It becomes our sad duty to chronicle the demise of the oldest
resident of Forestville, Mr. Richard Johnson, which took place at the home
of his daughter, Mrs. M. Caldwell of this place on Tuesday, Nov. 15th.
Mr. Johnson was in his 98th year at the time of his death, and was in
the full possession of his faculties with the exception of a slight
dimness in his vision. He was remarkably well kept, and robust in
appearance for a man of his years. He was the last and youngest child of
a family remarkable for their longevity, several members of which
reached extreme old age.
Mr. Johnson was born on the old Johnson homestead, lot No. 3, con. A,
Charlotteville, upon which he lived most of his life and is now owned by
his youngest son Coville.
Mr. Johnson came of good old U. E. L. stock, his father being the old
pioneer Loyalist Lawrence Johnson, one of the first deacons of the
Vittoria Baptist Church, when it was organized in 1804. His mother was
Margaret Montross, sister of the U. E. L. pioneers Levi, Peter and Silas
Montross.
In early life Mr. Johnson joined the Baptist Church and was the last
survivor of the pioneer organizers of the Forestville Baptist Church and
for a great many years was the clerk of the church. He was highly
esteemed for his exemplary and consistent christian [sic] life. In
politics, he was as most of the Loyalists were, a life long
Conservative.
At the age of 19 Oct 1833 [sic] he married Eliza
Ann Kern, daughter of Christopher Kern. They were blessed with a family
of thirteen, eight boys and five girls, of whom eleven are still
living, viz, Lawrence, of Oregon; Christopher, Richard and Coville, of
Forestville; Samuel and Albert of Alberta; Edward of Oklahoma; Mrs. M.
Caldwell, and Mrs. W. Price, of Forestville; Mrs. A. Slaght, of
Michigan; and Mrs. J. DeWitt, of New Mexico.
The funeral services which were held in the Baptist Church here, were
attended by a large number of relatives and friends, an appropriate and
forceful sermon being preached by the pastor, D. N. Cameron.
