Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Tombstone Tuesday - Johnston, Herbert Jesse (1857 - 1896)

Herbert Jesse Johnston
02/20/1857 - 07/23/1896



Born in Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada
Died in Waltham, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Waltham Daily Tribune, Waltham, Mass. Friday Evening, July 24, 1896 (page 1)

Rider Killed
Herbert Johnston Was Crushed Under Runaway
Was Learning to Cycle
Lack of experience on the machine was partly responsible for his fall.

A sad accident occurred on High street yesterday afternoon by which Herbert Johnston, a well known employee at the American Watch factory, lost his life. Mr. Johnston was a novice at the art of cycling, and had engaged a wheel for this week to learn to ride. Yesterday morning at about 11:30 he was riding along High street below the Comet Factory.

A horse belonging to F.E. Stanley, proprietor of the Stanley Dry Plate Company, and driven by his hired man, was coming along the road from Newton, when it became unmanageable and ran away, throwing the drive out. The horse ran wildly up High Street and coming behind Mr. Johnston, who was unable to avoid it, threw him from his wheel, and he was struck in the head by the horse's hoof. Mr. Johnston was picked up and carried to the Waltham Hospital, where he died about one o'clock. His remains were immediately turned over to Undertaker Goodnow, and the medical examiner summoned.

Dr. Meade examined the remains, and pronounced the death to be caused by a fracture of the skull, causing concussion of the brain..

Mr. Johnston who is a widower lived at 112 Myrtle street with his child and his mother. He was a member of Waltham Lodge A. O. U. W. All members of the Order are urgently requested to meat at A.O.U.W. hall Saturday at 2:15 p. m. to attend the funeral of our late brother H. J. Johnston. Wear dark clothes and white gloves. A. H. Rand, Recorder.

Elsewhere, same edition:

Bicyclist Killed.

Waltham, Mass., July 24. - F. E. Stanley, of Stanley Bros., dry plate makers, was thrown from his buggy yesterday by a frisky horse he was driving. The horse, running away, overhauled Herbert Johnson, who was riding a bicycle. The latter was thrown, and died from his injuries. He was 35 years old.

Elsewhere, same edition:

Deaths. Johnston - City, July 23, Herbert Johnston, age 40 years. Funeral notice later.

Waltham Daily Tribune, Waltham, Mass. Monday Evening, July 27, 1896

H. J. Johnson Buried.

Funeral of the Victim of Last Weeks Fatal Accident

The funeral of Herbert J. Johnson who was killed last Thursday while riding his bicycle was held Saturday afternoon from his late home on Myrtle street. The services were conducted by Rev. Elias Hodge pastor of Immanu-El church and were attended by a large number of relatives and friends. Waltham lodge A. O. U. W. of which deceased was a member attended in a body. The floral offerings were from the A. O. U. W. Immanu-El Sunday school and Fairbanks Epworth League. the interment was at Mt. Fenke.

Waltham Free Press, July 31, 1896

Funeral Services.

The Body of H. L. Johnston Consigned to Earth.

On Saturday afternoon all that was mortal of Herbet L. Johnston, who was killed while riding a bicycle on Thursday was buried. The religious services were under the charge of Rev. Elias Hodge the pastor of the church of which he was a member and a founder, and followed a prayer service at his late home.

A mixed quartet composed of Mrs. DeBarthe, Mrs. Henry Marsh, F. E. Welcome and Geo. Tinker sang three selections 'Jesus Lover of my Soul,' 'There is a land,' and 'Lead, Kindly Light,' F. T. Bearce accompanying.

The remains were then taken in charge by Waltham Lodge, A. O. U. W., and some forty members accompanied them to Mt. Feake cemetery where the impressive burial service of the orders was rendered under the direction of Lenoir A. Dow acting master Workman. Many floral tributes were sent among them the emblem of the United Workmen, a pillow bearing the inscription 'At Rest,' and many bouquets of cut flowers.

[note: Spelling of name and initial are as they appeared in paper]

Whereas, On July 23, 1896 Our Heavenly Father in his strong providence suddenly called our brother Herbert J. Johnston from earth to heaven, and

Whereas, He was an active member of the church, and an honored member of the Official Board, and

Whereas, By his earnest Christian life, kind spirit, and beautiful character he greatly endured himself to us all, therefore

Resolved (1) That we tender to the member of his family our deep sympathy in this great bereavement and pray that the loving Father may be a father to the fatherless daughter and sustain and comfort all in their sorrow.

(2) That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family and entered on the Records of the Quarterly Conference.

Per order of the Second Quarterly Conference of Immanuel Methodist Episcopal Church held Sep 16, 1896.

Eliers _______
Willis L. Eaton
D.E. Perkins

Waltham, Mass.

City of Waltham Vital Records, Deaths Registered in the City of Waltham, 1896, page 104.

No. 197. July 23, 1896. Herbert J. Johnston, 39 years, 5 months. Fracture of skull. Watch maker. Place of death, Waltham. Place of Birth, Sussex, N.B. Father Philip. Mother Sarah McAllister, Sussex, N.B. Place of burial, Waltham. Date of Record July 24, 1896.

Notes:
Herbert Johnston was killed while riding a bicycle by F.O. Stanley's horse. Mr. Stanley liked horse racing. Herbert died when Rachael Johnston Strode was 8 years old. Her mother had died when she was 5. Mr. Stanley, so the story goes, became Rachel's guardian. Among other things, Mr. Stanley is know for the Stanley Steamer, the Stanley Hotel of "The Shinings" fame, and Estes Park. Mr. Stanley also owned property on Mt. Desert Island, Southwest Harbor, Maine. The story of the Stanley Steamer, written by Mr. Stanley is available.


#1314. Buried there are Rachael C. Allen (1828-1903], Herbert Jesse Johnston [1857-1896], Kate C. Johnston [1856-1893], and George L. Johnson [1854-1899]. The stone of Kate has MIZPAH on it. Aunt Fran says this is a medallion that is cut in half. Who is George L. Johnson (not)

Index Map, Mt. Feake Cemetery, Waltham, Mass., November 1975, Edward Delaney, City Engineer

Mount Feake Cemetery
203 Prospect Street
Waltham, Massachusetts 02453

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