Sangamon County IL Archives News.....Major Edward S Johnson, 1843-1921 1921
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Deb Haines http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000719 October 24, 2011, 8:34 pm

Journal Of IL State Historical Society, Vol 14 1921
Major E. S. Johnson, for twenty-five years custodian of the Lincoln monument, 
died at his residence Tuesday, Feb. 15th, at 6:30 o'clock, after a lingering 
illness of several months. Major Johnson was 77 years of age and one of the 
best known Civil war veterans in Illinois.

Major Johnson was born in Springfield, August 9, 1843, and has always lived 
here, with the exception of the years spent in the army and a short time in 
Chicago. In his youth he was a printer's apprentice. But the Civil war came 
along, and he enlisted in '61, with the Seventh Illinois infantry—the first 
regiment to leave the state. He was in the army four years and three months, 
seeing the fight through to the finish.

After the war he entered the lumber business, alternating management of a yard 
with managing of hotels here and in Chicago. During the World's Fair he ran a 
hotel in the lake city. Then came his appointment as custodian of the Lincoln 
monument. On the first of September, 1920, he had served for twenty-five years 
as custodian of the monument.

Major Johnson was a classmate of Robert T. Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, 
whose age exceeds the major's but eight days. His father and Mr. Lincoln were 
great friends, and so he had many memories of the martyred president. At oin-
time Lincoln used two rooms in the Johnson home for reception rooms. Sometime 
ago in discussing this Major Johnson said :

"It was at the time Lincoln was staying at the hotel, after having broken up 
housekeeping. He was well established in the hotel, but needed some reception 
rooms. So my father offered him two rooms in our house, and they were gladly 
received.

It was Sergeant E. S. Johnson of the Springfield Grays, afterward Company I, 
commanded by Captain John Cook, who had the honor of leading the first squad 
of armed men into Camp Yates. It was a detail to guard food supplies. Johnson 
was then a lad of about eighteen years. Company I was the first company of the 
Seventh Illinois Volunteer infantry, and the first in the state of Illinois to 
tender its services to Governor Richard Yates. That was about April 15, the 
day following the firing upon Fort Sumter.

Major Johnson was mustered into the three months service as a captain on April 
22, 1861. On July 22, 1861, he was mustered into the three-year service as a 
first lieutenant with the Seventh Illinois Volunteer infantry. He was promoted 
to the rank of captain February 15, 1862, and promoted to the rank of major 
April 22, 1864:. He was mustered out of service on July 9, 1864.

Major Johnson has two daughters surviving him. They are Mrs. Genevieve 
Laugeman and Mrs. W. C. Stith both of New York City.

The last rites for Major E. S. Johnson, Civil war veteran and custodian of the 
Lincoln monument, were held at the Central Baptist church at 2:30 o'clock, 
Thursday afternoon, Feb. 17, 1921, Bev. Euclid B. Rogers officiating.

Accompanied by the veterans corps of the old Governor's Guard, and Stephenson 
Post, No. 30, G. A. R., the body was borne to its last resting place. Full 
military rites were performed at the grave.

The pallbearers were: John B. Inman, John Underfanger, Robert H. Easley, 
Stuart Brown, William C. Sommer and George Fisher, three being members of the 
G. A. R., and three of the Governor's Guard.

Interment was in Oak Ridge cemetery in the Clinton lot, besides Major 
Johnson's wife and son.


MAJOR EDWARD S. JOHNSON. The death of Major Edward S. Johnson, though it came 
at the ripe age of seventy-seven years and was among the things naturally 
expected, brings a deep and natural regret to the people of this community 
where he was born and had spent practically all of his long and honorable 
life. It is especially felt by those who, like himself, were natives of 
Springfield and who, with him, have seen the city grow from a frontier town to 
a modern city, and those who were his comrades in arms in the great war for 
the union.

Formerly in his business career as a hotel keeper and later in his position as 
custodian of the National Lincoln Monument, he was necessarily brought into 
contact with all kinds of people from all parts of the world, and it was 
characteristic of his gentle and kindly nature that he was able to impress 
upon the memory of all with whom he was associated his personality which was 
the natural outgrowth of such a nature.

Edward S. Johnson was married August 10, 1869 to Miss Laura I. Clinton of 
Springfield, who died several years ago.

In his relation to the survivors of the civil war who went with him through 
the stirring scenes of conflict and endured with him the hardships of service, 
his attitude was ever that of one whose whole heart was devoted to the task of 
preserving the records of that time, keeping alive the old memories and 
strengthening the ties of comradeship.

As a member of the older military organizations of Springfield he did much to 
imbue the young men of his time with the spirit of patriotism and sacrifice 
and to help train men for possible service in the defense of their country, so 
that when the time came he was ready to take his place as a leader and to 
render adequate service to the government.

In Major Johnson, Springfield mourns a native son who has reflected honor upon 
her name, and a citizen who has always been found ready to respond to the call 
of duty. He has lived well and deserves a peaceful rest and eternal reward, 
for he wearied not in well doing.


Additional Comments:
Source: Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Published Quarterly 
by the Illinois State Historical Society, Springfield, Illinois. Vol. 14 April-
July, 1921 No. 1-2.

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