Charles Lewis Johnson
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 8 Jun 1836 - New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Christening:
Death: 26 May 1910 - 6100 Howard St., New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Burial: 27 May 1910 - Lafayette Cemetery No 1, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Captain Peter Johnson
Mother:
Spouses and Children
1. *Rosena Smith
Marriage: 19 Aug 1857 - the Rampart Street residence of the rector of Christchurch Cathedral, New Orleans, LA.
Children:
1. Shirley B. Johnson
2. Wilmer Holmes Johnson
3. Lew Johnson
4. Warren Johnson
5. Eads Johnson
6. Rosena Keatings Johnson
Notes
General:
Per Pitre Trail
Notes for Lewis Johnson:
- Lewis Johnson's birth was reported on 6 October 1845 by Jacob Shultz, native of Prussia, age 39, residing between Elysian Fields & Marigny St., 3rd municipality.
- Owner & President Johnson Iron Works, Ltd. (begun 1864)
- Appointed to Sewerage and Water Board 13 September 1899; Chairman of Executive Committee 21 January 1901; President Pro Tem 10 March 1904
- Helped develop Audubon Park; President of Audubon Park Board Commission 1903-1910
- 1860 Natchitoches, Louisiana (p. 142, I146): Lewis Johnson 24 engineer, Rosina 21 (Eng), Shirley 2; James Ringgold 60 laborer (Maryland), Edward Nabral 30 laborer
- 1870 New Orleans (1st ward, p. 170, roll #519, 15 June 1870): Lewis Johnson 33 machinist [owns $5000 real estate], wife Rosina 31 (Eng), Shirley 12 at school, Wilmer 4; father-in-law Joseph Smith 75 (Eng) at home; domestic servant Catherine Hathaway 16.
- 17 February 1874 Petition from citizens of the town on Carrollton, feeling that they are "overburdened with taxation by our city government, humbly ask that Carrollton may be annexed to the city of New Orleans". Lewis Johnson's name appears.
- 15 June 1880 New Orleans, 85 Erato Street (ED 8, W2): Leuis Johnson 44 engineer (N.O.-?-?), wife Rosena 40 (Eng-N.O.-Eng), Stanley (Shirley) 22 clerk in store, Wilmer 14 at school, Leu 9, Warren 4, Eads 2, Henry Stearns 28 (Minn) boarder, clerk, Edwin Hubbel 10, boarder, at school; Margaret Heffins 27 (IRE), servant, Eddie Heffins 3, Lizzie Donahue 19, servant, Bridget Joyce 15 (AL), servant
- 1890 N.O. city directory: Lewis Johnson, Johnson Iron Works president, 85 Erato
- 1894 Book of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Louisiana: The Johnson Iron Works, Limited, situated on Julia Street, extending from Delta to Water, are among the largest of the kind in the South. They have a modern equipment and capacity for the employment of 100 hands in the various departments. At present seventy are employed upon marine work and general jobbing and repairing for steamboats, saw-mills, electric plants, printing houses, etc., and also upon railroad work. The facilities for boiler repair work here are especially good. These works were established in 1869. They were moved to their present site in 1872, and the company was incorporated in 1889. It has $40,000 capital, and does a business of about $100,000 a year. Lewis Johnson is its President, Henry D. Stearns, Secretary and Treasurer; W.H. Johnson, Cashier, and George Koffsky, Superintendent. Mr. Lewis Johnson is a native of New Orleans, and almost a life-long resident. He is a member of the Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Audubon Park Commissioners, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Engineering Association of the South.
- 1900 New Orleans (ED 5, p. 13A): Lewis Johnson 65 (Jun 1834) foundry, wife of 43 years Rosina S. 62 (May 1838; Eng-Eng-Eng) [5 of 6 children still living], daughter Lew 29 (Feb 1871), & husband of 5 years John Richardson 29 (Apr 1871; LA-AL-VA) clerk RR office [3 of 3 children still living], Ethlyn 4 (May 1896), Johnson L. 2 (Jul 1897), John B. 5 months (Jan 1900); son Warren Johnson 24 (Dec 1875) clerk foundry office; servant/nurse Ida Florence 24 (Dec 1875).
