Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1907-03-28
A. W. JOHNSON, OF CHARLTON
COUNTY, TALKS OF EARLY
HISTORY IN THIS COUNTY
BORN NEAR THIS
CITY PIRTY-EIGHT
YEARS AGO.
Tells Of Many Old Residents Long
Since Passed Away-First Paper
he Remembers Reading Was
the Mexico Ledger-From
School Teacher to Leg
islator. ~

Legislature from Charlton county,
not long since published an interesting
article in the Mexico Message regard
ing the early history of this city,
Mr.. Johnson was born In Audrain,
twelve miles sonth Of Mexico ON the
farm Of his father, Henry J Johnson
some iifty-eight years ago.
We take the following facts from
the article published 10 the Message
Mr. johnson grew to manhood In the
vicinity where he was born, laborine
on the farm in summer and attending
school in winter until 1868, where he
''struck out" for himself. Going to
Monroe county, where he worked on a
farm, then taught school, and finally
studied law, being admitted to the
bar in'lS75.
In 1880 Mr.. johnson removed to
Charlton county, where he has since
resided, practlcing his profession. In
1871 he married a Monroe county girl,
and the result OF the union was two
girl children, both single, one prac'
tlcing lawyer Iand the other q music
teacher. In 1904 he was elected tC
the Legislature, and was reelected
without any opposition in 1906.
Mr.. johnson relates many incidents
Of his early life and recalls the names
Of many old pioneers OF Audrain coun
ty, who have since passed TO theil
reward, but whose memory has beer
kept alive by their posterity. Among
others he mentioned VIM. N. CLARK
VIM B. Douglass, a Christian preacher
Revs' Jesse Griffin and Buster, OF the
Baptlss church, John Romans, Johr
Adams, Pickney French John Hall
Banks Hail, Alex Read, Doris Lortor
Coley Brown, Sam Brown and George
Brown, Wash Crane(killed at Martin
sburg by hired handl, VIM. Hamilton
Robert Jones, Hezekiah Jones, Ole
Man Wilburn, John Todd, Billy Mar
tin, High Stephens, R E Gordon
Williams, once kept store in Mexico
Richmond Pearson, Elijah Lail, Tho
mas Hart and his father-in-law named
Sayers, DR.. Brown, Alsey Holt, Maiol
Horrison, JEFF Jones and many others
but these are given that the ancestor
OF some of our best families may b
traced today-the sons OF the sires III
could name by scores but 1t woult
take up too much space.
In Mr.. Johnson's boyh0od all tina
now fertile country in and aronnt
Benton City was "out of DOORS" so Il
speak, being in the vernacular OF th'
pioneer "raw PRAIRIE" filled Will
deer, and in the summer time so In
tested with "greenhead" flies tina
horses could not cross these vast plain
10 the day time without being aimos
consumed. DR.. Henry French waslhi'
fathers family physician and ofilciate'
at the birth OF our subject, as well q
well as at the birth Of all his brother
and sisters. DR.. French died a bach
elor at the close Of the civil war. ID
was a noted physician In bis day AM
early death was greatly regretted b
the whole community. He was So
OF Plnckney French and brother Q
liz. p. French, now Of Martinsburg.
| The death Of his father when GU
subject was less than ten years ole
left the cares OF the family upon hir
and his mother, but they managed b
hard work and strict economy to Civ
the children all a fair education, an
the boys all made professional men
Ed. and George being physicians no.
with lucrative practice.
Mr.. johnson well remembers whe
the North Missouri railroad now tn
Wabash, was built through this count
In 1856 and seven, and drst saw a trai
A few miles east of Benton City, ii
school teachers at the Reed scho'
house we're W. II. Wright, t. t. Ha
rls, r. T.. Gordon, L. R. Douglass, v
la. Douglass and A. ]. Worley. d
has vivid recollection OF bis boy-hoc
ldays and can relate many incident
that would be highly entertaining
his contemporaries. lie speaks IN y,
highest terms OF his two teachers, !
r, and w. A. Douglass, the latter
Ing well known In Mexico, the inrm
having died there some years ago, q
ter practicing medicine for sever
years.
The first paper Mr.. Johnson remeI
bers reading was the Mexico LEDGE
and the next the st. Louis Republics
(now Republic.) His only book
school for some time was the old "bl
back'' speller, which he thorough
mastered, and he has been spell
ever since. In the law he has had IA
success, having a competency OF u
worlds goods, but entered politics :
late in life to have much zest for
IL is needless to say he lisa Jeff'
sonian Democrat, his fathers mai
being Henry Jefferson, but he Is lib
nj in his views, and does not proscri
any man on account OF his religion