The Bonaparte Record
29 Aug 1922
Bonaparte, Van Buren Co. IA

Thomas B. Johnson.

Thomas Benton Johnson was born in Iowa, August 12, 1842, and passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Chester C. Stanley, in San Jose, Calif. August 17, 1922, aged eighty years and five days.

He grew to manhood in Iowa and in 1873 was married to Miss Jane Perkins, who passed away after a few short years. To this union was born a daughter, Hallie E., the late Mrs. Iowa E. Hunter, and a son, William Barton, who resides in California. In 1882 Mr. Johnson married Miss Josephine Whitmore, also of Bonaparte, but after only twelve years, the grim reaper again robbed him of his mate, and he never remarried. Two children were born to them, Pansy, and Margaret, who died in infancy.

After the marriage of his daughter, Hallie, to Mr. Hunter, Mr. Johnson accompanied by Bart and Pansy went to California and they made their home at Willits, Mendocino Co., with Mr. Johnson's widowed sister, Mrs. Margaret Willits, until the time of her death in 1902.

Then, his children all married, he divided his time between California and Iowa, making several trips back and forth and living while in Iowa with his daughter, Hallie. But the longing for California would return and he would spend most of his time while there with his daughter, Pansy, with whom he had made his home for the past few years.

Although eighty years of age, Mr. Johnson looked many years younger and when one looked at him, old age lost some of its terror. Not a trace of childishness could one detect, every faculty alert, a wonderful memory and an interest in all that happened, made him indeed marvelously well preserved. Everyone who knew him was his friend, young people especially because he always entered into the spirit of their fun in his quiet way. Always the kindest and most patient of men, he never complained, even in the most trying moments of his illness.

His death was due to paralysis, with which he was stricken on July 26, 1922.

Funeral services were held at the California Crematorium at Oakland, California, on Saturday, August 19, at 3 o'clock P.M., where his ashes will rest until a later date when they will be interred in the family plot at Willits, California.