Johnson, J. Wesley

Description

John Wesley Johnson was born on December 18, 1899, in Plainfield, New Jersey, to Alice D Coard, age 24, and Harry F Johnson, age 28. His father owned a Jewelry business in Manhattan until his death in 1925.

J Wesley was raised and educated in Plainfield, NJ. He was a 1924 graduate of Princeton, where he played on the varsity football team and the school water polo team. After graduating, he joined the family business of J.M. Johnson Silverware of Maiden Lane in New York City.

He married Mary Dorothy Maurice on September 25, 1926, at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, New York City, Rev. Dr. Moor, the pastor, officiated. The couple would reside in Union NJ and start a family, they would have two children during their marriage.

At the time of his marriage J. Wesley was working with his uncle Herbert Johnson in the silverware business at 14 Maiden Lane, New York.

In the late 1930’s, J. Wesley and his family moved to Rye and they lived at 296 Rye Beach Ave. He was now the proprietor of his own business in wholesale/ retail silver in NYC.

In August of 1944, John joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served during World War II.

Joined Coast Guard Reserve

J. Wesley Johnson, Rye Beach Avenue, has joined the IT. S. Coast Guard Reserve and spent the past week at the Coast Guard Training Station at Manhattan Beach. His daughter, Dorothy, is returning Sunday from Madison, Conn. , where she visited her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Walter F, Pease.

Friday, September 1, 1944 THE RYE CHRONICLE PAGE ELEVEN

After the war, John returned to his business in NYC, which supplied trophies and prizes to yacht and country clubs in the metropolitan area. and remained living in Rye for several years. In 1952 the family moved to their new home “Wampus Bend” in Armonk.

John was an avid skier and sportsman. He was a past member of the Coveleigh Club, a member of the North Castle Players and the Rye Gun Club.

J. Wesley Johnson, an Armonk resident for 26 years and a New York City silverware dealer, died Oct. 21 in Northern Westchester Hospital Center. He was 77.

At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Dorothy M.; a daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Young of Pelham Manor; a son, John Wesley Johnson III of Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. W.F. Pease of Belleair, Fla., and four grandchildren..

He was buried at Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.