Johnson, Henry Clay (1834-1910)
JOHNSON, WHITNEY, HILL, HOBART, JENSEN, RAPP, WOOLSEY, BECKER, BIRCHER, MARTIN, LOUDER, TEASDALE, MAYNARD BALLARD, WILLEY, CLOVIS
Posted By: Carl Malone (email)
Date: 10/24/2016 at 19:57:38
The Atlantic Daily Telegraph
Atlantic, Iowa
April 4, 1910CLAY JOHNSON DIES AT EARLY HOUR AT HOME
VETERAN PRINTER EXPIRES AGED SEVENTY-SIX YEARS
A CASS COUNTY PIONEER
With F. H. Whitney He Ran The Old Cass County Gazette at Lewis In 1863
Henry Clay Johnson, aged seventy-six years, died at his home 704 Locust street at 4 o’clock this morning after a serious illness of a week’s duration. He was surrounded by many members of his immediate family who mourn his loss. Death was due to a complication of diseases including rheumatism which reached the heart and other incident troubles. Arrangements have been made to hold the funeral service at the home Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock in charge of the Masonic lodge of which deceased was an honored member. Rev. A. E. Griffith of the Methodist church will be the minister in charge. While Mr. Johnson was not a member of the church many members of his family are and he felt, kindly toward the church and its effort [] good in the world. It was [unable to read] wish that the funeral [unable to read] home. Mr. Johnson [unable to read] ver of home and family and [unable to read] especially pleaed [pleased] [unable to read] the members of his family were [unable to read] to be with him to the end. The [unable to read] is of course a sad shock to the [unable to read] children and friends through [unable to read] been expected for several days.
Entire Family Here
All of Mr. Johnson’s family that are living are here to give their last honors to the head of the household. Those of the children who are consoling the mother today are Eugene Johnson of Iowa City, who came Sunday, Carl J. Johnson of Chicago, Robert and Samuel Johnson of Atlantic, Mrs. O. D. Hill of Stuart, Mrs. O. M. Hobart, Mrs. A. C. Jensen Mrs. William Rapp and Mrs. F. W. Woolsey of Atlantic. Mr Johnson has one surviving sister, Mrs Jennie Becker, of Dayton, Ohio. There will also be present two granddaughters, Mrs. B. R. Bircher of Minneapolis, and Mrs. Ray Martin, of Winterset. Telegrams were forwarded this morning to a number of relatives and friends in other towns including Mrs. Lu Louder, of Chicago, a niece, Mrs. Ed Johnson, a daughter-in-law.
Great Lover of Flowers
Like many old-time printers Johnson had quite poetic nature and he loved flowers and books. He was an especial lover of flowers and as soon as the news of his death reached the local printing offices arrangement were made by the members of News Messenger, Telegraph and the Gar [unable to read] Press to present a handsome floral piece as a token of their regard declaration as a token of their regard for the past master in their craft. The home place on Locust street had already been beautified this spring by the planting of early flowers many of which are now in bloom. While Mr. Johnson had little opportunity to take part in this favorite work of flower gardening this spring his family, remembering his love for flowers gladly kept up the work.
Printer Many Years
Clay Johnson started to learn hand [unable to read] position in a county office almost [] xty years ago and was one of the oldest exponents in the art in this []. It was in 1852 that Johnson first worked in the office of the Iowa [] Republican’ a newspaper which is still grinding out information to the public daily and weekly. Johnson was born in Hopkinsville, Ohio, in 1834, on the 23rd day of January. After five years labor in the Republican office at Iowa City Johnson went to Des Moines with John Teasdale who was then Iowa State Printer. A year later he went to Council Bluffs to work in the Nonpariel office and remained in the employ of Editor Maynard until 1860 when he moved to Audubon county where his uncle Dr. S. M. Ballard gave him a place at farming. During the winter Johnson worked in an Audubon printing office. In 1863 he came to Cass county and went into partnership with F. H. Whitney in the old Cass county Gazette then published at Lewis.
Established Messenger
It was in 1864 that Johnson established in Lewis the Cass County Messenger which was moved to Atlantic in 1869. Later the paper was changed to the Atlantic Messenger. It was the first newspaper published in Atlantic and for two years was the only one. In 1880 Mr. Johnson sold the paper to J. H. Willey. He then engaged in the job printing business here for two years. Later he was employed in the various offices of the city. He was always a faithful worker; a man with a thorough knowledge of his craft and a fund of general information that made him valuable about a printing plant. Johnson always kept abreast of the times in the printing profession and his words of advice were sought and appreciated.
Not only will the members of the printing craft be glad to honor the memory of Clay Johnson. He was highly respected as a citizen and neighbor and the Telegraph voices the sentiment of many leading people of the city who stopped in today to inquire as to the time of the funeral and say a good word for the departed
Attorney Clovis of this city was a warm personal friend of Mr. Johnson. He called upon Johnson a few days ago and said that the patient’s mind was clear and he talked freely of his life in this city and was glad to leave a parting good word for everyone.
NOTE FROM CONTRIBUTOR: Henry Clay Johnson was born January 23, 1834 and died April 4, 1910
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