Saunders County NEGenWeb Project
SAUNDERS COUNTY OBITUARIES
Submitted by Clarabelle Mares
Ashland Gazette June 4, 1897
Page 1, and Page 4.
CENTENARIAN DEAD
A Race of Over a Century
Finally Run by Ashland's
Oldest Citizen.
Col. Johnson Falls Before the Grim Reaper.The end has come at last. A life that has rounded out considerably more than a full century of time has come to an end.
Col. John Johnson, probably the oldest man in Nebraska, if not in the United States, died at his home west of this city on Wednesday, June 2, 1897, at the wonderful age of one hundred and seven years, seven months and eleven days. For several months past, or since suffering from a severe case of la grippe last winter, Col. Johnson has rapidly failed and it was known to his family that his end was rapidly approaching. His mind for the most of that time has been an entire blank, being unable to remember his own family and nearest friends. Within the past ten days he has sunk rapidly, being unable for the most of that time to take any nourishment.
For the past thirty seven years, or before Ashland had an existence as village or city, Col. Johnson has been a familiar figure here, and every-one of those years he has lived beyond the allotment of human life of three score years and ten. The earliest memories of our citizens of Col. Johnson were formed in 1860, when he became a resident here, and he was then a white haired patriarch, almost as old in appearance as he looked after he had passed the century mark.
Col. Johnson, who acquired his military title by training a company of militia in 1812, was born in the Northwest Territory, near where Cleveland, Ohio stands, October 22, 1789. His father was an emigrant from England, and his mother was a Scotch lady who lived to the wonderful age of 120 years.
He was married first when 22 years of age. He has a son by his former marriage, still living in Missouri and he is a very old man, being upwards of 80 years of age. Two other children by this marriage died long ago. His second wife still survives him and she is many years his junior. Three children by his second marriage, were born to him, and they are all still living, Ashland being their birth place. They are Mrs. Robert Dixon, of Munden, Kansas, Mrs. J. E. Smith of this city and Mrs. Nelson Revis, of Filmore county, Nebraska.
For fifteen years after making his home in Ashland, he ran a meat market, being one of the pioneers in business in Saunders county.
During the world's fair year it was arranged to have him go to Chicago and attend the fair as the oldest citizen in Nebraska, but as he was suffering from the grip, he did not consider it prudent to go. The Nebraska commission offered to bear his expenses for the entire season if he would consent to go.
It is wonderful to think of the transitions that have taken place during the life time of Col. Johnson. He has witnessed the rise of the greatest nation in the history of the world and seen the greatest advance movements in civilization that the world has known. He has witnessed the officials terms of every president of the United States. He claimed to have seen General Washington. He cast his first vote for James Madison for president in 1812.
When Col. Johnson was first taken ill, before he lost his mind, he realized that his time had about come and made arrangements for his funeral. Father Hackney was chosen to conduct the services in accordance with an agreement that has stood for the last ten years, in case he should out live the Colonel, and the following persons were chosen as pall bearers: L. B. Stanley, James H. Snell, L. K. Bell, B. S. Clarke, Hobart Brush and Jocob Sanders. In accordance with this arrangement, the funeral was held at his late home on Thursday afternoon the 3rd instant, at 4 o'clock. Rev. T. J. Penny assisted Rev. Hackney in conducting the services. The resting place of the remains is the Ashland cemetery.
Ashland Gazette August 13, 1914
Page 1 Col 4
Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson at Rest
Elizabeth Jane Johnson, widow of the late Colonel J. Johnson, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Revis, Sunday, August 9th. Interment in the Ashland cemetery.
Mrs. Johnson was born in Clinton, Ohio, August 1839. She was married to Colonel J. Johnson at Marble, Mo. in 1861 and came to Nebraska in 1863. Mrs. Johnson was a member of the Baptist church at the time of its organization and was one of the converts to be baptized in Salt Creek.
She leaves two daughters and their families to mourn her death. Mrs. J. E. Smith and Mrs. S N. Revis Her oldest daughter, Lorinda Discow died in Bellville, Kansas, Sept, 19th, 1905.
