Putnam patriot., 1930-04-10
W. s. JoHNsoN's
 FUNERAL TUESDAY
(continued from Page Onel


 (continued from Page One)
 
 was an earnest party worker and for some years was considered one of the outstanding political leaders of Put nam. He never would accept puoilc office himself but preferred to work among the rank and file and marshall cd the voters in the cause which ap- pealed to his support. Only once did he hold office himself. He was elect ed assessor at a time when he felt there was too much criticism. It is said that he administered the duties of this office without fear or favor and that the property owners who tried to get an unfair valuation on their holdings always come of second best.
 Wife Dies
 The death of Mrs. Johnson within a few months after he had completed a fine new residence on Church street brought a great sorrow to MT. John son. He was a man who loved ms home and he had anticipated the fam ily life in this new residence. After Mrs. Johnson died he began spend ing his winters in the south Often he spent weeks at a time in the sum mer at Maine resorts. but as his health began to fail he spent all of his sum mers in Putnam. with an occasionai visit to his daughter. Mrs. John A. Macdonald. of Hartford.
 During the past summer MT. John son showed signs of his growing weak ness. He got about little and when met by acquaintances had little to say. This was foreign to his nature as he was of pleasant disposition and liked to talk and joke.
 The funeral service was held from the home on Church street Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock, Rev. Henry F.. Hodge of the First Baptist church officiating. The bearers were Ralph E. Thurston and Allie s. King, rep- resenting the Masons. William F. War ren and C. Byron Morse, the Odd Fellows, and F. C. Rogers and Arehi- bald Macdonald Jr.. representing the Elks. There were many floral tokens. Burial was in the family plot in Grove street cemetery.
 Born in Thompson
 William s. Johnson was born in Thompson, April goth, 1854. He was the only son of George C. and Jane W. Johnson. He attended the schools of Thompson until he was twelve years old. He then engaged in the calling ol his father and started to learn shoe manufacturing. His first employment was m the shoe factory of W. k. Case al West Thompson, where he remained until he was SIX teen years old. l. WAS customary in those days for the operative to per feet himself in every department Of shoe making. cutting, stitching, bot toming, finishing etc, distinction from present methods where each worker knows one department Tn the making of a finished shoe.
 After leaving the Case factory MT. Johnson came to Putnam and was employed in the factory os C. NJ. Fisher and later by E. T. Whitmore. He subsequently left Putnam and went to Worcester. still following his calling, and worked for Davenport X Long for a considerable period. He went from Worcester to North Brook field and from there. in 1876, he went to South Brookiieid to take charge of the large factory of Twitchell & Co. This factory was closed the following year and Mr. Johnson went to East Brookfieid as superintendent of a factory there.
 Returns to Putnam
 In 1879 Mir. Johnson returned to Putnam and entered into partnership with his former employer, F.. T. Whit more. The factory was on Elm" now Main street, at the corner of Lee street. In 1881 more room was need ed and the business was removed Go part of large building owned by II. Newton Brown. east of the rail- road tracks and just north of Front street. This building burned in 1885 and the concern took over the old Hammond & Knowlton silk mill on the west bank of the Quinebaug riv- CT. now the Putnam Box Shop. The lease was for five years. At the ex- piration of the lease Mir. Johnson de- eided to build factory to suit the needs of the company. This factory is on Truesdell street not far from the old silk mill and was completed in