Johnson - Rev Elijah Rockwood
E.R Johnson: a man of biblical proportions
By Karen Zach, Around the County
Thursday, July 1, 2021 4:00 AM
Elijah Rockwood Johnson – common last name with an unusual middle name (his mother was a Rockwood, of course) and fairly unusual first, but forever was known as E.R. Johnson. Rev. E.R. Johnson to be more technical was born across from Canada in Ogdensburg, New York on May 14, 1831, and married Canadian-born, Phoebe Christina Cameron February 2nd, 1852 who passed away in May following their 24th anniversary, after gifting him with ten children (losing only one of those). The following year, he married Mary Jane Slipher in Butler County, Ohio. They had no children, but she gladly helped finish raising his plus he aided in raising her niece, Zoe. Both wives and the good reverend were well-loved individuals.
The majority of the Johnson children were born in Canada (Olivia, Harry, Charles, George B, Georgianna C, Alice, James M, Lewis) while Carrie (Lafayette) and Nellie (Whitestown) were born in the U.S. Two of these passed before his “final” demise, Lewis age 26 and Nellie passing at the exact same age. The Johnson children spread out, some remaining in Indiana, while others were off to Ohio, Texas, Illinois and even Washington state.
It is unknown where (or how much) his education was obtained but it is assumed in either New York or Canada. It is known that he taught school for several years, as he is listed as a teacher and a Wesleyan Methodist (not minister) in the 1861 Northumberland County, Canada census.
His ministerial training likely took place slowly (since they had several children) and finished up toward the end of the 1860s as he received his first church at Oakland Hill Mission (Methodist) at Lafayette in 1869 (may have even studied in our area). Working tirelessly building up his congregation as well as erecting a new church, in June of 1869, the good reverend collapsed. After a few days, he passed away. Lafayette’s Dr. Keifer, one of the most noted doctors of the state at the time pronounced him dead. At least one other doctor concurred with the diagnosis. His wife, Phoebe knew full well his wishes for Rev. J.W. Joyce to preach his funeral at his new church and no embalming as he was quite opposed to that practice; otherwise, his body was prepared for burial and placed in his casket. At the funeral, Rev. Joyce had finished a scripture lesson and began reading the complimentary obituary when a sudden large wind slammed the door shut. Upon that note, Rev. Johnson, startled along with hearing the compliments, raised up in the coffin long enough for several present including Joyce and a few women who fainted and/or screamed to notice before he collapsed back down. Although this happened in June, 1869 (Cville Journal), the newspapers all over the country carried a brief description of it for the rest of his time, even after his real demise!
Quickly, a couple of doctors present at the funeral and Rev. Joyce lifted E.R. from his casket, carried him home and began the nursing project to repair him back to good health, much to the delight but astonishment of friends and family. In two weeks, he was again in his church, this time preaching the word from his pulpit, but would never talk about his experience while in his cataleptic condition other than to say, “What I saw, I shall never tell to mortal man!” His real passing took place many years later at his home in Mulberry on September 27, 1902 (photo of tombstone from findagrave – lac)
The next few years, the Johnson’s were quite busy, Phoebe raising their many children, he becoming involved in various aspects of service. Seems his love was the children, becoming one of the best-known teachers of Sunday School and the young in general, even serving in high offices in the state as well as attending national conventions. Asked to speak in almost every type meeting involving the church, he even came to the Northwest Conference (April 1890) in little Waveland, Indiana and gave the opening sermon, as well as a 1500 word (several others did on topics such as Why am I a Methodist; Aspects of the Modern Pulpit Power) presentation on Civil Service Reform.
Rev. Johnson became heavily involved in the Good Templars (against drinking) about 1872, organizing groups, speaking at meetings (Old Settlers), entertaining (picnics, get-togethers) and promoting. He held local and state offices and became one of the most powerful Templars in the state of Indiana. His parishioners were very important to him and he, them, so he was asked to join family reunions, birthdays, and any get-togethers, really. One large affair was an amazing funeral, Dan Yount’s, held at the Methodist Church where Dan had been a member 50 years. The pallbearers were young men who worked at his factory while five ministers, including Johnson plus Gen. Manson took part.
By 1872, the family lived in Whitestown where their youngest was born. She was but four years old when her beloved mother, Phoebe Christina Cameron Johnson passed away May 28th in 1876 lacking six months of her 40th birthday and is buried in Spring Vale cemetery at Lafayette. So is he with matching stones!
