Excerpt from Jacob Johnson of Harpswell, Maine, and His Descendants, East and West All my collections of records of our earlier Johnsons I at once spread before those who asked me to make this Johnson book, and calls were often made on the older members of the family in Harpswell, Portland, and many islands of Casco Bay. These pa pers were carefully corrected, with guidance such as this, and much constantly added to them. Then also began a correspond ence with people of our race in every town where even a rumor of one could be heard. This quest has been 'kept up through the years. It was no light task to carry on such a work when I had charge of two parishes among the New Hampshire hills, and was writing much for papers and magazines. Then came many cares and a removal to a hustling town in the West. But in all the hard and weary places I have never ceased to see the shining face of my grandmother, or to hear the words of her husband. Memo ries of other friends have cheered. And the finding of far re moved members of our Johnson line has given still more inspira tion. So, on land and sea, in clearest mountain sunshine, and in the swirl of the darkest prairie storms, the work has gone on, and its results are given to you with grateful thanks to the host of friends who have aided in every way they could to make this volume complete. Emphasis has already been laid on some of the strongest John son characteristics. Wherever any representative of this line has made a home it has been one of truest hospitality. Many a child in such homes has been taught, Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. And then a voice has added solemnly and tenderly, Ay, and do not forget thy neighbor nor the stranger within thy gate. These golden rules have been handed down from generation to generation in word and example. And their glory and rewards are clearly seen if you mark to what a great age so many of our Johnsons have attained and are still attains ing. The story-telling gifts of our people have been indicated. Old and young have felt the power of this inheritance. Some of the legends and witty sayings of our ancestors have been published in the writings of others, and have found wide praise. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.