Sylvander Johnson

Transcribed by T. Miscia

SYLVANDER JOHNSON was born in Stafford, Conn., February 2, 1815.  At the age of 14 he went as one of the hands in a cotton mill at Chicopee, where he remained for five years.  He then came to this town [North Adams], where he worked about four years more in the cotton mill at the Beaver, after which he went into the store there as clerk.  Here he remained until 1837, when he commenced business in a small way for himself at South Adams.  In 1849 he sold his interests there to W. W. Freeman and removed to Copake, N.Y., and engaged in the furnace business.  This new business being unsuited to his taste it was abandoned in less than a year.  In 1850 he returned to this village and established a concern for the manufacture of cotton warps, which business he carried on successfully to the date of his death.
    He was instrumental in getting gas and water in the village, was the principal mover in the Agricultural Society and was acknowledged one of
the corner-stones of the town.  He represented the town in the State Legislature in the years 1847, '57, '59', '64 and '66.  He was chosen to the Governor's Council in 1869 and 1870.  He was also Selectman of the town for a number of years.  Mr. Johnson's business connections will be found under the head of Johnson Manufacturing Company.

    JOHNSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
    In 1831 Stephen B. Brown formed a parternship with Duty S. Tyler, under the firm name of Brown & Tyler, for the manufacture of print goods.  They purchased of George Whitman for the sum of $800 the water power and about nine acres of land adjoining, now the stie of the mill of the Johnson Manufacturing Company.  They built a stine mill, the material of which was drawn from near the summit of the mountain north of the premises.  The means of the two partners were comparatively small.  Mr. Brown had about $8000 and Mr. Tyler $4000.  The new
establishment commenced printing goods in the spring of 1832, and carried on an extensive and prosperous business for about eight years, during which time the plant was increased by the purchase of about 300 acres of land adjoining the print works.
    In 1839 Mr. Brown bought out Mr. Tyler's interest and recieved as partners Elisha Harris of Providence, R.I., and Arthur F. Marth.  The new firm was Brown, Harris & Co.  An immediate heavy outlay was incurred for new machinery, etc.  Mr. Brown went to Europe and engaged a large force of hands, paying their expenses here and giving them high wages for the time.  From this cause, in part, and from the importation of low-priced delaines in competition to the high-priced prints they were making, the company met with indifferent success, and in 1846 were obliged to suspend operations.  From this time until 1850 the mill remained idle.  In this year, however, Sylvander Johnson returned from Copake, N.Y., and established a concern for the manufacture of cotton warps, which business he carried on successfully up to 1872, when his mill was burned to the ground.  In the following year the main part of the mill now standing was completed and a stock company formed with Mr. Johnson at the head.  Here he continued until his death, in May, 1882.  At the annual meeting of the directors in the fall of that year his son, William S. Johnson, was elected president of the concern, which office he held in connection with the treasureship.  This arrangement continued for one year, when he resigned the office of treasurer, but continued the presidency of the concern.  In 1884 Mr. D. D. Parmlee was elected treasurer.

Spear, W.F.  History of North Adams, Mass.  Hoosac Valley News Printing House: North Adams, Mass, 1885.

The Hon. Sylvander Johnson, a prominent citizen and business man of North Adams, Mass., died yesterday morning in the Glenham Hotel, of this City [New York], at the age of 67 years.  Mr. Johnson was born in Stafford, Conn., in 1815.  At a very early age he began to work in the cotton and woolen mills of his native town, and soon acquired a practical knowledge of the manufacture of cloths, which led him to the factories of North Adams, where had since lived.  Here he obtained an interest in a manufacturing concern, and, being a man of ability, he soon acquired a prominence not only in business, but in Republican political circles.  During the war, he was Selectman of the town of North Adams, and had charge of the recruiting of regiments in that section.  The first company which went from that place was named the "Johnson Greys" in his honor.  Mr. Johnson served several terms in the Legislature of his State, and was a member of the Governor's Council for two years.  For 40 years he was a leading manufacturer of North Adams. In 1871 his mills were burned, and he then established the Johnson Manufacturing Company, of which he was President and one of the three stockholders at the time of his death.  He was also a large stockholder and a Director of the Troy and Boston Railroad.  For several months Mr. Johnson had been an invalid, and he arrived in this City from Florida, where he had spent the Winter, only a few years ago.  His death was caused by an affection of the bladder.  He leaves a widow and four children--a son and three daughters.  His remains were taken last evening to North Adams, where business will be suspended until after the funeral, which will take place to-morrow.

The New York Times (New York), 12 May 1882.