The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-28
EZRA |. JOHNSON DIES IN NEWTOWN
Prominent Resident Passes Away At Age of S2-Death Deeply Mourned Throughout the Town.
Especial to The Farmer.)

in the borough Surrounding his couch were his wife and two sons, William G. and Charles B. Johnson when the summons came, and he passed to his reward. The news of his death quickly passed to every part of the town, and every family felt his death to be a personal loss, and the telephones soon gave utterance to the sorrow all felt, and breathed condol- ence for the stricken one of the house hold of death. No death in the pres ent generation of Newtown people has been or will be more deeply depIored than that of Ezra L. Johnson.
 He was born in 1882. the son of Charles Johnson and Julia Merritt: and the Johnson family was among the pioneers who founded the town in 17O5-12. On October 10th. 1858, he was married by Rev. Dr. Marble of Trinity Episcopal church to Jane Eliza. Camp, daughter of Beach Camp and Catharine Hawley (Foote5 Camp, who survives, together with four sons, William o., Charles B. Johnson of Newtown, ,Levan M. Johnson of Paines- svilIe, Ohio, and Rt. Rev. Frederick Foote Johnson. Bishop Coadjutor of Missouri One adopted daughter; Mrs. John c. Keeler. of Seymour, Conn, also eight grandchildren also survive.
 MT. Johnson had lived practically
  and followed farming and it's allied branches for a living, although in his young manhood he taught school in Clinton and Bethel, as we'll as in his native town. He was a graduate of the State Normal school, but. it is in his long membership in the board of school visitors and his work there which command for him the gratitude of all friends of free public schools. He was a. strong advocate of free text books, and did valiant service in his quiet way to bring that happy result about. Also he advocated success-s fully the cause of the town High a member of the board of education in 1856 and with the exception of one year served continu ously since. He was the chairman of the board at the time of his death, a, record hardly to be found elsewhere in the educational no society affiliations, but was a mem Der Of the Wfde-Awakes in the open ing days of the first administration df the lamented Lincoln.
 Of the civic organizations in New town MT Johnson was one of the 1874; also one of the original Tnene bers of the Mems club, founded in 1894, and it's president in 1902 and l 1903.
 He joined the G. O. F. at it's birth, and though member Of that I party all his life was not a partisan, rather a liberal and progressive, and never let party tieshis hands in any 1 thing local, or whenever conscience 1 pointed another way, Although origi- na1ly a member of the Congrega iona1 l church, he withdrew early in life and 1 joined the Episcopal church in which 1 faith he died. He was both junior l and senior warden of Trinity church, holdings the latter position at the time l of death. Mr. Johnson never sought political honors, and never {longed for any except that of membership on the l school board; and public office, when it came to him, came unsougI1t. In 1874 he was nominated and elected | Selectman when he was absent on a l trip to the west. He had been at various times, assessor, member of the board of relief. and district commit l teeman. He was 9. historian with the I inspired touch which made nusty l books and documents yield treasures. In the bi-centennial celebration of I 1905, his papers and researches gave I Newown a standing among the town I ships of the state, and his work con- I trfbuted in no small way to the sue I cess of his historic event. But his I title to fame rests on the more than i a half century of arduous duty and | devotion to the cause of popular edu- cation and free schools in Newtown He was above all things else, the chil- l dren's friend.
 The Christmas tree of the St. Roses ! Sunday school at St. Mary's hall, San- | dy Hook Christmas Day in the after l noon, was by odds the largest anc most elaborate held here before. Al I the children attending both in the cen and the village came together There were music, recitations, plays and ta,bleaux enjoyed. The heavil1 laden tree was unIoaded by Pew Col | 1ector P. H. Cannon who filled the role of Santa Claus to perfection. Rev Father Sinnott and the good sister.
 of the Convent of Mercy and the Sun
 day school teachers were present an6 helped delight the little ones, as wei as draw delight and inspiration from
 the work of the scholars.
 Among the closing exercises of tn, 1 public schools last Wednesday, tn.
 closing exercises and Christmas tre,
 of Halfway River school, Miss Mar.
 garet Carroll, teacher, was one worth,
 of notice in that every parent anc
 child in the district were presen
 evincing by their presence and gooC
 words. of praise that there was { mutual understanding between teach
 CT and parents, so essential to success ful school work. All the childrel T were delighted with the gifts they re
 ceived and Miss Carroll was the re
 cipient of many childish tokens o
 love and good will. Altogether it wa
 a red-letter day for the district.
 Among the students home for tn
 holidays are noted: Thomas F. Kean
 from St. Thomas seminary, Hartford
 with his parents, MT. and Mrs. Thom
 as c. Keane, Glen avenue; Georg Ferris Trinity. with his mother, Mrs
 Bertha Ferris; John Lynch iron
 University School. Bridgeport, witt
 MT and' Mrs. Patrick Lynch, Berk
 shire; Leonard Wright and Sanfor,
 Beers from the Worcester School O
 Technology with their parents, an,
 Frank Johnson, Trinity, Hartford
 with his parents. MT. and Mrs. c. E l Johnson.
 CHECKS GROUP INSTANTLY.