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HONAjTY AND FAIENA6S T0 TEA ITT AR AND
Depression Victim Story)
Written by: Ars. Ada Radford
Augusta, Georgia
4dited by:
Ars. Leila U. Uarria
Supervisin ditor
Georgia Writers' Pro.ieot
Area 7
Jugusta, Georgia
February 16, 1440
Ailliam Iverson Xilaon
8 6th Street
Augusta, Georgia
Yeb. 16, 1940
ATY Ai iaktibliaJ TO Th4 4ITTLE Nb
Henry Iverson Johnson, at one time Augusta's leading
undertaker, stenos today still bewildered by the onrush of the
groat eeonomic depression that has reduced him almost to a
life of privation. however, unlike thousands of others caught
in its aftermath he explain proudly that he is entirely clear
or debt.
"1 wa- in the undertaking business in Augusta for forty-one
years and during that tie I buried b000 of its oitixons. I
foAlowed through to the bitter end with my slogan: 'honesty
uati fairness to All.' When I was forced to close in 1936 I paid
100 cents on the dollar and owed no MUD anything. Now I ast an
old man of 83 years and absolutely broke."
Those who have known the family in former years experience
quite u shock at the draatio changes that have taken plat,* in
their living conditions. The oid couple are now making their
home in d small upper flat in wha‘ is Ito longer oonsidered a
choice neighoorhood.
A colored woml4n answered the door bell 411U told me she
new they would be glau to see me but that she would have to
prepare thelA, for visit. he led the way to Ude upstairs hall
dna I could he'll- her explai ing to the two old people that they
add company. fter a moment or two the woman returned and led
me into a large and almost bare room. The entire furnishings con-
sisted or a bed, a dresser, two rockers, one straight chair and a
small table. A worn rug was before the fireplace.
As I walked in Ai,. Johnson, who is very aotiVe for his
age, was putting on his net preparatory to going on some errand
for the hams. Wagon he learned of my mission he said with old-
fashioned courtliness: "Please talk to mrs. Johnson until my return.
i shall be back in a few minutes."
True to his word he was away only a very short tiwe and
then asttling aimself in one of the rockers he began musingly:
"I was born May 5, 1857 on one of 3outh Caroi.ina's old
plantations over in c;colleton county. My father, Rev. Seaborn Johnson,
was a Baptist minister, and I was his youngest child. My father
required my help on tae farm when I was not attending the neighbor-
hooa schools. When still quite young i entered Cedar Grove Academy,
near Bamberg, South Caro,ina. This school remained open for just a
short while ana I went to the old Buford's Bridge Academy in
-arnwsllL:ounty. When I was 17 years old I was appointed to teach. Let
me see, that was in 18%.
as you doubtless now, we were not required to have degrees
in those days. They needed instructors 30 badly that anyone who
saowea unusual aptitude at their studies could soon become a teacher.
No, i never was dole to complete a college course for we were going
througA tue unssttleu and stirring ties or struggle an readjustment
whioh followed 6herman's march to the sea.
"Later on I studied under an eminent civil engineer and
field surveyor and for a while I followed that profession.
"1 belonged to the Hagood Light Dragons during this period
and wore. the red shirt. We were banded together to subdue riots
anti uprisings of all kinds and to endeavor to prevent racial
conflict. INe kept vigilant watch over the surrounding country
and labored for the reestablishment of white supremacy.
"And that recalls tJ my mind the one aid only time 1.
was arrested. it was in 1876 anti along with 22 others I was taken up
anti charged with intimidation. We were taken to Charleston, 6outh
Carolina to appear before Judge Melton. Without hesitation I told
him I was guilty, that in fact I was the leader, and asked him to
release tn. others. The result was the discharge of the whole
oompany.
My first business venture was a clerkship in a general
merchandise store at uford's dridge. I stayed there only a short
tiL,e and then I operated a store for Col. George a. hoover at
Hampton Courthouse.
"About this ti—st my brotner wanted to do farming and
merchandising and asked as to go into partnership with him. We were
very auocessful for we had many loyal friends and customers.
"In 1881 we planted enough cotton to realize 100 bales. We
had borrowed the money tJ get started and hoped to be able to pay
off all indebtedness by tae end of the season. Then came panic.
-4
The weather was unusually cold and what little we did manage to
raise, d storm swept away a part of that. The 100 bales we had
visualized dwindled -to 17 bales and we were 41700 in debt at the end
of -Ole roar. 3nly 4126 store was still doing business. The farmers
were unable to pay and it had to aloes."
I interrupted with, "That was indeed a terrible blow for
ambitious young man. What did you do, keep on farming?"
"No." ae replied. "4ometime during the first part of 1882 I
went o Onarieston and took a oourse in undertaking and embalming.
ths conclusion of my studies 1 went to Allendale, South Carolina,
and accepted a position in a general merchandise store where they
sold ouffins and I took charge or that portion of the business.
