South Bend Register
March 17, 1870

Peter Johnson

Judge Johnson, one of the first settlers in this place, died at the residence of his son, Evan C. Johnson, on Thursday last, of paralysis, aged 82 years.

Judge Johnson was born in Pensylvania (sic) in 1788.  In his early years he followed boating on the Monongehala (sic), Ohio, Mississippi and Red rivers, making trips with keel boats, from Pittsburgh to New Orleans and up the Red river, which frequently occupied the entire year.  It was while on one of these trips that he saw the first steamer that ever ran the Mississippi.

In 1812 he was married to a Miss Chalfant, who yet survives him.  Two years after his marriage he removed to Ohio, and, after living there four years, moved to Wayne county, in this State, where he resided up to the year 1828.  He was a builder by occupation, and while living in Wayne, he built the "Old Friends' Church," which is still standing.  In 1828 he came to Logansport and two years later he, in company with his sons, Evan and Lee, came to this place, making their appearance here in August, 1830.  The country pleased them so well that they made up their minds to locate here permanently.

Judge Johnson was just the man for a new place.  Industrious, energetic, enterprising, he soon made his presence felt in our new town, then struggling hard for an existence.  In less than nine months after his arrival here, with no saw mills nearer than Elkhart, and laboring under the greatest disadvantages, he, with the assistance of his sons, built "Michigan" tavern, the first frame house erected in South Bend.  It stood on the site where Coonley & Co.'s drugstore now is, and was known in later days as the "Old American."  Transportation was then so scarce, and sawed lumber so difficult to get that the studding, rafters, joists, etc., were split from oak trees, and afterwards, hewed into shape.  Under such difficulties the erection of so large a building was a great undertaking and quite an event in the early history of South Bend.  Judge Johnson kept (the) hotel for several years and made a very popular landlord.

The same year that Judge Johnson built the "Old American"  he built the keel-boat "Fair Play" which made trips for several years between this place and the mouth of the river.  The next year, 1833, he built a second, the "Comet,", and third, the "Hoosier" in 1841, and a fourth in 1842.  He also built a steam sawmill on the lot near where John H. Dunn's residence now stands.  He was at one time engaged with late Johnson Horrell in the dry goods business.  He was one of the County Commissioners, was a Justice of the Peace and was also appointed Associate Judge, and served in that capacity for several years.

Judge Johnson lived fifty-seven years of married life and raised nine children, all but one of whom are still living.  He was a member of the Masonic Order for 51 years and all his sons-five in number-belong to the same Order.

During all the time of his residence here, he had scarcely been absent from the place any length of time.  He was well known to the great majority of our people and was held in high esteem as an honest, industrious, upright man and peaceful citizen.  He was generous, open-hearted and leaves behind him no enemies.  For several months past his health was failing and for weeks past he was unable to leave his bed.  He bore his sufferings with cheerfulness and resignation until death terminated them.  The many kind acts performed by him during life brought to his tomb a goodly array of sincere mourners.  His funeral took place on Saturday last, from in son Evan's residence, under the direction of the Masonic Lodge of which he was a member.

Pam White
Email:  tommysgirl95@comcast.net