Grandma Stella Smith and Chickens

Hatching Chickens

My Grandmother, Stella Smith somehow knew when a hen was ready to set. She also knew which eggs were fertilized and would put the eggs under her. I guess Grandma knew all about the science of chickens hatching. She would watch the hen and the eggs. If any of the chickens were having trouble getting out of the egg, Grandma would help them a little bit. She would have my sister and me come over to where the hen was sitting and the chicks were being born. We would watch along with Grandma very quietly. Thinking back on it now, it was all so miraculous. 

Once the chicks were old enough, they would be released into the chicken pen. Grandpa would buy special food for them but we also fed them scraps from the table. It was fun watching them grow up but we knew that they would someday be food right from the start. They would either become food or they would produce food.


Getting Ready for the Table

At one time, my Grandma was a very large woman but she was always on the move and always working. Grandma would kill the chickens as a first step for getting them ready for the table. The way she would do it was to wring their necks which would break them. I remember Grandma getting out in the chicken pen with a chicken in each hand. She would swing her wrist around in circles until the chickens necks broke. Sometimes, she would do this to several young fryers so she could prepare them for the freezer in order to have chicken for the winter. I remember chickens flopping all around Grandma in the chicken pen.


Time to Pluck

I loved my Grandma so much that I wanted to be just like her and do everything that she did. She took care of my sister and me when our parents worked which was a lot. I followed my Grandma around everywhere she went and slept in the same bed as her often. 


When Grandma killed the chickens and plucked them, so did I. I remember that I was probably about 4 to 6 years old and I was helping Grandma to pluck chickens. My baby sister was almost exactly two years younger than me and I don't remember her doing any chicken plucking. If she was 2 or 3, I can see why she wouldn't or even 4 or 5. Tudy and I were different. Maybe she was hanging out with Grandpa but he was still working in the fields at that time so maybe she was taking a nap. I just don't remember her being there. I do remember helping Grandma to pluck chickens 2 or 3 times.


I remember that this chicken plucking took place when the house was still two rooms. Grandma would heat a big pot of water on the stove. She would give me a small aluminum tub and she would have one. She would dip a dead chicken into the water to soften up the feathers to make them easier to pull out. Then she would put the dead chicken legs in my little hand and I would go to plucking. I loved plunging my hands into the feathers and I was being just like my Grandma. I know that I must not have done a great job of plucking but Grandma told me that I did. Once all of the chickens were plucked, she would clean them, and burn the pin feathers off by holding them above the burner on the stove. She would then cook some up and freeze the others if she had killed a bunch of them. 


Fast Forward to Today 2023

Please Do Not hand me a dead chicken now to pluck!!!

Trial Will Be Held For Johnson Boys

 The Johnson Boys Preliminary Trial Will Be Held Oct 8

Particulars of the Tragedy of Graydon Springs Last Saturday--A Deadly Knife

Virgil Johnson, who killed Ed Anthes at Graydon Springs last Saturday by stabbing him in the heart, was arraigned yesterday and admitted to bail in the sum of $1,500. On recommendation of the coroner's jury, Lomar Johnson, a cousin of Virgil, was also placed under $500 bond as accessory to the murder.
Virgil Johnson is about 17 years old and weighs 120 pounds. He is very youthful in appearance and does not look like a boy who would be guilty of wilful murder.
The Anthes boy was 20 years old and somewhat larger than Johnson. The two became involved in a quarrel in the Graydon Springs post office. Both of them had out their knives and Anthes slapped Johnson in the face. One then dared the other out of doors to finish the fight. They went out and renewed the quarrel. In the meantime, Lomas Johnson took a hand by throwing rocks at Anthes. The latter fought both as best he could. He knocked Virgil down with his fist. When the latter got up he had his knife open and made a lunge for Anthes' heart. The knife went straight to the mark and Anthes was soon a corpse.
The Johnson boys will have a preliminary hearing at Bolivar October 3. W. G. Robertson of this city has been engaged to defend them.

 The above article was first printed in the Springfield Leader and Press (Springfield, Missouri) 28 Sep 1893 Tues Page 8

Listed below is the link to findagrave.com which has the memorial for Edward Anthes. At one point, whoever setup the memorial had the wrong years for Ed. I sent a message to them and gave them the correct information. It was the least I could do since it was my great grandfather who had killed the young man.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36379337/edward-anthes

I am in the process of trying to find a photo of Virgil Eagleton Johnson and Edward Anthes. I think there should be one of Virgil that might have been taken at the time of his arrest. 

Great Grandpa was a Hell Raiser for sure. I don't think there was an ounce of Holy Roller in him.

