The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-01-25
OBITUARY..

News was received here last Thursday OF
the sudden death that morning of heart
failure, at his winter residence, 17S Marl-
boro street, Boston, Of Edward johnson,
Esq, President Of the Belfast Saving Banks
and long one of our foremost citizens. The
family of which the deceased was a men,
Der has been prominent here for several
generations. Rev. Alfred johnson, who
was installed as pastor of the Congrega.
tional church in Belfast in 1906, was de-
scended in the fifth generation from Ed
ward johnson, who arrived at Salem, Mass,
June IL, 1880. in company with Gov Win
throp, Deputy Governor Dudley, Sir R. Sal
tonstall and Sir Isaac johnson, the latter
supposed to have been relative of his, in
the ship Arbella, named after the wife of
Sir Isaac. Edward johnson came from
| Herne Hill in Kent and settled in that part
of Charlestown now called Woburn. He was
Speaker of the House in 1866 and was the
author of the "History of the Wonder
Working Providence of Zion's Saviour"
which, although printed in London, is said
to have been the first book composed in this
country. 1t has been reproduced by the
Massachusetts Historical Society. He died
in 1872, leaving five sons. His great grand
son, Obadiah, settled in Canterbury, Ct,
and was one of the leading men in his
part of the colony. Jacob, the fourth
son of Obediah, and the father of the Rev.
J Alfred johnson, removed to Plainfield,
where the latter was born July 25, 1766.
| After graduating with the highest honors
at Dartmouth College in 1855 he studied
divinity, was ordained to the ministry in
Freeport, Me-, Dec. %, 1889, and remained
there until he came to reside in Belfast. In
1871 he represented Freeport in the General
Court of Massachusetts. He was one of
the founders of Bowdoin College and for II
years member of its board of management
a position filled later by his son and grand
| son bearing the same name. After resign
ing his ministry here in 1918, he remained
without pastoral charge, although occa-
sionally preaching until his death, which
occurred Jan. 12, 1887, at the age of 20. He
married Sarah, daughter of Gen. Ralph
Cross of Newburyport, May %, 1888. Judge
Alfred johnson and Ralph c. johnson
were his sons and only children.
Alfred johnson, the older son of Rev.
Alfred johnson, was born in Newburyport,
Mass, Aug. Is, 1880, and came here to re-
side in 1905 while Sophomore in Bowdoin
College, where he graduated three years
after. His professional studies were pur-
sued with Hon. William Crosby. On being
| Io
office in the building at Nesmith's Corner,
which his brother, Ralph c., occupied as a
store During the war of 1872 he COM
manded the artillery company, and for
several years served as judge advocate in
the militia He was a member of the Con-
vention which, in 1919, framed our State
| Constitution, and was chosen Representa-
tive to the Legislature in 1919 and 1920.
The latter position he resigned to accept
the Office Of Judge of Probate for Hancock
county When Waldo county was estab-
lished he was appointed to the same posi-
ton, which he filed until vacated by con-
stitutional limitation in 1910. During a
judicial service of twenty years no appeal
was taken from any of his decisions. From
| 1900 uUlll Ills u6CSdSt ut WdS Ouc VI Illc
trustees of Bowdoin College. AS a lawyer
and as a literary man the opinion of Judge
johnson was often sought, and in matters
of business it proved to be no less valuable.
His social qualities were of the most at
tractive character. Judge johnson died
| March %, 1862, at the age of 60 years.
| Judge johnson left six children, the old
| yN,1I Lob, har,, haro
| Dec. 20, 1872, land graduated at Bowdoin Col
lege in 1S45 He studied law with his father,
and was admitted to the bar in 1S4S He
continued in practice for eight years and
then engaged in business pursuits more
congenial to his tastes and active habits.
His acquaintance with parties concerned in
the construction of western railroads led
him to investigate, and finally to become
connected with, those enterprises, which
proved eminently successful. He was
twice the Congressional candidate of the
Democrats in the third district, composed of
Waldo and Lincoln counties, and in 1858
lacked only TO votes of an election. In 1856
and 1857 he was President of the Bank of
Commerce. In July, 1867, he went abroad,
|
severe cold, contracted on the passage, de-
veloped form of lung disease which later
terminated his life. He returned in August
of the following year with impaired health,
and failed gradually, until he died in Bos-
ton, Nov. IA, 1863 at the age of A. The
Journal in an obituary published at the
time of his death spoke of his kindly dis
position and unostentatiOus charity, and
said: "'No truer man to his friends ever
lived. Those who were admitted to his in
innate friendship, and endeared by long
association, he 'grappled to his soul with
| hooks of steel.''' At the time of his death
he was member of the Board of Overseers
of Bowdoin College and among the be-
quests, in his will was one of $4,000 to his
Alma Mater for the supporter three scholar
ships, to be called the "Alfred johnson
Scholarships" in memory of his father and
grandfather, who were for many years
trustees of the institution. He also set
apart an income Of $500 a year, perpetually,
to be expended under the directions of a
committee ''for the relief of the needy poor
of Belfast who are not paupers." This is
but one of many benefactions. When the
corporation was organized July 8, 1867, to
| tbo oJf opd T.ako