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 JOHNSON

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JOHNSON

Johnson, Joseph (177G-18G2).

Joseph Johnson, physician and histor- ian, the fourth son of William and Sarah Nightingale Johnson, was born in Mt. Pleasant, near Charleston, on the fif- teenth of June, 1776. His father Wil- liam Johnson was one of the leaders of the Revolutionary movement in South Carolina and was imprisoned in St. Augustine, Florida, during a part of the Revolution.

Dr. Johnson went as a lad to schools and the College of Charleston, taking at the latter two medals for Greek and Latin, which are still in possession of some of his descendants. From the Col- lege of Charleston he went to the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania from which he re- ceived the degree of doctor of medicine in 1797. His graduating essay was "An Experimental Inquiry into the Proper- ties of Carbonic Acid Gas or Fixed Air; Its Mode of Operation, Use in Disease, Most Effectual Method of Relieving Animals Affected by it." He returned to Charleston where he practised for many years.

He was president of the Medical Soci- ety of South CaroHna in 1808 and 1809, and practised for about fifty years in Charles- ton.

On the fifth of October, 1802, he married Catherine Bonneau, the fourth daughter of Francis and Hannah Elfe Bonneau and had fifteen children. Their third child, Francis, became a doctor.

Joseph Johnson died at the house of his twelfth child, the Rev. R. P. Johnson, in Pineville, South Carolina, October 6, 1862, aged eighty-six years.

Among Dr. Johnson's important writ- ings are;

"Oration" dehvered before the Medical Society of South Carolina at the anniver- sary meeting, December 24, 1807, and published at their request.

"On the Properties and Uses of Eufa- toria." ("Charleston Medical Journal.")

"Some Account of the Origin and Prevention of Yellow Fever in Charles- ton, South Carolina." (Ibid., 1849, vol. iv.)

" The Traditions and Reminiscences of the Revolution," pubHshed in 1851. This, the most important of his works, is a book of great historical value.

" Observation on the Uses of Hydro- cyanic Acid in the Treatment of Pneu- monia and Phthsis." " Charleston Med- ica Journal," September, 1853, vol. viii.)

" The Alleged Connection Between the Phases of the Moon and Quantity of Rain." (Ibid., July, 1854, vol. ix.)

F. B. J.

A short biography may be found in "Emi- nent and Representative Men of CaroUna." Several portaits are in possession of his descendants and one is in the South Car- ohna Hall at Charleston, South Carolina.

Johnson, Laurence (1845-1893).

Laurence Johnson was born in South Butler, Wayne County, New York, June 7, 1845, and died of pneumonia in New York City, March 18, 1893. His father, the Hon. Thomas Johnson, was a native of Saratoga and of Scotch descent, while his mother's ancestors were from the North of Ireland.

His education until his sixteenth year was gained in the " district school," after which he became a student in Falley Seminary, at Fulton, Oswego County, at that time one of the best academies in the state. Those who knew young Johnson then declared that he was an excellent student, his dehght being the study of the natural sciences, especially chemistry and microscopy. In the winter of 1862 he taught a district school. When President Lincoln issued a new call for men, Laurence abandoned his school and enlisted in Company A, Ninth New York Heavy Artillery. His first service was in the defense of Washing- ton. The war being closed, he tendered his resignation. May 9, 1865. His interest in military affairs remained unabated, and in his library is one of the most complete lists of histories of the Civil War to be found in any private or public collection.

He became a student in the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which