342 JOHNSON. JOHNSON. Johnson small time for reading and study, but what time he found he improved, and by perseverance and close attention, he laid the foundation for a practical, hard- earned education, which in after years brought rich reward. JOSEPH P. JOHNSON. After learning his trade, he carried on the business until July, 1X50, when he re- tired with a comfortable competency. He then entered into a co-partnership with others in mercantile pursuits ; but their ventures proving unfortunate, the accumu- lations of years were swept from him at a blow. He began again — this time to manufac- ture shoe boxes in a small way, in that portion of the town of Bridge-water now known as Brockton. He was at first suc- 1 essful, but reverses came, and he sold the business and again removed to Province- town. He now engaged in the wrecking business ; was very successful, and again retired with a small fortune. His creditors of former years of failure were now paid by him in full. Mr. Johnson was president of the Union Marine Insurance Company, and general agent for the Boston board of underwriters until, at seventy, he resigned ; has been a director of the First National Bank of Provincetown from its organization ; select- man for years ; member of the General Court eight terms, between 1850 and '80 ; member of the state Senate, 1882 and '83, and moderator of every town meeting for twenty-eight successive years. When he felt he could no longer serve, he received a series of resolutions adopted in town meet- ing assembled, thanking him for his just and impartial rulings. He has been forty years a Mason and Odd Fellow ; sir knight in Boston Commandery, K. T. ; has held several appointments of D. D. G. M. of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Johnson was first married the 28th of April, 1835, to Polly Cook, who died seven years later. His second marriage was with Susan Fitch, in 1S43. She lived but a few years, and at her death left two children : Mary and Susie Johnson. In 1848 he married Mary Wharf. She died in 1869, leaving three children : Josephine, George, and William Johnson. Mr. Johnson is a warm-hearted, gener- ous, public-spirited man, loved by the young and universally respected by his townsmen. His good deeds, unostentatious charities, and his uniformly courteous hospitality, will be a lasting monument to his good name. JOHNSON, Nathaniel Lafayette, son of Nathaniel and Martha Johnson, was horn in Dana, Worcester county, May 30, 1822. He received his early education in the common schools of his native town, anil about one year at New Salem Academy, after which he continued classical studies under a private tutor. He then for a time studied with a view to entering the legal profession ; that being abandoned, after teaching school two terms, he became a clerk in a country store. In 1844 he entered into business with George G. Braman, in the manufacture of palm-leaf hats, under the firm name of Braman & Johnson. 'This partnership be- in.^ dissolved in 1846, he entered into part- nership with Daniel Russell, late of Lynn. In 185 1 this firm was succeeded by John- son & Giddings, and two years later Mr. Johnson relinquished the mercantile part of the business, and continued the manu- facture of palm-leaf goods alone until 1S87. In 1S62, when the First National Bank of Barre was organized, Mr. Johnson be- came a director, and in 1883 was elected its president, which position he now holds. He is also one of the trustees of the Barre Savings Bank, an institution which he as- sisted in organizing.
