Johnson - Grant - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

The community was shocked by the announcement of the death of Grant Johnson Saturday with typhoid fever at the home of his parents near Mace.  He was a young man of fine attainments and his future seemed to be especially promising. A few years ago he graduated from DePauw University with honors. As an orator he easily excelled, securing first place at the state oratorical contest and then winning the interstate contest. He was an honored member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon college fraternity. After graduation he went to Chicago where he secured a position as a newspaper writer which he filled with ability. He quit that and engaged in the practice of law and was fast making an enviable place for himself at the Cook County bar.  His untimely death is the cause of sorrow among his many friends.  The funeral was conducted at the ME Church in Crawfordsville at 3 p.m. Sunday by Rev. Switzer. Interment at Oak Hill. – kbz

It is not often that it becomes a duty to record a sadder death than that of Robert Grant Johnson, which occurred at an early hour this morning at the home of his father, east of the city.

Mr. Johnson returned from Chicago several weeks ago quite ill and was soon down with typhoid fever. He seemed to have improved for a week past and last evening the fever had left him, but he was so weak that he could not rally and death closed the scene.

Grant Johnson, as he was familiarly known, was born near this city in 1865. He attended the district schools where he was a promising scholar and in 1882 he entered Wabash College. The following fall he entered DePauw where he graduated in 1888. Mr. Johnson was one of the most distinguishing students ever going through the institution, being noted for his extraordinary oratorical ability. He won many honors while in college and in 1888 took the prize at the State Oratorical contest. In the same spring he won the Inter-State contest by the highest grade ever given the winner of that honor. His oration “The Principles of Political Parties” is a model of concise thought and expression. After graduating he stumped the State for Harrison in the campaign of ’88 and after the election went to Chicago, where he was a member of the City Press Association. In the fall of ’89 he entered the senior class in the Chicago Law College and graduated the following June, winning the first prize for the best essay. Since last June he has been with the law firm of Sheldon & Sheldon, holding the responsible position of managing clerk. His death is a shock to the community where he is so well and favorably known. He was heartily liked by all for his genial, open ways and many noble qualities. A most promising young life has been blotted out in its bright promising beginning. The funeral services will occur tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the Methodist Episcopal Church in this city, Rev. G. W. Switzer officiating. Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Monday, 15 June 1891