BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1902 Dr. McDonald amputated two toes from the left foot of Editor John Johnson Friday, and today removed two more, only the great toe remaining on the foot. Mr. Johnson is having a serious time with gangrene. ************** FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1902 DEATH OF JOHN JOHNSON, JR. This community was shocked Monday evening by the information that John Johnson, Jr., for many years an influential citizen, had died. Mr. Johnson expired at 7:05 p.m., at his home on J street, near the Avenue Hotel. John Johnson, Jr., was born in Burlington, Vermont, September 18th, 1850; and was brought to Bedford by his parents in 1852. His youth was spent amid hardships, which he overcame by his energy and industry. Having learned the printing business, he in 1875 founded the Bedford Star, an independent local paper which was very successful for a number of years. In 1885 he bought the Bedford Banner, the Democratic organ, and consolidated the two papers under the name of the Bedford Democrat. In 1892 he began the publication of the daily edition of the paper. Mr. Johnson was Roll Clerk of the Lower House of the Indiana Legislature in 1891 and 1893, a position for which he was admirably fitted on account of his powerful voice, a quality which attracted the attention of his party at a Congressional Convention of which he was Secretary, a great number of votes being taken and he being required to call the list of delegates for hours. Mr. Johnson was appointed Postmaster by President Cleveland in 1894, and served his full term of four years. He had been three times selected by his party as Chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of Lawrence county, a position which he held at the time of his death. John Johnson, Jr., was a typical Irish American, warmhearted, impulsive, energetic and enterprising. His genuine tenderness and generosity of heart were the traits which secured him the true friendship of men in all the walks of life, regardless of religious, political or racial ties. His hold on the community was strong, and not easily shaken. He labored hard for many years, and so far as power to secure business was concerned his ability was of a high order; but he lacked the conservative, saving element which would have insure him a comfortable fortune from his efforts. In his youth he was gaunt and of robust health, and in mature years became very fleshy, weighing at one time 360 pounds. During the last seven or eight years he had suffered a gradual decline of health, until just before his recent illness he had been reduced to about 140 pounds weight. A year ago a toe on his right foot showed symptoms of disease, and after the removal of the bones of the toe the trouble was arrested. Some six or seven weeks ago his left foot became sore from a corn or blister between the toes, which gradually spread along the sole of the foot; but he neglected the treatment until too late. Several amputations were made in the hope of arresting the disease, the last being on Sunday afternoon, when the foot was cut off above the ankle joint. Mr. Johnson' condition was not understood by his friend to be immediately critical until Monday noon, when his heart action began to fail, and he sank rapidly until his death. Mr. Johnson was married at Maysville, Ky, Sept 20th, 1888, to Miss Ella Claire, who survives him. He leaves three children, two sons and a daughter. ********************** IMPOSING FUNERAL Many People Out To Do Honor To Memory Of John Johnson, Jr. The funeral of John Johnson, Jr., which took place Thursday at 10 o'clock a.m., from the residence on J street, near the Avenue Hotel, was the largest that has occurred in Bedford for several years. Many business houses closed for an hour or two, in order that proprietors and employees might pay their last respects to a beloved friend. The Masonic and Ben Hur orders, to which the deceased belonged, turned out in force, and many persons from neighboring towns were present. After services at the house by Rev. Father Bogemann, a lengthy procession passed through the hall and took a last look at the face of the departed. Then the funeral cortege, several blocks in extent, was formed and proceeded to Green Hill Cemetery. The body was lowered into the earth, Father Bogemann delivered a prayer, the many beautiful floral offerings were deposited at the grave, and the crowd sadly wended its way home. To the Worshipful Master, Wardens, and Brothers of the Bedford Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., of Bedford Indiana: We, the committee appointed to adopt resolutions on the