The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-12-25
CHANCELLOR W. D. JOHNSON
Eminent Jurist and Christian Citi-
zen Has Gone to His Reward

Eminent Jurist and Christian Citi
zen Has Gone to His Reward
~ life of singular purity and up
.rlghtness was closed when Chancellor
VIM. ID. Johnson, of Marion, passed
away from earth. Ills death occurred
at his home on the 10th inst, and he
had for more than four score years
adorned The path in which he trod
making the world better for his un.
assuming life of rectitudo aid strict
adherence to duty. Few men if any
were more conscientious and honorable
in their dealings, and his devotion to
truth was never questioned. 1t is sell
dom that 30 rare combination is found
iu one person, for he was an eminent
lawyer and q successful planter, attend
ing to large practice and supervising
the largest farming interest in the
State. His mcthodical habits and scru.
pulous exactness in business matters
enabled him to do a large share of
work in both spheres, and until very
late in life he gave close attention to
the details of his dual occupation.
Chancellor johnson by his own fireside
was the charming host and elegant
gentleman, the unsellish patriot and
the humble Christian, and at all times
The defender of. the weak and the
friend of the unfortunate. The fol
lowing sketch of his life is copied from
The State:
The end of his long, useful and hon.
Orable life was peaceful and painless.
The members of his family were all in
attendance at his death bed, being pre-
pared to expect the sad event in Wow
of the advanced age Of the venerable
sufferer and OF the grave symptoms
his sickness had developed during the
last few days.
Chancellor johnson was in his 84th
year, having been born in North Car
olina, Sept. 8, 1918. He came of fine
old Scotch stock, his ancestors on the
maternal side belonging to the promi-
nent Dalrymple family. They followed
the fortunes of the Stuarts, and when
the hopes of the "bonnie prince" were
blasted at Culloden some Of them
joined the Scottish contingent of exiles
that sought refuge along the banks of
Tho Cape Fear.
Mr.. johnson was educated at David
son college and at Princeton, and after
his graduation located at Bennettsville.
lie studied law and was admitted to
the bar, and was thoroughly equipped
for his life work. His high character
and eminent ability soon found appre-
ciatlve recognition at the hands of dis
cerni G electors, by whom he was sent
to the convention that adopted the or.
dinance of secession, and afterwards
chosen State Senator from Marlboro
When his Senatorial term ex-
pircd the Legislature showed it's appre-
citation of his legal talents and his
moral rectltudo and integrity by ele-
vating him to the chancery bench,
which he occupied with credit and ever
credit until the jurisdiction
was abolished in 1869.
About that time Mr.. johnson re-
moved to Marion and formed a law
with Maj. j. M. johnson,
Mr.. j. w. Johnson, a on-in-law of the
being afterwards admitted
as u partner. This firm did an active
and extensive business in Marion and
the adjoining counties, and was kept
up until year or more ago when the
weight of years and increasing bodily
infirmity compelled the venerable
senior member to withdraw from the
practice. In the meantime the chan
cellor exhibited the versatility of his
strong genius by carrying on success
fully one Of the largest agricultural
enterprises in this section of the State.
His we'll known farm DOnaho was a
model of scientific agriculture con-
Quoted on large scale. He was be-
sides learned authority on pomology
and horticulture, and his practical mind
comprehended every detail of barnyard
and stock farm.
A striking proof Of tho chancellor'f
personal integrity, as well as his bust
ness capacity, Is the fact that for more
than thirty gears past through all the
depression, uncertainty and vlcissitudei
of that period he managed the affairs
of large trust estate involving man,
thousands Of dollars 80 skillfully an,
faithfully as TO avoid any depletion o
corpus and interest and hc was blu
recently discharged from the trust Will
the commentator of the court.
| Chancellor johnson married in 1856
Miss Sarah Elizabeth Mccall, of Dar
liDglon, district, who preceded him b
the grave nearly 25 years ago. Th
scivivin., children are Messrs. n. M