In the years to come, he was back and forth in Central Indiana but somewhat south (Summit Grove as example) and North as well (LaPorte County where a couple of their children are buried. In the late 1870s he was in Montgomery County (Pleasant Hill, Mace area) then left awhile (Clermont 1886) and was back again for more MoCo preaching in the late 1880s and early 1890s, often returning here to perform marriages for friends or attend an anniversary. Then, sometimes he’d just stop in to visit on his way to and fro.
Didn’t take any guff from anyone either. There was a great hype in regards to the ghost of Burton Dazey that Rev. Johnson put to rest, squelching the rumors by telling that he was with him at his death. Normal everything. He was with Dazey quite often (usually alone, occasionally with others) during the last illness, never seeing or feeling any lights or ghost-like figures. All rumor.
Another problem was that the Soap Factory correspondent in 1890 without a name to his column bombasted the reverend three times saying that he closed Mt. Olivet Church in 85, 86 and 87 to prohibition speakers and Democrats but let the Republicans hold meetings there. The good rev. put them all in their place as he said he was preaching across the state at that time and he was totally opposed to using churches for anything but churches. Also gave the trustees names at the end of his newspaper article so that anyone could check with them for the truth. Love this guy!
He wrote another letter as he left our area in late 1890, telling of the folks at Rolling Prairie, Indiana meeting them with well loaded baskets (not just for their meal of welcome but potatoes, sugar, coffee and the like for future days as they got settled). “I am thankful to my friends in the Crawfordsville circuit and pray God may bless them all!” was the conclusion and mine, too!
Karen Zach is the editor of Montgomery Memories, our monthly magazine all about Montgomery County. Her column, Around the County, appears each Thursday in The Paper of Montgomery County.
The majority of the Johnson children were born in Canada (Olivia, Harry, Charles, George B, Georgianna C, Alice, James M, Lewis) while Carrie (Lafayette) and Nellie (Whitestown) were born in the U.S. Two of these passed before his “final” demise, Lewis age 26 and Nellie passing at the exact same age. The Johnson children spread out, some remaining in Indiana, while others were off to Ohio, Texas, Illinois and even Washington state.
It is unknown where (or how much) his education was obtained but it is assumed in either New York or Canada. It is known that he taught school for several years, as he is listed as a teacher and a Wesleyan Methodist (not minister) in the 1861 Northumberland County, Canada census.
His ministerial training likely took place slowly (since they had several children) and finished up toward the end of the 1860s as he received his first church at Oakland Hill Mission (Methodist) at Lafayette in 1869 (may have even studied in our area). Working tirelessly building up his congregation as well as erecting a new church, in June of 1869, the good reverend collapsed. After a few days, he passed away. Lafayette’s Dr. Keifer, one of the most noted doctors of the state at the time pronounced him dead. At least one other doctor concurred with the diagnosis. His wife, Phoebe knew full well his wishes for Rev. J.W. Joyce to preach his funeral at his new church and no embalming as he was quite opposed to that practice; otherwise, his body was prepared for burial and placed in his casket. At the funeral, Rev. Joyce had finished a scripture lesson and began reading the complimentary obituary when a sudden large wind slammed the door shut. Upon that note, Rev. Johnson, startled along with hearing the compliments, raised up in the coffin long enough for several present including Joyce and a few women who fainted and/or screamed to notice before he collapsed back down. Although this happened in June, 1869 (Cville Journal), the newspapers all over the country carried a brief description of it for the rest of his time, even after his real demise!
Quickly, a couple of doctors present at the funeral and Rev. Joyce lifted E.R. from his casket, carried him home and began the nursing project to repair him back to good health, much to the delight but astonishment of friends and family. In two weeks, he was again in his church, this time preaching the word from his pulpit, but would never talk about his experience while in his cataleptic condition other than to say, “What I saw, I shall never tell to mortal man!” His real passing took place many years later at his home in Mulberry on September 27, 1902 (photo of tombstone from findagrave – lac)
The next few years, the Johnson’s were quite busy, Phoebe raising their many children, he becoming involved in various aspects of service. Seems his love was the children, becoming one of the best-known teachers of Sunday School and the young in general, even serving in high offices in the state as well as attending national conventions. Asked to speak in almost every type meeting involving the church, he even came to the Northwest Conference (April 1890) in little Waveland, Indiana and gave the opening sermon, as well as a 1500 word (several others did on topics such as Why am I a Methodist; Aspects of the Modern Pulpit Power) presentation on Civil Service Reform.
