The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-06-24

The people of Morgantown wer
deeply grieved Tuesday afternool
by the announcement that Judg
Okey johnson, Dean OF the Yves
Virginia College of Law, had diet
in the Polytechnic Hospital of New
York City, at two o'clock p. m. Tues
day, June 18th, 1903. The city hat
lost one of its best citizens, th,
University one of its ablest and bes
loved instructors, the State one o
its most eminent jurists; and hun
dreds of law graduates of the Uni
versity all over the country, FRIEND
endeared to them by his many acts
of kindness and conscientious labors
in their behalf. The news of his
death was received everywhere with
sincere sorrow, for all that knew
him regarded his loss as a personal
bereavement.
Judge johnson had heen suffering
from kidney trouble for more than Q
year. He had tried various treat.
ments at different times without
permanent relief, and suffered great
deal on account of the disease. This
spring he hurried through with his
work, and gave the classes under
him their examinations week
earlier than the scheduled time in
order that he might get away to
undergo a severe operation which he
and his friends hoped would restore
his health. He babe the members
of his class good bye last Friday.
He was regarded by all the students
with deep affection, and the hopes
expressed at that time for his re-
covery were from the heart. Judge
johnson felt much encouraged and
on June 9th, Saturday, lett for New
York for the hospital.
On the following Saturday, June
18th, the operation was performed.
On Sunday following the operation,
he seemed very much better, and
the prospects of his recovery seemed
excellent. On Monday, however, a
turn came for the worse and he be-
gan to sink rapidly. A message was
received Monday evening, calling
Mrs. johnson to his bedside. She
left here on the S:45 train with Mrs.
James G. Frazer, but did not reach
her husbands bedside until all was
over. Mrs. G. G. Ballard, Judge
Johnson's daughter, was with him
at the time of his death.
The death of Judge johnson ends
a long and honorable career in the
service of his State He was born
in Tyler county, this state, March
oath, 1884. His parents were Will
liam and Elizabeth johnson, and he
was one of large family of fifteen
children. His early education was
obtained during the winter months
at the schools of the neigborhood.
His summers were spent in working
on his fathers farm. In 1856 he was
graduated from the Marietta CO..
High School, and two years later he
received the degree OF L. L. B. from
the Harvard Law College. Four
years later, he began the practice of
law in Parkersburg, and with it
began career that has few equals
among the greatest men of West
Virginia.
His first work as legislator began
in 1870, when he waselected to the
State Senate from the Fifth District
on the Democratic ticket by ma
jority of 1850. AT the previous
election, the District had gone Re-
publican by $50.
He occupied his seat in the Senate
for two weeks, and during that time
came into national prominence by
his advocacy of the Flick amend
ment,fo the relief of the disfranchls-
ed. The measure, through his
efforts, was passed unanimously.
He resigned his seat in order tc
secure the passage of the bill calling
for Constitutional Convention. He