"On jeptember 4, 1884, I married toe eldest daughter of
kajor William James Gooding and my father-in-law gave me an oid
horse. I rigged me up a buggy and hauled drummers to nearby towns.
1 applied everything 1 made in this manner on the 41700 debt.
always made those trips at night and returned just in time to
opeu tue store. You see, my brother and 1 had to pay this money
awl of course we couldn't begin to save anything until we were
out of debt.
"While I was in 411endale 1 wet the president of an
corrin
itlantelestablishmeht. be was very anxious to have a brenoh in
,tugusta aud urged me to open up such a business. Finally I
consented to attend a meeting of the directors at Atlanta. r.
hall introduced me and I said: 'Llentlemen, I'm a poor man and
don't have have d dollar to invest, but if you want me as your Augusta
manager I will do my best to maks a success of it.' Their reply
to this was,1kr. Johnson, we want to set you up in business. We
will take care of all details 411C see that everything you need
is supplied.*
"Nell, wilat did I have to lose? I owed $20.00 for the
suit of clotnes I nad on and had 50 cents in my pocket. I tnought
to myself, 'Nothing Venture, Nothing have.' So I said, 'All right,
gentlemen, I'm ready.'
"The next day the president of the company CANA back
with me to ,i.ugusta, and we rented a state on the corner of Lilts
and Sixth 4treets. I prospered from the beginning, and am still
proud of the confidence plaoed in ms by the flod people of Augusta."
"Did your family come to Augusta when you opened your
business?" I asked.
"No." he replied. "You see my wife had a little business
of her own. 6Lie handled dress goods and millinery. After I was
established lor about a year and dad gotten a good foothold I
moved her and our five children to tae flat over the store. We
immediately united *Ito the First Baptist Church and all of my
children were baptized there.
"By the end of three and a nail years I had discharged all
obligations tJHall Company. My business had expanded quite a
bit and i decidert to look for larger quarters. One of my friends
owned d place on A;ighth ,Areet. It was in bad re?air, o t he
-6
promised to put it in iirst olaa condition if I would rent it.
I outlined my plans dud lie started on time work at once? I was so
cramped for space that I decided to move in before the repairs
were finished. L.awrellce stopped the work immodbately Ana when I
tried to get hi4 to rinisn he Ilatly relused.
"I declined to be treated in any suoa manner and nearing
that u very desirable piece oi property at 123 Seventh Street
was for sale, I decided to buy it. I purchased the building on
a ten-year basis and immediately added 43000 in improvements.
I made the final payment in three years and stoat months. I now
had clear titles to my place or business in addition to rolling
stock consisting of 12 ours, including hearses and trucks, and
was averaging 25 funerals a month among the highest class of
Augusta people.
"Then came the World War and Gaup Hanoosk was established
on the Hill. They neeAld an undertaker. Two at/is?* and myself
made bids and one of them got the contract. That really didn't
worry me for I nad till the buoiness I could handle with the help
I had. My boys had gone to the war and I did most of tne embalming
myself. When the influenza epidemic: broke out three of the orricers
odme to me and sdid:
"'Johnson, we nave 75 bodies at the camp and tail undertaker
doesn't have caskets onougn to snip the bodies and we want you to
take over 4nd aelp us handle this situation.'
first 1 refused emphatically, dud Captain Waits said:
-7.,
"alit don't you see tit you must nail) us. Tale man's oredit
is exhausted and we are ready to give you a contraot.' .1 knew
conditions pretty taoroughly 4LAU told him I would agree to take
it for 1(4.
"'You can't Watt anything on it at that figure.' lie said
Lpatiently.
"Then I oame back et him rigat straigat from the shoulder:
"'I aave three *op* fighting in this war and I will not be
called a profiteer. You furnieh the trucks to do the heuling and
I'll wire for tie caskets and superintend the work.'
"Captain White thew maid eomewhat grudgingly.'Jonnson, you are
making d mistake but have it your way. We have a number of embalmers
in tae camp wao will assist you.'
"I went up to the oamp 31,4 established a morgue there. I found
embalmers amon6 tile enlisted men. eisleciting about twenty-five
of taem I went to work, id during the epidemic I shipped 6:48 oodles
witaout a complaint and saved the government ab ut 48000 on the
transaction.
"No, i didn't oontinue tAt work at the oamp. I only helped
aut during the epidemic. I had to get back to my own bueiness whioh
had been negleoted frxr v,e camp work.
"itad your busineas begun to fail. off?" I asked.
"not at all." lie replied. "I had ail tae businevss 1 needed but
coliections re not so good. Sut don't get trio idea tut people
won't pay tae undertaker. Third (AJ pay when they have it.