Rev. Johnson became heavily involved in the Good Templars (against drinking) about 1872, organizing groups, speaking at meetings (Old Settlers), entertaining (picnics, get-togethers) and promoting. He held local and state offices and became one of the most powerful Templars in the state of Indiana. His parishioners were very important to him and he, them, so he was asked to join family reunions, birthdays, and any get-togethers, really. One large affair was an amazing funeral, Dan Yount’s, held at the Methodist Church where Dan had been a member 50 years. The pallbearers were young men who worked at his factory while five ministers, including Johnson plus Gen. Manson took part.
By 1872, the family lived in Whitestown where their youngest was born. She was but four years old when her beloved mother, Phoebe Christina Cameron Johnson passed away May 28th in 1876 lacking six months of her 40th birthday and is buried in Spring Vale cemetery at Lafayette. So is he with matching stones!
In the years to come, he was back and forth in Central Indiana but somewhat south (Summit Grove as example) and North as well (LaPorte County where a couple of their children are buried. In the late 1870s he was in Montgomery County (Pleasant Hill, Mace area) then left awhile (Clermont 1886) and was back again for more MoCo preaching in the late 1880s and early 1890s, often returning here to perform marriages for friends or attend an anniversary. Then, sometimes he’d just stop in to visit on his way to and fro.
Didn’t take any guff from anyone either. There was a great hype in regards to the ghost of Burton Dazey that Rev. Johnson put to rest, squelching the rumors by telling that he was with him at his death. Normal everything. He was with Dazey quite often (usually alone, occasionally with others) during the last illness, never seeing or feeling any lights or ghost-like figures. All rumor.
Another problem was that the Soap Factory correspondent in 1890 without a name to his column bombasted the reverend three times saying that he closed Mt. Olivet Church in 85, 86 and 87 to prohibition speakers and Democrats but let the Republicans hold meetings there. The good rev. put them all in their place as he said he was preaching across the state at that time and he was totally opposed to using churches for anything but churches. Also gave the trustees names at the end of his newspaper article so that anyone could check with them for the truth. Love this guy!
He wrote another letter as he left our area in late 1890, telling of the folks at Rolling Prairie, Indiana meeting them with well loaded baskets (not just for their meal of welcome but potatoes, sugar, coffee and the like for future days as they got settled). “I am thankful to my friends in the Crawfordsville circuit and pray God may bless them all!” was the conclusion and mine, too!
Karen Zach is the editor of Montgomery Memories, our monthly magazine all about Montgomery County. Her column, Around the County, appears each Thursday in The Paper of Montgomery County.
The many friends and acquaintances of Rev. E. R. Johnson living in Montgomery County will be glad to look on the likeness of his features as shown in the above picture. He was on the Crawfordsville circuit for several years and held other charges in the county at different times. On Wednesday, May 14, he celebrated his seventy first birthday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ollie Aldridge, of Summit Grove, Vermillion County.
Rev. Johnson was born in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County, New York May 14, 1831. He was married Feb. 2, 1852 to Christiana Cameron, who died May 28, 1876. Of this union ten children were born, eight of whom are living. In 1877 he was married to Mary Jane Slipher, of Mulberry, Ind.
Rev. Johnson has been a minister of the M. E. Church for forty four years and during this long service in the church, he has had charge of some of the best churches in the Northwest Conference.
In his younger days he was very active and aggressive in church work and was particularly noted for his unflinching tenacity in holding churches to strict care of the individual members. He is widely known in church and conference circles and has always been not alone a minister to a community, but a citizen who sought to destroy evil of every form wherever found.
Rev. Johnson has performed the marriage ceremony of probably as many people as any minister his age. He performed the marriage ceremony of Rev. Demetrius Tillotson and many other noted ministers in the M. E. Church.
Although somewhat advanced in years, he is yet an active worker and preacher in the M. E. Church and religious organizations of all kinds. He was superannuated in 1898 and at present is living at his home in Mulberry with his wife and niece, Miss Vanzoa Slipher.