Clifton Johnson

   Clifton Johnson wrote many books, some of which are about rambling along roads in the United States and abroad. The subtitle of one book about travelling in Florida early in the last century includes these words: "... human interest information for travellers in Florida; and for those other travellers who are kept at home by chance or necessity, but who journey far and wide on the wings of fancy."

More Reading For the Recumbent

   Since we are kept indoors and have to remain in-country because of the Great Covid Flu, here are some more books which you can read from the comfort of your couch. Although some 'publisher' on Amazon will offer to print and then sell you these books, you can read them for free since they are in the public domain. If you want to buy a copy, purchase a real one from AbeBooks. 

Highways and Byways of America

   Here are the titles in this series:

Highways and Byways of the South

Highways and Byways of the Mississippi Valley

Highways and Byways of the Rocky Mountains

The Highways and Byways of the Pacific Coast

Highways and Byways of the Great Lakes

Highways and Byways from the St. Lawrence to Virginia

Highways and Byways of New England

Highways and Byways of California

Highways and Byways of Florida

   If you choose to go to Florida since we are having snow flurries on Mother's Day eve, here is a review of the book about that state:

(The review is from the Journal of American History, Vol.6, No.1, June, 1919.) Copies of books such as these can be found in different places on the Internet. As mentioned, he wrote books about other countries, for example: Along French Byways and Along English Hedgerows. He also wrote about rivers: The Picturesque St. Lawrence and The Picturesque Hudson. These books are also available for free. Sources: Johnson was an interesting fellow as you will learn from the good Wikipedia essay about him. His archives are located at the Jones Library in Amherst where there is also another biographical profile. The Library up at Western Universities has a few of his books and that is where I got the copy of Highways and Byways of Florida. I recently posted about a related series: Historic Highways of America, by Archer Butler Hulbert. The Bonus: Surely Clifton Johnson must have had an interesting life travelling along all those roads. Perhaps his son had a more exciting one since he and his wife Electa "Exy" Search, sailed around the world several times. If you are too busy to start reading the books recommended, simply go to the Wikipedia entry for Irving Johnson. Their archives are, suitably enough, at the Mystic Seaport Museum.