- 1910 New Orleans, 6109 Howard Street: Lewis Johnson 72 foundry owner/retired, wife of 50 years Rosena 70 [5 of 6 children still living], dau Lew Richardson 37 [mar. 15 yrs.; 3 children], widowed son Warren Johnson 32 manufacturer, granddaughter Bessie M. 6.
- Soard's Elite Book 1890-1, 1898 & 1910: 85 Erato St., Lewis Johnson, Wilmer Johnson, Albert Smith & Henry Stearns
- City Directory 1915: Mrs. Lewis Johnson, 9 LaSalle Pl.
The JOHNSON IRON WORKS, Ltd., Office and Ship Yards, Patterson, Morgan and Seguin Sts., Algiers Phone: Algiers 491, P. O. Drawer 241, New Orleans; Henry D. Stearns, Pres., Wilmer H. Johnson, Sec. & Treas.
- [Times-Picayune: Monday, Oct. 2, 1916]: "To perpetuate the name and memory of a man who did much for New Orleans, a number of friends of the late Lewis Johnson have erected a memorial which has been placed in front of the purification plant of the Sewerage and Water Board. It is of solid granite, with a bronze tablet. Mr. Johnson was president of the Sewerage and Water Board, was president of the Audubon Park Commission, and was always in the front rank of those having at heart the uplift of the people and the upbuilding of the city."
- 1920 New Orleans, Lasalle Place (ED 247, W14, p. 18A): Warren Johnson 43 (widower), engineer - own office (LA-LA-Eng), Rosina Johnson 88 mother (widow) emmig. 1845 (Eng-Eng-Eng), Lew Richardson 46 daughter (widow) (LA-LA-Eng), Eads Johnson Jr. 8 nephew (NJ-LA-NJ), Lewis Johnson 5 nephew (NJ-LA-NJ), Lucy Allen 19 maid (B), Mary Alexander 38 cook (B)
Per Times-Picayune 5/27/1910 Page 9
LEWIS JOHNSON,
LEADER IN CIVIC PROGRESS, DEAD
Lewis Johnson, a public-spirited and representative citizen, to whose memory the splendid sewerage and water system will stand as a monument, died at his residence, in Howard Street, near Palmer Avenue, at 10:30 o'clock last night, after an illness of several months, and Mr. Johnson's death marks the close of a career whose constant activities always attained the goal sought.
Mr. Johnson was 74 years of age, and although he was a man who was never content unless actively engaged, his failing health compelled him to retire some time ago from the Johnson Iron Works Company, a great business which he had built up from a modest machine shop. Mr. Johnson was born in New Orleans, and was the son of Captain Peter Johnson, the owner and commander of a sailing vessel. He attended private schools and early showed a desire for engineering and mechanical work. Upon leaving school he went into a machine shop as an apprentice, and learned the trade thoroughly. As a young man he was an engineer on a river steamboat, and followed this for several years, finally leaving the river to start a machine shop.
Mr. Johnson combined the skill of the thorough artisan with the scientific mind of an engineering genius, and his business rapidly grew and developed until it became known all over the South as the Johnson Iron Works. The business was founded over forty years ago. Mr. Johnson gave much of his time to his business, and in his leisure moments he read extensively. He was considered one of the best-read men in the city, and had a wide knowledge covering many subjects. He became a charter member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Mr. Johnson's great work as a citizen was with the Sewerage and Water Board. He was appointed to the board on Sept. 13, 1899, by Mayor Walter Flower, and his practical knowledge served the board in good stead at all times. He was an earnest and conscientious worker and gave the best that he had to the service of the city. On Jan. 21, 1901, he was made chairman of the executive committee, and showed a ready ability in directing the operations of the body.
