn under
takes. as well as great natural ability, will
bring TO him immediately reputation aud in
hucnce.
Mr.. johnson is leading member Of the
Methodist Church and has boon for years.
Whatever the event of tho contest il is
safe to pro iict that Mr.. tohnson's canvass
will be conducted on high plane. Any
thing more or less than n business like, ear
nest, inquiring discussion Of the issues is
too repugnant to the character of the man
to DO anticipated by those who know him.
At tho same time his canvass will be a work
ing one and he will bestow upon it the same
persevering effort that he does to everything
else.
81 MIR. johnson 10 a>otscnrcrs n,y rnu people OF
this town as = man Of splendid mind and on
upright. public spirited citizen, On opinion
in which the farmers Of Sull,van's Town
ship, Of oil political factions, who have
known him from boyhood, will CONCUR
Letter 10 Greenrille Ne,os.