Mrs. Joseph Johnson died very suddenly Monday afternoon of a pulmonary hemorrhage. She was cleaning house and was working out in the yard when stricken. She managed to get into the house and called Dr. J. G. Smith over the phone. When he arrived she was lying on the couch, and recognizing him, complained of a pain in the chest. She was sinking rapidly then and was soon unconscious. Dr. Smith called Mrs. Hathaway, who lived next door, and she called Dr. Fees, but nothing could be done to save her. Death came surely and swiftly and her earth life was ended in less than half an hour from the time she was stricken. The funeral will be held at the Christian church at 2 o’clock today, Elder Almus Adams of Omaha officiating. Melvina Elizabeth White was born in Illinois June 10, 1845, and came to Nebraska with her parents in 1855. She was married to Joseph Johnson Sept. 10, 1862, and of this union eight children were born, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Mrs. Daniel Epling and Mrs. O. M. Matthews of Blair, Mrs. H. A. Baxter of Maxwell Neb., Mrs. Samuel Wilson and Ray Johnson, Decatur, Neb. For thirty seven years she lived on a homestead north of Blair, moving to town in the spring of 1901. On Jan. 8th, 1902 Mr. Johnson died, and since that time Mrs. Johnson has lived alone a good deal and was alone when death came so suddenly to her. Besides the children, Mrs. Johnson leaves one brother, Fred White of Flagler, Colorado and two sisters, Mrs. James Bryant of Tekamah and Mrs. Cassie Rice of Nora, Neb. Mrs. Johnson had been a faithful member of the Church of God since 1893 and was also a member of the W.R.C. and W.C.T.U. She was a good wife and mother and a good and faithful citizen in the community. She will be missed in many ways. The Pilot joins her many friends in extending sympathy to the sorrowing children who were called so suddenly to the house of mourning.

#2-21 Oct., 1909 - Blair Democrat - Melvina Elizabeth (White) Johnson

DIES VERY SUDDENLY

It was a great shock to the community Monday evening when it was learned that Mrs. Joseph Johnson had died of heart failure at about four o’clock that afternoon.

Mrs. Johnson had been cleaning house that day, and when the children passed her home going to school, she remarked to them that she wished she was a school girl again. About three o’clock she began feeling badly and called a doctor. The physician failed to come soon enough to please her and she called him again, and when he arrived at her home he found her unconscious. All efforts to revive her failed, and she passed peacefully away.

Melvin Elizabeth White was born in Illinois, June 10, 1845, and came to Nebraska with her parents in 1856. On June 10, 1862 she was married to Joseph Johnson, and to this union eight children were born, three of them dying in childhood. Those living are Mrs. Anna Eppling of Blair; Mrs. Una Baxter of Maxwell, Neb.; Mrs. Bertha Mathews of Blair; Mrs. Effie Wilson and Ray Johnson of Decatur. Deceased also leaves a brother, Fred White who lives at Flagler, Col., and two sisters, Mrs. Alma Bryant of Tekamah and Mrs. Cassie Rice of Nora.

After being married she lived two years in Cuming City, and for the next thirty seven years lived on the old homestead north of Blair, moving to this city in 1901 where her husband died the following winter. In 1893 Mrs. Johnson united with the Church of God and was a true and faithful member until her death.

One brother, Charles White, died very suddenly in this city some twenty years ago with the same malady. He stepped into Dr. Taylor’s drug store and complained of not feeling well and before anything could be done for him he became unconscious and death followed in a few minutes after.

In the death of Mrs. Johnson, the community loses another of its pioneers who came here in the early days and lived through the many trials and hardships encountered in all new countries. She was a faithful wife and fond mother, always willing to forego pleasures that her husband and children might the better enjoy life, and the memory the children will have of her will be of a mother whose life was a worthy example for them all to emulate.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #115724308