death of Brother John Johnson, Jr., late a member of Bedford Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M. and Hacker Chapter No. 34, R. A. M. RESOLUTIONS. The sickle of death has again invaded our ranks and removed from us our beloved brother, John Johnson, Jr., who departed this life on Monday eve, March 17, 1902, and we adopt this means of expressing our deep sorrow occasioned by his death and our highest respect for his memory. Our deceased brother was born in Vermont Sept. 18, 1850, and removed with his parents to Bedford, Indiana, in the year 1852. Since then he had been a continuous resident of this city. On September 20, 1888, he was married to Miss Ella Claire at Maysville, Ky., who with his three children, Collette, Edward and Walter, together with five sisters and one brother, survive him. Brother Johnson has lived an industrious and useful life, having learned the printer's trade in his boyhood, and at the age of twenty-five entered the business for himself, and later was the founder of the Bedford Democrat, which paper he has ever managed and edited on a high plane, ever able, honorable and fair. He had always been progressive and his paper has always advocated whatever was for the advancement and up building of our city and county. For many years he has been recognized as one of the able and influential newspaper man of the State. He was for four years, Postmaster of Bedford and made an efficient and popular officer. He also served as Roll Clerk during two sessions of the Indiana Legislature in 1890 and 1894. We feel that the highest compliment that can be paid to the living and the highest tribute to the dead we sincerely pay Bro. Johnson when we say he was a most devoted husband, father, brother and a true and loyal friend; that to know him was to love him, and to know him best was to love him most. All in all, he was a great big hearted, good man. He became a Mason Dec. 27, 1885, and although his health and physical condition prevented him from attending lodge regularly, yet by his influence and his unerring counsel he proved himself to be a valuable and a zealous Mason, over expressing his interest in and his devotion for Masonry. Resolved: That in the death of Brother Johnson, Masonry has lost a devoted and true member, and we as Masons have lost one whom could take by the hand and feel proud to call him "Brother." He was a true man; a true Mason; a loyal brother, a Perfect Ashler. Resolved: That his bereaved family have lost a true, loving and devoted husband, father and brother, and we extend to them our sincere sympathy and condolence in this their hour of bereavement and sorrow. Resolved: That our State, County and City have lost an influential citizen, a broad-minded, true, good man. Resolved: That the lodge room be draped in mourning and the brothers wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days. Resolved: That these resolutions be spread of record and be placed in the archives of the lodge; that a copy of the same be tendered each paper published in the county for publication and that a copy thereof under the seal of the Lodge and the head of the Secretary be furnished the widow of our deceased brother. NEWTON CROOKE, V. V. WILLIAMS, J. A. ZARING, Committee. ********************* Mr. and Mrs. Andy Stone came up from New Albany Tuesday evening to attend the funeral of John Johnson, Jr. ******************* Walter S. Bradfute, O. H. Cravens, John R. East and R. W. Miers, of Bloomington, came down to attend the funeral of John Johnson, Jr. ********************** Pat Coady, of Paris, Ill., and his sister, Miss Mary Coady, of Pana, Ill., came to attend the funeral of John Johnson, Jr., and are the guests of friends. ********************** Henry McIntire and sister, of Mitchell, were in the city Thursday to attend the funeral of John Johnson, Jr. ******************** At the opening of court Tuesday the memory of John Johnson, Jr., was the subject of feeling remarks on the part of Judge Martin, H. P. Pearson, McHenry Owen, T. J. Brooks, Joseph Giles, John D. Alexander, S. B. Lowe and E. K. Dye. He was a very popular man with the lawyers, who appreciated his good qualities ******************* J. M. Henderson, of Leesville, came to the city Thursday, to attend the funeral of Editor John Johnson, Jr. ****************** John Johnson, Jr., carried a life insurance policy of $2,000 in the Tribe of Ben Hur. ******************* FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1902 Mrs. Anna Thornton and son, who came here from Alexandria to attend the funeral of John Johnson, Jr., went to Bloomington Monday a.m., to visit relatives before returning home.