28 May 1910 Obituary of Lewis Johnson
[Daily Picayune, New Orleans]
LEWIS JOHNSON
Funeral of Public-Spirited and Honored Citizen
Large Gathering From Every Walk of Life to Pay Tribute to His Memory
The funeral of Lewis Johnson yesterday afternoon was in a measure a public tribute to the deceased whose services in life were of such inestimable value to the city. The Johnson home in Howard Street, just off Palmer Avenue, was crowded throughout the afternoon with friends of the family and representative men of the city, and added to the gathering were scores of the employees of the Sewerage and Water Board and a representation from the men in the Johnson Iron Works, who had such esteem and veneration for their ever-thoughtful and considerate employer.
The crowning achievement of Mr. Johnson's active and useful life was the Sewerage and Water Board. He was one of the men responsible for the splendid system of water and sewerage that the city now enjoys, and as president protem of the board during the trying period when the great work was in process of construction he gave his vast experience and wonderful technical knowledge to the campaign of development, remaining constantly at the head of affairs, and expecting no reward beyond the satisfaction he would feel at seeing the work successful.
When it was known yesterday that Mr. Johnson had died during Thursday night George G. Earl, superintendant of the Sewerage and Water Board, issued orders to close all departments at noon out of respect for the man who had done so much for the service. Mr. Earl himself, the heads of the various departments and scores of the employees from all branches visited the house of mourning, and remained during the impressive funeral services. The Sewerage and Water Board employees sent to the Johnson residence several beautiful floral designs.
Another mark of respect shown for Mr. Johnson was the half-masting of the flag on the City Hall. This was done by order of Acting Mayor John J. Frawley, who was a member of the Sewerage and Water Board during the splendid administration of Mr. Johnson. Mr. Frawley, accompanied by the mayor's secretary, Rudolph Hufft, and a number of the city officials, including all the members of the Sewerage and Water Board now in the city, visited the house for the funeral services.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. John T. Foster, rector of the Free Church of the Annunciation and Rev. A. R. Edbrooke, rector of Grace Church, and the interment was in the Washington Cemetery. The following were the pallbearers: Paul Gelpi, Harry H. Hall, George Koffsky, C. B. McKinney, A. W. Moffat, H. Gibbs Morgan, Chas. J. Theard and R. M. Walmsley.
Mr. Johnson's death was generally considered a serious blow to the community in which he lived and worked for so many years. The loss is a particularly heavy one to the large force of men employed in the Johnson Iron Works. Mr. Johnson was altogether popular and well liked by his men, and always looked out for them in every way possible.
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