Johnson, Levi H. 1850-1924

JOHNSON, KENNEDY, HILL

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/13/2008 at 18:15:21

Mr. and Mrs. Levi H. Johnson

Not often is the silent messenger so considerate of the companionship of souls through life, that he brings his peace into the same home, only a few hours apart so that the loved ones who are left can say with resignation “and in death they were not parted.”

For over half a century they had together weathered life’s storms and struggles, and enjoyed its hopes and blessings. Up to the last day almost were they animated with the future yet ever conscious and concerned with present duties and activities.

Their home was a place of heartiest welcome and good fellowship to those who would visit them.

With but a few hours between their departure Mrs. Johnson had made the funeral arrangements for her husband without the least intimation that Fate would use the same plans for her own funeral.

They were both of the sturdy, practical pioneering folk that had battled their way through all kinds of circumstances, elements and disappointments to a place where they could enjoy the fruition of their labors, but so quietly and serenely did the Message come that even their loved ones could not say “goodbye.”

Levi H. Johnson was born in Mishwaukee, Ind., January 7, 1850; died in Olathe, Kansas, December 16, 1924; aged 74 years, 11 months, eight days.

In early boyhood, he moved with his parents in a covered wagon to Marshalltown, Iowa, becoming one of the pioneers of that country long before the Civil War.

For a number of years he farmed in Iowa, where he met his wife, Amanda Kennedy, whom he married September 13, 1871. Later he moved to Butler, Mo. From there he went to Grainfield, Kansas, where he farmed on an extensive scale successfully.

Five years ago, in November 1919, he moved to Olathe where he has since made his home and had formed a large acquaintance of friends to whom he was the soul of neighborliness and possessor of the sterling qualities of a gentleman.

His wife, Amanda Kennedy, was born in Canada, September 1, 1850, and followed her husband in death just a few hours afterwards.

At an early age she moved with her parents to Freeport, Ills. When but a girl she again moved to LaMoille, Iowa, where she met and married her husband, Levi H. Johnson, to whom she proved a faithful wife, a fond mother to her children and a loving companion and home maker. To this union were born Harry L., Carrie, and Hazel. The little girls dying in infancy, leaving Harry L., of the home address to mourn the loss of both parents.

Others surviving Levi H. Johnson are brother, Barnet Johnson, Ida Grove, Iowa; Mrs. W.C. Bowman, Kansas City, Mo., Mrs. Emma Hutchinson, Kansas City, Mo., sisters. The nearest surviving relatives of Amanda Johnson are nieces.

Shocked and saddened are the homes of their friends and acquaintances, but through the mist of grief their hearts go out in deepest sympathy to the son and his wife who are left to mourn their great bereavement.

Funeral service was conducted at the home by Rev. A.C. Brown, Thursday, December 18.
----A Neighbor.

~Source: The Olathe Mirror, Official County Newspaper
~Note: Per Plymouth County, Iowa, courthouse records their daughter, Hazel, died 25 Jan 1891, at LeMars, Iowa, Garfield Twp; age 8 mos, 4 das; buried: LaMoille, Iowa, on 29 Jan 1891. LaMoille is near Marshalltown, Iowa.

LeMars Sentinel
December 30, 1924

KINGSLEY:
Word was received here this week of the death of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Johnson, at their home at Olathe, Kansas, Monday, December 15. Mr. Johnson passed away at 7 o’clock a.m. after an illness of two weeks of flu, and the shock of his death was the result of the death of Ms. Johnson at 5 o’clock on the same day. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were pioneer residents of this place and will be remembered by many of the old residents of Kingsley and vicinity.

~Note (1): The “Record of Funeral” for both of these give the date of death as: December 16.
~Note (2): Levi and Amanda Johnson are buried Forest Hill Cemetery Mausoleum, Kansas City, Missouri.