Edward Arnold Johnson

EDWARD ARNOLD JOHNSON, one of the successful contractors and business men of Washington, R. I., who now resides at this place, retired from active labor, is a member of an old and distinguished New England family which was founded in this country about the close of the seventeenth century by Elkanah Johnson and his brother, Elisha Johnson. These brothers settled in Rhode Island at the early date above mentioned, the former at Warwick and the latter at East Greenwich. After the division of the towns in 1741 they were respectively of Coventry and West Greenwich.

Edward Arnold Johnson, second son of Jenkins Jones and Cynthia A. (Arnold) Johnson, was born January 7, 1849. at Coventry, R. I. He attended there, as a child, the local public schools. It was his father's intention, as well as his own, when he grew to the age of judgment, that he should have the advantages of a complete education, and at the age of twenty-one he began to study under the direction of E. Benjamin Andrews, at Southfield, Conn., and continued until compelled to desist on account of ill health. Mr. Johnson, Sr., was a carpenter by trade, and his son, when he was no more than sixteen years of age, had entered his father's shop and learned the detail of that craft. Later he secured a position as watchman on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, a position which he retained for several years, after which he was transferred to Nipmuck, where he became station-master. In the year 1870, however, he retired from his railroad work and again took up carpentry, being employed as a carpenter in the various local mills for a period of from eight to nine years. Mr. Johnson was a man of very thrifty habits, which were stimulated and encouraged by a desire on his part to be engaged in business on his own account. As the result of this economy and his industrious behavior, he finally found himself in a position to invest his savings in local real estate, and pur- chased much valuable property in and about Washington, R. I. He also removed to this place and built his present fine mansion here, and also established a general store on the site now occupied by Knight & Andrews. After conducting this business for some four years, Mr. Johnson sold it and returned to the carpenter business, which he followed until the year 18?8, when he finally retired. In the meantime Mr. Johnson had acquired some valuable tenement property which he has devel- oped to a high point. Mr. Johnson has been very active for a number of years in local affairs at Washington, and has held a number of public offices here. He was chairman of the board of assessors for a considerable period, and in that responsible position performed a valuable service to the community. He is a Republican in politics, and a staunch supporter of the principles and policies of that party. He is a man of very domestic instincts, and finds his recreation and happiness in his own home. He is vice-president of the Coventry Center Six Principle Church Corporation, and was treasurer of the Six Principle Baptist Conference until that body joined the Warren Association, of which he is now a member. Mr. Johnson is much interested in history, especially in that branch of it which deals with genealogy, and has in his possession the complete records of many of the prominent Rhode Island families. Edward Arnold Johnson was united in marriage, January 5, 1879, with Sarah A. Tillinghast, daughter of Clarke and Sarah B. (Brown) Tillinghast of Exeter, R. I. Mrs. Johnson was born October 10, 1858. They are the parents of one daughter, Annie M. Johnson, born July 21, 1881, and died January 7, 1905. She married William W. .Anthony, October 28, 1903, the son of Frederick and Gertrude (Briggs) Anthony. Sarah Tillinghast Johnson is a direct descendant of Elder Pardon Tillinghast, a well-known figure in the Colonial history of this place, and also of Theopholis Whaley.

Thomas Williams Bicknell. The history of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Volume 8) online. (page 26 of 149)