James Johnson

James Johnson who died in 1848 at age 65, came to Liverpool before 1809. According to an interview with Lewis Keith that was published in the 1894 Liverpool Telegraph Mr. Johnson was a dark-browed, austere gentleman who was at times, inclined to the use of strong language.

Johnson was a salt manufacturer who has swampland along the lake drained and the lumber cleaned. Mr. Johnson’s prosperous business employed twenty people. He built the Union Building which was located in the park - hence the name Johnson Park. The first floor of the building was a school and the second floor a meeting place for the various religious groups. Around the building was the first cemetery. The Union Building was built in 1826 with funds raised by a public tax at a cost of $1,500. The Union Building was moved to 215 Second Street 1846. It was torn down in 1995.

In 1863 he built the First Presbyterian Church. The building was designed by Horatio White and cost $2,200. Next to the James Johnson monument is the tree trunk monument of James Johnson, Jr. The broken-off tree is symbolic of the end of life. This type of monument was usually made of limestone and was popular in the second half of the 18th through 19th century. The major source for these monuments was Indiana. Two fraternal societies, the Modern Woodsmen of America and the Woodmen of the World, provided insurance and also recommended these rustic tpe monuments. There was a local chapter of Woodsmen of the World in Liverpool, by powder. The noise of the explosion awoke the family, and on getting up to see what was the matter, they found all the doors of the house open, and the safe missing. On going to the front door, the burglars cried out “if one of you stir out of doors we’ll murder the whole family.” The burglars then made their escape, having disturbed nothing in the safe, or taking anything else out of the house. The safe contained no money.” Journal 1859

Transcribed By:

Cadence M. ,Emma L.

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