Paul Johnson's View of John Winthrop

In A History of the American People, Paul Johnson very boldly calls John Winthrop the "first great American Son of a Suffolk squire." (pg. 31)  This is not a negative title that Johnson is bestowing on Winthrop, but an exultation of him. How he justifies this title as the chapter continues is what confounds me. Later in the same paragraph though, Johnson mentions Winthrop's "uncompromising Puritan views." (pg. 31) Maybe Paul Johnson and I have different opinions of what it means to be a great American. Later on in the chapter, Johnson says of Winthrop, "He rejoiced at providential news that the Indians within a range of 300 miles, 'are swept away by small-pox...so God hath hearby cleared our title to the place." Hold up...calling the destruction of a group of people for 300 miles a sign from God and rejoicing at it isn't exactly what I would call great American-like behavior. I understand that times were different then, but that doesn't justify exalting this man's actions. The part I have the most problem with is this one though:

"Under John Winthrop, whose first spell as governor lasted 1630-4, it got the kind of firm, even harsh, government a new colony needs. In effect it was a theocracy." (pg.38)

Saying someone was a good and powerful leader is something completely different than calling a man the first great American Son of a Suffolk squire, because the latter implies that the person being described is an embodiment of what it means to be American. Although John Winthrop lived before America existed, by giving him this title posthumously Johnson is saying just this. I don't think someone who instates and and forcefully upholds a theocracy while being "quite ruthless in dealing with any kind of dissent"(pg. 39) and "imposing orthodoxy on the colony by punishment, exclusion, and banishment." (pg. 43)  embodies what it means to truly be American. Then again, maybe Paul Johnson and I have different ideas about what it means to be American.