The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-19
Was Associated With George
R. Peck and Thomas Ryan.
SPEAKER OF HOUSE.
Later Judge of Shawnee County
Circuit Court.
Made Thousands of Dollars Out
of Santa Fe ReceiverShip.
Brilliant Mind a Total Wreck
When Death Came.

Twenty-Five years ago a new law
firm opened an office in Topeka, and
hung a shingle to the breeze. 1t was
an unpretentious board and bore the
unpretentious inscription Peck, Ryan
& Johnson. Attorneys at Law
The man whom the shingle served to
introduce to this community died
Thursday afternoon at his home on
West Sixth street. He was Captain J.
b Johnson, and his death marked the
passing of a man who for some time
played an important part in Kansas
politics. The names on the sign board
represented a trio prominent in the
distribution of Kansas patronage, and
while the legal association lasted but
comparatively short time, yet the
stronger association of fast friendship
continued during the succeeding years.
Every man, woman and child in
Kansas and the majority of the people
in the United States know of George r.
Peck, now general solicitor of the Chi
cagO, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway,
and Thomas Ryan, now assistant sec
rotary of the interior. The fame of the
former at one time assumed such pro-
portions that his name was suggested
for the presidency. and through years
of efficient diplomatic service the latter
has become a prominent inquire IN ma
tional politics. The last of the former
firm of Topeka lawyers did not rise
to the prominence of his two associates
but largely through their influence he
had practically his pick of what kan
sas afforded in the way of political am
bition.
1t was Johnson's ambition to be
political leader, and for a number OF
years his ambition was gratified Prior
to his association with George k. Peek
and Thomas Ryan he was elected to the
Legislature from Jefferson county and
in 1876 was one of the presidential cleo
tors. After removing to Topeka he
again entered the house of representa-
tives, and in 1888 was elected speaker
of that body That marked the COM
mencement of his political Importance
In the same year he was made chair
man of the Republican state central
committee. From that time on up to
the time of his defeat for the place of
national committeeman from Kansas In
1894, he was a power in Kansas poll
tics.
When the circuit court of Shawnee
county was created in 1891, Captain
johnson, at the dictatiOn of George r.
Peck. was appointed judge. He held
this office until the court completed its
duties and went out of existence the
establishment of the court was in fact
particularly to give Captain Johnson
a 1udgeship, although there was no
question of the need of an additional
court in the county.
The former general solicitor of the
Santa Fe and former law partner of
Captain Johnson has many admirable
! characteristics, but the one that his
admirers praise the most is his loyalty
i
| authority that one of the general Off
! Gals of the Santa Fe road now holds
| his position solely because the man
| who was slated for the place had once
! snubbed one of Mr.. Pecks friends.
! When Mr.. Peck discovered the slate he
made all haste to break it, and to ac-
! complish his purpose had to- supply a
! man at once. The present official was
| most Instantly available, and he got
| the job.
| This steadfast loyalty was shown in
! reference to the dead politician and at
| torney. When the Santa Fe road went
/ into the hands of receivers there were
/ two plums which George r Peck found
| himself able to throw to Kansas men.
! One was the position of receiver, and
! the other was the master in chancery.
| The first Joseph G. Wilson secured be-
| cause Peck said he should have it, and
| the second fell to Captain j. 3. john
J son for the same reason. In 1894 he was
! appointed master in chancery of the
/ Santa Fe, with power to pass upon all
| questions arising under the receiVership
! which were not distinctly court ques-
| tions.
When the big receivership came to an
| end on December 12 1895, he was the
! man who sold the road at auction to
! the present company at the Santa Fe
| depot in this city. For the thirty min
| utes time necessary to read the decree
| of foreclosure he was given the hand
some fee of 5000, and was further al
| lowed a salary of 5000 a month for the
| time spent in his duties as special mas
ter
This was the last time Mr.. Peck had
| an opportunity to reward his former
| law partner. About that time Judge
| JohnsOn'S mind commenced to fail and
! he was soon out of reach of all further
| favors. The condition which mani
| tested itself shortly after he completed
| his work in the Santa Fe receivership
| was responsible for his death. 1t was
his pet ambition to be federal judge for
Kansas.
1t was most unfortunate end for as
| bright and big a man as Judge Johnson
| proved himself to be during his resi-
| dence in Kansas. Softening of the brain
| the physicians pronounced it, and shook