Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-07
GEORGE JOHNSON, FOR II YEARS
TRUSTED EMPLOYE OF STAR, DIES
Veteran Worker Once
Carried Entire Issue
Under His Arm.
Survived Founder of
Company and Many
Who Came Later.

George Johnson, SO years old, faith
full colored worker whose II years
employment by The Evening Star Co.
earned for him an undisputed record
for continuous allegiance to a business
organization, died at his home. 800
Eleventh street, yesterday afternoon.
The veteran, retired since December
20, 1920, had been in failing health for
the past three years and his death was
attributed to senility.
Funeral services will be held at
his late residence Saturday afternoon
at o'clock with Rev. Charles Stewart,
pastor of the Metropolitan A. ME.
Church, of which he was member,
officiating. Interment will be in
Harmony Cemetery.
Johnson was a member of the col
ored Odd Fellows for more than 60
years and credited with being the
oldest colored Odd Fellow in the city.
He is survived by son, Robert w.
Johnson, and a daughter He was born
in this city July 4, 1899.
On Job Before Civil War.
Johnson's connection with The Star
was almost co-extensive with the en-
tire existence of this newspaper
Although he was not an employe when
it was first organized by Joseph B.
Tate, in 1852, it was not long after
that, and was well before the Civil
War, that he first appeared on its
pay roll. He was working here when
the late Crosby Stuart Moves. then
young man lately come to the Ma
tional Capital, walked into the office,
applied for and was given position
on the staff by the late Douglass
Wallach. Mr.. Noyes served the paper
for a decade before becoming its
editor-in-chief; held that post for 40
years, and died in 1908.
Johnson's service has been continu-
Gus with one exception. When lad
he served short term afloat with the
United States Navy, but on its explra-
ton returned to The Star.
The veteran could remember dis
tinctly the first quarters ever occupied
by the paper which were more or less
temporary and short-lived. Suisse
quent quarters, occupied in 1888, were
at Thirteenth, Twelfth and D streets
northwest, near where No. 16 Engine
House is now, and there, some time
in the early ''fifties,'' he entered its
employ.
Saw Company Formed.
Not a person is now living who was
on the paper when he started in. and
few are alive who started within 70
years of that date, which cannot be
exactly learned. Johnson saw the
establishment, in 1868, of The Evening
Star Newspaper Co., which is the
present owner of the paper, with Mr..
Moves, editor; S. H. Kaufman, Alex
ander r. Shepherd, later governor of
the District; George w. Adams and
Clarence B. Baker as the incorpora
tors He worked with these men when
all were young and enjoyed their con-
fidence, respect and esteem until, one
by one, they passed away. These same
feelings have been bestowed on him
by the descendants of the second and
third generation of those men, with
whom he worked until the end, as
well as by all other business associates.
Johnson saw The Star rise from
what was practically n village broad
side to be the leading paper of a
great Capital City. AS an indication
of the growth and development, all
of which he saw and part Of which
he was" the following is taken from
among the interesting "reminiscences
with which, when drawn out" he
could regale his fellow workers.
When he first started in the paper
was written and edited at one place,
but was printed at another. His daily
Job was to go around and get the
days edition, and this feat he could
accomplish at one trip, carrying the
total afternoon output under his arm.
Later the circulation increased and
brisk colored boy had to be hired to
help him carry the papers. Finally.
however, the circulation and size and
weight of the paper increased so
enormously that George had to put in
requisition for a wheelbarrow in
which to transport the edition, which
proved amply sufficient.
Not long after the Civil War, be-
cause of the construction of the press
then in use, two complete Stars were
printed on a large double sheet at one