Plentywood herald., 1928-09-13
KNEW LINCOLN
ASLITTLE GIRL
MRS w. w. JOHNSON WHO DIED IN
MISSOULA FEW DAYS AGO WAS
HELD ON HIS LAP

Mrs. w. w. Johnson, 73, .Missoula
woman, who knew President Lincoln
when she was a little girl in Illinois,
died recently at the family home In
Orchard Homes, n suburb of MissOula-
She had been resident of Miss0ula for
eight years and is survived by her hus-
band, two sons and five daughters.
She was born at Clinton, Ill.,, Dec. 6,
1854 Her childhood days were spent in
Illinois. In January, 1870, she married
Orin j. Grant of Cherokee. Ia In 1896.
they moved to Nebraska where they lived
until the death of Mr.. Grant in 1906
In 1910 she came to Ekalaka, where she
made her home until 1918.
| In September, 1918, she was married to
| w. w. Johnson and went to live at Sioux
Falls, S. d. In 1920 they went to Mis-
soula and have since made their home
there.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Johnson is
survived by two sons George ID. Grant Of
Jarrow Canada, and j. w. Grant OF Mis-
soula; also by five daughters, Mrs. Myrtle
Burns of Sioux Falls, Mrs Steve Mefford
of Missoula Mrs John johnson Of Eka-
laka, Mrs. w. H. Arlington OF Jackson
Vile. Fla, and Mrs. E. l.. Bradley OF
Sioux Falls
Sixty eight years ago an awkward, gray
haired gentleman from Washington sat
in the family home near Bloomington,
ILL.,, holding in his lap little girl. The
gentleman was President Lincoln. The
little girl was Mrs. Johnson.
AS a patient in a Missoula hospital,
Mrs. johnson smiled a kindly smile a.,
she recalled incidents of her early child.
hood in which the great president figure6,
He was great man among men," said
Mrs. Johnson
BE a good girl, now, for Uncle Abe.
And whatever you are, be good repubh-
can-for Uncle Abe" Those were the
words President Lincoln advised as he
held Mrs. Johnson on his lap.
Mrs. Johnsons father, c. B. Gano
farmer, and Abraham Lincoln were the
best Of friends. They had gone to school
together and remained in each others
company much of the time until each
was old enough to choose his life work
The president wasn't known in that
capacity by Mrs. Johnson, then, but only
as Uncle Abe" Uncle Abe was ac-
customed to frequently drop in for Sun
day dinner with his old school mate and
the latters wife, called by Lincoln Aunt
Polly"
| Lincoln Most Awkward
One Sunday when Lincoln was invited
to dinner he arrived early. AS he leis-
urely STROBE into the farm yard, he re-
marked that he thought he might con-
tribute to the dinner by catching q
chicken. But, as Mrs. johnson related,
Lincoln was too awkward and the chill
dren, including herself, Uttered until the
future president gave up the job.
| Not long after Lincoln had assumed
the presidency, he returned one Sunday
for dinner. Late that night he and Mr.
Gano sat in tilted chairs on the porch.
AS they faced the limitless prairie, the
farmer asked innumerable questions.
Lincoln answering them freely and
frankly, knowing the conversation WOULD
mt go farther.
He was troubled all right, but it was
like touch Of old times when he took
me on his knee the next morning and
said, Be good girl. now, for Uncle Abe.
And whatever you are. be good repub-
| lican--for Uncle Abe" related Mrs. John
son, as she sat In her wheel chair in the
hospital.
Then came another chapter. 1t was an
April day when boy ran across the field
to where her father was plowing and
handed him a paper. Mr.. GRno led the
team back to where his daughter, Mrs.
Johnson, was standing and said simply.
Here, girl, tie them up" Then he burst
into tears, while the child wonderingly
obeyed
NO" said her mother to her, ut isn't
grandpa who is dead"
But men all over the nation were cry
Ing the same way that morning. Like
children" said Mrs. johnson. who had
! lost father. And they had"