He was elected president pro tem of the board on March 10, 1904, and was at the helm during the most trying and difficult period. The great work of construction was then forward, and Mr. Johnson as president had many difficulties to face and obstacles to overcome. He met every obstacle, however, with his usual good judgment and determination, and remained at his post until the greater portion of the work was done, resigning only on June 22, 1909, when failing health compelled him to take a rest. When Mr. Johnson retired the board gave him a testimonial that was always a source of gratification and pride to him, for it was a recognition of conscientious labor well expended. The testimonial paid the highest tribute possible to the retiring president and closed with the resolution that "his record will ever be an example to all true citizens and public servants."
Another life-work of Mr. Johnson's was the development of Audubon Park. He was a member of the board for many years, and upon the death of J. Ward Gurley, was chosen as president, being re-elected each succeeding term. He was instrumental in having the commission adopt the plans of Olmstead Brothers of Brookline, Mass., the famous park landscape designers, and was responsible for many other improvements in the park.
Fifty-three years ago Mr. Johnson married Miss Rosena Smith, and Mrs. Johnson and the following children survive: Mrs. H. D. Stearns, Mrs. Lew Johnson Richardson, W. H. Johnson, Warren Johnson and Eads Johnson. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The funeral will take place this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock from the Johnson residence in Howard Street. Rev. Dr. John T. Foster, of Annunciation Church, and Rev. A. R. Edbrooke, of Grace Church, will conduct the services. Interment will be in Washington Cemetery.
Per Times-Picayune 5/28/1910 Page 5
LEWIS JOHNSON
Funeral of Public-Spirited and Honored Citizen
Large Gathering From Every Walk of Life to Pay Tribute to His Memory
The funeral of Lewis Johnson yesterday afternoon was in a measure a public tribute to the deceased, whose services in life were inestimable value to the city.
The Johnson home, in Howard Street, just off Palmer Avenue, was crowded throughout the afternoon with friends and representative men of the city, and added to the gathering were scores of the employes of the Sewerage and Water Board and a representation from the men in the Johnson Iron Works, who had such esteem and veneration for their ever-thoughtful and considerate employer.
The crowning achievement of Mr. Johnson's active and useful life was the Sewerage and Water Board. He was one of the men responsible for the splendid system of water and sewerage that the city now enjoys, and as president pro tem of the board during the trying period when the great work was in process of construction he gave his vast experience and wonderful technical knowledge to the campaign of development, remaining constantly at the head of affairs, and expecting no reward beyond the satisfaction he would feel at seeing the work successful.
When it was known yesterday that Mr. Johnson had died during Thursday night, George G. Earl, superintendent of the Sewerage and Water Board, issued orders to close all departments at noon, out of respect for the man who had done so much for the service. Mr. Earl himself, the heads of the various departments and scores of the employes from all branches visited the house or mourning, and remained during the impressive funeral service. The Sewerage and Water Board employes sent to the Johnson residence several beautiful floral designs.
Another mark of respect shown for Mr. Johnson was the half-masting of the flag on the City Hall. This was done by order of Acting Mayor John J. Frawley, who was a member of the Sewerage and Water Board during the splendid administration of Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Frawley, accompanied by the mayor's secretary, Rudolph Hufft, and a number of the city officials, including all the members of the Sewerage and Water Board now in the city, visited the house for the funeral services.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. John T. Foster, rector of the Free Church of the Annunciation, and Rev. A. R. Edbrooke, rector of Grace Church, and the interment was in the Washington Cemetery.
The following were the pallbearers: Paul Gelpi, Harry H. Hall, George Koffsky, C. B. McKinney, A. W. Moffat, H. Gibbs Morgan, Chas. J. Theard and R. M. Walmsley.
Mr. Johnson's death was generally considered a serious blow to the community in which he lived and worked for so many years. The loss is a particularly heavy one to the large force of men employed in the Johnson Iron Works. Mr. Johnson was altogether popular and well liked by his men, and always looked out for them in every way possible.