The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-02-28
CAPTAIN JOHNSON IS DEAD
Veteran Wa||a Wa||a Newspaper
Man Passed Away Yesterday.
WAS A PIONEER OF THE INLAND EMPIRE
FUNERAL THIS AFTERNOON WAS
ATTENDED BY LARGE NUM-
Der OF CITIZENS.
WAS A PIONEER OF THE INLAND EMPIRE

Captain Parrish B. Johnson, a veter-
an newspaper man and one of the best
ington, died yesterday afternoon at
$3.50 o'clock at ST. Mary's hospital.
where he had been taken from his
residence to undergo an operation. He
was placed under anesthetics and Drs.
E. E. Shaw and Howard r. Keylor
were about to begin their work when
he passed away.
Captain Johnson had been i'll for
about six weeks with liver trouble and
the operation was proposed in the
hope of prolonging his life. His son,
DR.. S. S. Johnson, arrived yesterday
from Seattle and was present when his
father died.
Immediate Cause Of Death.
The immediate cause of the death of
Captain Johnson was paralysis of re-
spiratiOn occurring while taking an
anesthetic preparatory to the perform
ance Of an exploratory surgical opera
ton to relieve if possible the vague
condition from which he had been
suffering for the past three years. AT
the examination of the remains made
Immediately after death it was de-
termined that Captain Johnson
was suffering with cancer of
the pancreas, which at the same
time involved the gall bladder
and liver The spleen was found to be
much contracted, the kidneys to be
contracted and filled with calcareous
deposits, the stom ach was normal as
were the balance of the internal or
gans. Had Captain Johnson continued
to live he would not have beer able
his sufferings during that time would
be much increased as each day arrived.
He stated freely to his family and
friends that he was very tired of being
ill and was willing to go at any time,
as he could not bear to linger in bed
day by day and suffer the untold agony
longer.
The deceased leaves a widow and
one son. The funeral took place this
chu(h, services being conducted by
Rev. Andreas Bard A large number
of Walla Walla citizens attended and
followed the remains to the city ceme
terry, where interment took place.
A Notable Career.
Captain Johnson was born at Wad-
dington, New York, November %, 1887.
He was educated in the public schools
at Syracuse, New York, and
afterward studied law. When 10
years old he went to Dubuque, Ia,
where he was employed as local editor
on a newspaper. In 1859 he moved to
ST. Louis and became local editor of
daily newspaper. While in st. Louis he
was admitted to the bar. The same
year he migrated to the Pacific coast,
where he was associated as law part
ner with the famed California attorney
Edmond Randolph, and in the spring
of 1861, with Frank Pixley upon the
staff of the San Francisco Times.
From San Francisco he went to Silver
City, New, and became editor of the
Washoe Times. He then went to Car
son City, New, and engaged in edi-
torial work on the Daily Silver Age.
In 1861 he returned to San Francisco
and enlisted in Company F. Second
California Infantry, shortly after being
commissioned second lieutenant In
1862 he was promoted to captain and
was made quartermaster in December,
1863 He was ordered to Arizona for
duty. He was then sent to Fort Walla
Walla, where he served as quarter
master from July 1, 1864, to October,
1865. At the close of the civil war he
was mustered out of the service in
California. In 1866 he returned TO
Walla Walla and commenced the prac
tice of his profession as an attorney,
and became a candidate for the legis-
lature upon the republican ticket
which was defeated. In the spring of
1867 he was appointed clerk of the dis
trict court, and held that position until
the fall of 1868. In the meantime, hav-
ing made a successful run, he became a
member of the legislature, and speaker
of the house in 1867. In 1870 he was
appointed deputy United States mar
shall and took the census of Wa la
Walla county that year.
The appointment as clerk of the
United States land Office having been
received in 1871 he served in that ca
pacity until 1915, when he entered upon
duty as register and so continued until
1878. He then became part owner of