Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Buffalo Evening News Monday, January 16, 1922 Veteran Lake Captain Dead at Tonawanda CAPTAIN PETER JOHNSON, who died at the home of his daughter, MRS. FRED A. RECH, 447 Niagara street, Tonawanda, yesterday, was considered the most expert master of sailing vessels that sailed the lakes. He was the only captain to attempt the navi- gation of the Niagara river with a cargo- laden schooner. As master of the schooner Josephine he came down the Niagara river with a cargo of timbers, brought from Toledo, O., and transshipped from the Tonawandas in raft formation over the Erie canal to New York. That was in the early days of the timber industry along the lakes. CAPTAIN JOHNSON was born in Denmark, 87 years ago. At the age of nine he ran away from home and sailed the seas until he was 25. He then located in the Tonawandas, and entered upon his career as a lake captain. He was a master of sailing craft on the lakes for 45 years. In 1905 he retired from the lakes. He was the captain of the schooner Isabelle Wilson, owned in Buffalo and engaged in the lumber trade. During the time he sailed the lakes he was shipwrecked 10 times. Besides MRS. RECH he is survived by three daughters, MRS. T. J. FITZSIMMONS and MRS. AUGUST KOEPPEN of Tonawanda, and MRS. FRANK MATTERS of Erie, Pa., and one son, CAPTAIN WILLIAM P. JOHNSON of Tonawanda. His funeral will be held tomorrow after- noon at 2:30 o'clock at the RECH residence and will be in charge of Tonawanda lodge 247, F. & A. M., of which he was a member since 1867. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================