Johnson, Thomas Madeson 1849-1935

JOHNSON, LONG, BARRINGTON, HOFFA, WOODS, HOLMES

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/23/2019 at 14:56:44

OBITUARY - THOMAS MADESON JOHNSON.

(Newspaper source unknown)

Death calls Thomas Madeson Johnson, Pioneer of Garfield Community,

April 2l, l935; Early settler had lived on his homestead for more than

fifty-one years.

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THOMAS M. JOHNSON, affectionately known to a large number of friends as

"Uncle TOM", who had resided for more than fifty years in the Garfield

Community, and was one of the finest characters among the many splendid

people who settled and built that community, passed away Sunday at the

home of his daughter, MRS. F.S. LONG of Arnold. MR. JOHNSON had reached

the advanced age of 86 years and the story of his life is well told in

the following obituary which was prepared by MRS. CHARLES LUCAS of

Shelton, Nebraska, an old time friend of the Johnson family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THOMAS MADESON JOHNSON was the son of SAMUEL and

MARTHA(BARRINGTON)JOHNSON who came from Ireland and settled in the State

of Ohio where THOMAS was born on January l6, l849. When a young man he

moved to Van Wert, Iowa, where he met and married HULDA ANNA HOFFA on

October 26, l879. They remained in Iowa until March, l884, when MR. and

MRS. JOHNSON and three small children moved to Firth, Lancaster County,

Nebraska. Here they resided until September l of the same year when

they drove overland in a covered wagon and settled on a homestead in the

Garfield Community, where by strict economy and hard labor a good home

was built which he occupied continuously for the past 5l years.

MR. JOHNSON was always interested in the welfare of the community and

did his part faithfully. He served as a mail carrier for four years on

the star route between the Garfield and Myrtle Post Offices, over forty

years ago when his only conveyance was a horse and buggy. He led a very

active life until about five years ago when he had the misfortune to

lose one of his limbs through a foot infection. Since which time he was

compelled to use a wheelchair much of the time.

He was always cheerful and optimistic in spite of this handicap and

still enjoyed being at the public gatherings and will be greatly missed

by his neighbors and friends. He was at one time a member of the

Garfield Methodist Episcopal Church, but later united with the General

Baptist Church. He departed this life in the early morning of April 2l,

at the home of his daughter, MRS. F.S. LONG, at the advanced age of 86

years, 3 months and 6 days.

His wife preceded him in death on November 23, l93l. He is survived by

his five children as follows: CHARLES and SAMUEL; MRS. MARTHA JOHNSON

and MRS. NANCY LONG, all of this community, and MRS. ADA WOODS of Chino

Valley, Arizona. Also, one sister, MRS. JENNIE HOLMES of Wichita,

Kansas, and fourteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Fitting tributes to MR. JOHNSON are given in both the Garfield and West

Whittier Correspondence, and in the Garfield Department there is also a

complete account of the funeral services which were held there Tuesday.

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Shared by Tracy Summerville

PennyAngels@aol.com

Nancee's Notes: This was also shared with me by Tracy Summerville.