"hen tae depression hit the country hundreds of people were out of
work ana bUsilleas places were closing every ay. There was no money
to pay insurance premiums and when families were forced to out living
ekpenses insurance poileies were cashed in and dropped. Zech person
wilo was forced to take tais step meant to renew nis policy wizen
times were better.
"Liut people didn't stop dying during those nard times and
tney had to be buried. I couldn't refuse to help the people who had
mad:: my business and I made up my mind that I would hang on and if
the ship sank I would go down with it.
"At the onset of the depreasion I could have disposed of
my business for 440,000 and walked out wita more than 475,000. 'Silt
I stayed on, believing the trouble to be only temporary. Then when
taings got in a bud way I borrowed money from the bank.
"My boys didn't lie tae undertaking business, they snowed
no interest and sera of little or no nelp to me. When I saw that I
was beginning to lose heavily I went to tie bank and asked tnem to
take tna business for my indebtedness. Taey refusou to do this and
I borrowed from the dome Loan Company and paid tue bank.
"1 was then eighty years old and could see tne utter
futility of trying to flung on. 1 wrote to tae manufacturers to take
my stock and aave it sod. 1 wanted every penny tzfeet'palict 111
to give credit to my friend who is the president of the Imperial Casket
Company of Leesville, .south Carolina. de volunteered to come to my
reaoue and help me save my business.
"I closed in 1946 and paid 100 cents on tie dollar. I had
9
accomplished what I wanted to do. I was clear of debt but I was
an old man and broke. however, I had kept my slogan for 41 years
and did until the end.
"Yes, I am a somber of several fraternal orders. In
1694 I was made a Master Mason in Allendale, south Carolina. When
I came to Augusta I transferred my membership to Webb's Lodge. I
was made a Royal Arch Mason in 1896 and a Royal and cjelect Mason in
the same year. Five years later I was dubbed a Knight Templar and
have filleu the highest offices in each of theta organizations. I
am also a thirty-second degree :5cottish Rite Mason and a past patron
of the order of the Lastern star. I also hold membershipsAJr:the
Junior Order of United Amerioan Mechanics and with the Odd Fellows."
"You spoke of educating your children, Mr. Johnson. HAW
many did you have and what are they doing at the present time?"
I asked.
"Well, I have two daughters. One of them, Anna Elise, was
graduated from National Park i5emlnary (Maryland) in 1912. he is
a pianist of great ability and is now married ana living in
Cincinnati. Lillian hampton finished at Converse College. She
lives in south Carolina.
"All four or my sons were graduated from the Riohmcind Academy.
The eldest one, recently deceased, attended 6aorad Heart College.
as was an expert embalmer anu lived in flississippi at the time of
his asath.
"he served as a volunteer on the Mexioan border and went
to France with the American Expeditionary Forces in the V.orld War.
he served as d top sergeant in tne Aviation Corps and was with tne
,a -my of Occupation prior to his return to the 6tutes in 1940.
"4 next son went from tne Richmond ,.aenummy to 3tone
laountaln then to Uearzia Tech for two years. When he same home ne
entered the Ledical College and graduated tas one of the five nonor
members of ills class. Then ae went to Cnarleston wnere he won u
scholarship for special course in tae Naval idedical College
(Listrict of Columbia,. ae won his diploma and was commissioned
y 2resident Woodrow 'Wilson and assigned to the Oriental squaaron.
My third son,. after leaving tne r,cbdemy, attendee Jtone
14ountain and kasnington dfla Lee. Later as saw service in trance
during the World War. tie w4s active in Masonic circles and was
associated witu me in business until we fallec. in 1.6. liV88
in at1.1nta at the present ti 0.
"My youngest son is s aental surgeon and lives in uonolulu.
he was gr duuted with honor ir4s1 the Atlanta Denta./ College in
an left L.neciitely for hawail.
"I have left my views on the causes of too depression until
the last and here taey are. There were many contributing causes.
You see, Iatil a very old man dna I also lived througn the panic
of lts76. ,•s ta the extravagances of tne government, history only
repeats itself. Then taere was the mistake mane by many people
wn) could not f)resee tn t influteu property values in previously
unxnown extravag_Incos would some day end in destruction. Prohibl+
tive s laries p,;11.0 to hirl i'13 hi „overnment, leueri, _)tate, County
ar.0 Aty, tae expense of tne taxpayer was anotaer potent factor.
.1.
„Ain anotaer mistake, equally costly, was the disaster brought
about in tat) following manner: Instead of the government in-
ducin6 people to stay on tile farms, to raise pigs in chickens
anu plant gardens, taey were told to OJMO to town where relief
stations were established Las tiaem. 4123ot without exception
misery has descended upon new and saca has become one of
millions of government manufactured paupers.
now it is to late for me to da very much about
114 troubles. ,tt ledst we are fairly cmaiartable, even toough I
an unable to provide wnt we have. However, it is vastly differ-
ent wita the _overnment. it has bota time and money to accomidian
complete recovery."