The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-01-14
OBITUARY.
MARTHAL IoHNsoN

The death of Miss Martha |. johnson,
announced elsewhere in our columns, is
an event which should not be unnoticed.
She was representative of one of our
most respectable families, well known in
this vicinity, which has given men to the
church and state, whose services in both
OF those directions have enriched this
community.
Peter A. johnson, the father of the
deceased, formerly Judge of the Court
of Common Pleas of Morris county and
for many years ruling elder in the First
Presbyterian Church of Morristown, was
son of Richard johnson, an officer of
ability. who went from Morris county
into the Revolutionary army. The
family, by its distinguishing active
characteristics, fully demonstrated its
right to the claim of descent from the
Puritans, who settled in New England
and came from there to New Jersey
Probity, a logged adherence to the right
at all times and under all circumstances,
an ever abiding love for the principles
and faith of Christianity were the crown
ing attributes making them respected
and trusted.
Miss johnson was born in Morristown
little more than seventy five years ago
and has spent the many years of her long
life in our midst. Her career has been an
uneventful one, but it has been marked
by unostentatious benevolence and by
life long devotion to the cause of the
divine Master, she SO much loved and,
by other qualities of heart and mind
which are only found in the true woman
She early in life united with the First
Presbyterian Church of this town and
has never swerved from her loyal and
trusting allegiance to this church of her
fathers. While health and strength
lasted she was always found on the
Sabbath in her accustomed place in the
sanctuary, and whenever able, every
proper claim upon her sympathy or
purse was promptly met; her benefac-
tions were wise, and very few knew their
extent or amount. Her mind was of no
common order, her intelligence answered
alertly to every demand made upon it.
Intensely interested in the topics of the
day, especially in those which related to
the Republic, she kept herself in touch
with all the movements of the govern
ment, with the politics of the time, often
passing beyond the events alone affecting
her own country, she kept herself fully
informed as to those circumstances
affecting the destinies of other nations,
or changes in their internal or external
relations.
She had practical tastes and ability,
which, if nurtured and fostered, might
have developed into genius, and lived to
delight her friends with the faucies OF
her imagination, telling of her affection
for friends or amusing and charming
with fantastic thought, woven into
rhyme.
The highest and best qualities of her
head and mind were given unreservedly
to her religious duties; but, while pos
sessing many of the strong views which
dominated her. Puritan ancestors, she
gave no place to the harsher sentiment
too often manifested by them; her piety
was based upon the example of her
divine Master. While so decided in her
own views of that most important sub
ject of humanity, she never obtruded
her sentiments npon others.
Many of the later years of her life were
filled with the most excruciating pain,
but they were endured by her with
patience begotten of Christian fortitude.
Unfalteringly she drew near the dark
river and supported by the Everlasting
Arms, calmly went to sleep.
The funeral services were held at the
First Presbyterian Church Chapel We'd
nesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J.
Macnaughtan. Interment was made in
the old First Church burial ground.
REBECCA CARR BERRY.
Mrs. Rebecca Carr Berry of Berkshire
Valley died at that place last Sunday
morning, after an illness of four months.
She was in her eighty-second year and
one of the Oldest residents of the place.
Her husband, Asa Berry, now in his
eighty-seventh year. still survives her,
together with six children: Joseph Fl.
Berry, Sylvester D. Berry, Mrs. Charles
Fl. johnson and Mrs. A. Spinner of Nor
ristown; Stephen d. Berry of Scranton,
Pa, and Mrs. E. Hayward of Berkshire
Valley. Funeral services were held on
Wednesday morning from the late resi-
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