Cumberland County, Maine - George Crockett Johnson
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Biography
George Crockett Johnson
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 104-107


George Crockett Johnson, chief engineer of the steamer "Bay State" and senior
engineer of the Portland Steamship Company, in whose employ he has served
faithfully for forty-two years, was born in Portland, November 17, 1832. He is
the only surviving son of the late Eben and Ann (Mulloy) Johnson, and is the
third in line of his family to follow the sea.

His paternal grandfather, Eben Johnson, Sr., was long engaged in the coasting
trade. During the War of 1812 he was out in a sloop with his son Eben, who was
then a boy of fourteen, and was captured by a British privateer, who confiscated
his sloop, and, putting him and his son in a small boat, gave them permission to
go ashore. During their trip they were stopped at Fort Preble and prevented from
either coming into port or going out until morning. The night spent in that open
boat under the guns of Fort Preble were the longest known to the memory of the
two men.

The younger Eben Johnson was born in Falmouth in 1798. When quite young he
sailed in coasting vessels with his father; and in his mature manhood he was
master of a packet plying between Portland and Boston, following the sea about
forty-five years. The last ten or fifteen years of his life he was in the
grocery business in Portland. He died in 1870. His wife had died many year's
before, in 1837.  Six children were born to them, namely:  Frances A., wife of
Andrew Swan, of Everett, Mass.; Eben Jr., who died in Medford, Mass.; Greeley
H., who died in 1894 in Boston; George C. , the subject of this sketch; Mary H.,
wife of Harvey G. Fly, of East Boston; and James Boyd, who died in infancy.

George Crockett was the fourth child of the group as above named. He early
attended the grammar school on Park Street, presided over at that time by Master
Jackson, and afterward studied at a select school. When sixteen years of age he
went as deck boy on the steamer "Huntress," plying between Portland and
Hallowell; and he was subsequently raised to the position of quartermaster,
which he held till the boat was taken off the line. He was then employed as a
sailor on sailing vessels, and next obtained a position as fireman on the
steamer "T. F. Secor," which ran between Belfast and Machias, touching at
intermediate points, and later between Portland and Damariscotta direct. It was
at this time that he began his preparation for his later engineering career. He
was afterward fireman one year on the steamer "Governor," plying between
Portland and Bangor, and then, at twenty years of age, accepted a position as
assistant engineer for a short time on the steamer "Creole," which ran between
Boston and St. John, touching at Portland.

During the winter of 1852-53 Mr. Johnson was employed at the Hinckley locomotive
works in Boston, there obtaining a good knowledge of the construction of
engines; and in the spring of 1853 he went to New York, where the "Daniel
Webster" was built. He was fireman on that steamer when she was brought to
Portland, and for a short time after, when she was running between Portland and
Bangor. On May 3, 1853, he entered the employ of the Portland Steamship Company,
then, and until January 1, 1896, known as the Portland Steam Packet Company,
engaging first as fireman on the "St. Lawrence," which plied between Portland
and Boston. In 1854 he was licensed as assistant engineer, and went into that
capacity on the steamer "Atlantic." The year following the sale of the "St.
Lawrence" he operated the steam tug "Terror" at Bangor; and in the fall of 1855
he again entered the employ of the Portland Steam Packet Company, going on the
"Forest City" as assistant engineer. The "Atlantic" was sold in 1856 to New
Orleans parties, and in August of that year Mr. Johnson went South as assistant
engineer of that steamer. In June, 1857, he returned to the Portland Steamship
Company, and during the war was in their employ, being assistant engineer of the
"Forest City" when she was notified to be prepared for action at the time of the
capture of the revenue cutter "Caleb Cushing" from Portland Harbor by the
rebels. She was sent after that vessel with a company of soldiers from Fort
Preble and two twelve-pounder field-pieces on board.

The steamer "Chesapeake" was also sent out. The "Caleb Cushing" being a sailing
vessel, and the weather being calm, the rebels set fire to her and came to the
"Forest City" in one of her boats under a flag of truce. After taking the
prisoners on board, the "Forest City" proceeded east and captured the schooner
"Archer," which was the vessel the rebels had used to come into Portland Harbor.
The "Caleb Cushing," after burning about an hour, blew up, the fire having
reached her magazine. In 1865 Mr. Johnson was assistant engineer of the "New
Brunswick," plying between Boston and St. John, N.B.; and in 1866 he was again
assigned to the "Forest City," this time as chief engineer. In 1876 Mr. Johnson
was transferred to the "John Brooks" as chief engineer, acting in that capacity
until January 1, 1883, when he was transferred to shore duty, and sent to New
York to look after building the "Tremont." This new steamer was placed on the
line July 3, 1883, Mr. Johnson continuing to act as chief engineer on her until
July 19, 1890, when he was transferred to the steamer "Portland," acting as
chief on her until February, 1894. He was then again placed on shore duty in
connection with the building of the steamer "Bay State," which steamer was
placed on the line April 18, 1895. As mentioned above, Mr. Johnson is chief
engineer on the "Bay State" at the present time; and he has occupied for some
years the responsible position of senior engineer of the company.

Mr. Johnson has been unfortunate in losing by death three estimable wives. He
was first married in 1854 to Miss Mary J. Rich, daughter of John and Mary Rich,
of Gray, Me. She died in 1856, leaving a son, Charles Edwin, he dying at the age
of six years, four months. In 1859 he married Miss Caroline A. Waterhouse, of
Saco, Me., who died in 1865, leaving a daughter, Carrie A., now the wife of
Isaiah H. Baker, of Portland, and mother of six children. His third wife, Emily
J., daughter of Gardner and Emily Rich, died without issue. In. 1882 Mr. Johnson
married his present wife, who was Miss Helen P. Gibbs, daughter of George H. and
Phiolena P. Gibbs, of North Dana, Mass. She has been the mother of four
children, two of whom, Arthur C. and Mildred H., are now living.

In politics Mr. Johnson is for the best man for the office. He is a member of
Portland Lodge, No. i, A. F. & A. M., Greenleaf Chapter, Portland Council, and
St. Albans Commandery, Knights Templars ; and he is also enrolled as a member of
Ancient Brothers' Lodge and Machigonne Encampment, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. He attends and helps to support the Williston Church, of Portland, of
which his wife is a member.