Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2963B jrn at Richmond, Virginia, February. 21, 1859, he is a son of the lateCapt. Joseph A. Johnson. Captain Johnson, while living in Richmond,was a manufacturer of sash, doors and blinds prior to the war, and afterthe war conducted a large factory of the same character in Atlanta formany years. In'that enterprise one of the most conspicuous stockholders wasGen. John B., Gordon. Captain Johnson was very much of a militaryman. He had served as a captain in the National Grays of Richmond formany years, and when the war broke out he entered the active service, butsubsequently was detailed by President Davis to take charge of a factoryfor the making of small arms for the Confederate army at Tallahassee,Alabama. In that post of duty he remained until the end of the war, andthen moved to Atlanta, in which city he remained an honored residentuntil his death in 1911 at the age of eighty-six. Captain Johnson marriedAnnie Elizabeth Garrett. She was born and reared in King aii'd QueenCounty, Virginia, and died in Atlanta in 1907 at the age of eighty-one.'She other three sons of Captain Johnson and wife were: Jacob V., nowdeceased; Orion B. Johnson of Opelika, Alabama; and Walter L. Johnson ofAtlanta.George Edgar Johnson has had his home in Atlanta since the close ofthe Civil war, since a lad of six years. His first teacher was Maj. W. F.Bomar, an exceptionally able and well known educator of that time whoinstructed and moulded the plastic minds and characters of many who subsequently attained no little prominence. Among Judge Johnson's schoolmates under Major Bomar were S. R. Venable, Andy P. Stewart and AlbertPurdue, all three of whom are prominent men of Atlanta. The three yearshe spent in Major Bomar's school comprised all of his formal education,and he left school at the age of seventeen, and was soon afterward enrolledamong the employes of the late G. W. Jack, a manufacturer of confectionery. This first business experience gave the permanent direction to hisbusiness career, since he was best known among Atlanta's business men asa candy manufacturer up to November, 1913, when he took his presentoffice as city recorder. In 1880 he bought the factory from Mr. Jack, andcontinued as an independent manufacturer of candies for a third of a century. During the many years spent in this business Judge Johnson becamewidely known as Atlanta's Santa Claus. This came about through his custom continued over many years, of giving to all poor children of the city,. each and every one, a pound box of candy at Christmastide. In a singleChristmas he thus gave away 3,500 pounds of candy. Had he deliberatelychosen to win the affection of the children of his city, he could nothave chosen a better method, since in this way he gladdened hundreds ofyoung hearts whose parents were too poor to secure such luxuries.For many years Judge Johnson has been an active democrat and fornearly twenty years served as a police commissioner from the Sixth Ward.He resigned his position on the board in October, 1913, in order to takethe office of city recorder, to which he was elected by the city council assuccessor of Judge Nash E. Broyles, who had been elevated to the Appellate Court bench. After serving out Judge Broyles' unexpired term, upto July 1, 1915, he succeeded himself in the office having previously beenchosen by popular election for the full four-year term, which expiresJuly 1, 1919. When a candidate for the office of recorder, Judge Johnson'sterse platform was these words: "Not for revenue only, but justice to all."The confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens was well shown whenhe received nearly 4,000 votes, defeating his opponent by a handsomemajority.For nearly thirty years Judge Johnson has been a member of theImproved Order of Red Men, and has an unusual record of honors in thatfraternity. For the past twenty-seven years he has been treasurer of the