Great Grandpa - A Bloodthirsty Dude

                                         Stabbed To The Heart

W.H. Anthis Murdered by Virgil Johnson at Graydon Springs Yesterday
The Bloodthirsty Youth Captured by Officers Kennedy and Bechtell

Virgil Johnson and W.H. Anthis, youths of about 17, living at Graydon Springs, Polk County, have been for some time at variance as to which was the better man of the two, and in order to settle the question they fought not long since, Anthis proving the victor. It is narrated that Anthis vaunted his conquest and promised to repeat the beating when occasion offered.

In the meantime it is said Johnson got into a difficulty with a quartette of boys, two of whom he carved with a convenient pocketknife, the other two taking to their heels at the sight of blood. This adventure whetted Johnson’s ambition to wipe out the stigma and cloud under which his prowess rested by reason of the defeat he had suffered at the hands of Anthis, and in order to be equipped for deadly work when the next meeting occurred, he bought a new knife with a long keen blade.

Yesterday the boys met in the post office at Graydon Springs, when the old quarrel was immediately renewed and Johnson, whipping out his ready weapon, plunged it into his hated adversary’s heart.

Graydon Springs Post Office

There was a crowd standing around, but the crime was so suddenly and unexpectedly committed that no one had time to interfere, and indeed it was not known that Anthis had been done to death until the cowardly perpetrator had made good his escape. Notwithstanding the heavy rain which fell all day yesterday Johnson walked to Springfield and was captured last night while eating supper at Fay’s restaurant by Officers Kennedy and Bechtell, who are holding him for the Polk County officers.

Johnson, who lives a short distance out of Graydon Springs, says that Anthis hit him over the head, after which the cutting was done. On the fugitive’s person, when arrested, were found a ticket to Vinita and $14.50 in cash, so that he evidently did not expect to show up in his former haunts until his crimes had been forgotten. He says that he left the knife with which the deed was done at home, so that he probably ran to that refuge after leaving the post office and secured all the money he could raise to get him out of the country.

Johnson’s Version

Virgil Johnson was seen by a LEADER reporter and the story as he gives it does not involve his act in the malice with which it is invested by rumor.

Johnson who is confined in the calaboose (jail) had just finished a breakfast of ham and eggs, which he relished, when the reporter saw him. He said, in substance.

Anthis and I had a difficulty about four or five days ago and he got the best of it. He is a full-grown man 21 years old and weighs about 150, while I am only 17 and don’t weigh more than 120. Yesterday morning at 11 o’clock I went into the post office and Anthis struck me on the head, not hard, but just in a tantalizing, bullying way. I went out and he followed me, catching me by the coat and kicking and beating me. I wasn’t any match for him physically, so I cut him with my knife and then ran home. I got some money from father and then rode to Willard on horseback, to which point I was accompanied by a cousin who carried the horse back. I there bought a ticket to would return to Graydon Springs this morning and let the ticket go, but the officers arrested me while I was at supper, and here I am.

I heard that some of the people were going to treat me roughly because I cut Anthis. They were friends of Anthis and I thought it best to get away from there. Father told me to stop at an uncle of mine and tell him and the boys to keep out of any fuss. I did that before leaving.

That story about my having a new knife is not true. I had an old knife which originally had two blades, but one was broken out. When I changed clothes, I left the knife in my pants pocket.

Father has intended leaving Polk County for some time and sold out his interests there a few days ago. He was to have left today, but I suppose this trouble will interfere with his arrangements.

Members of the train crew stated to the reporter that Johnson did not come in on the train but his ticket from Willard is punched showing that he rode from that point. The boy is lanky and loose jointed, and does not realize the enormity of his offense, talking about it with the utmost composure if not indifference. In reference to the fight, he had with the four boys he cut a couple of them because he did not care to be beat to death by the gang. Public sympathy was on his side in that case, and he was not arrested. He also said he was a farmer, and he went to town two or three times a week.

Notice has been sent to Graydon Springs of Johnson’s arrest and an officer is expected this afternoon to take him in charge. 

The above article is the original. I typed the story from it since the article is so difficult to read. It was first published in the Springfield Leader and Press (Springfield, MO) 23 Sep 1893, Sat Page 4

I obtained the photograph of the Graydon Springs post office from the Facebook site Graydon Springs & Greene County, MO Photos & More with the permission of the owner. Their Great Grandmother had been the postmaster of the post office. 

https://www.facebook.com/GraydonandGreene

What Did I Think

What did I think and how did I feel when I read this article? I was thinking, did I really descend from this boy/man? This boy who was capable of killing another man? And, I was thinking it certainly didn't affect his appetite. He was packing the food away when the reporter saw him.
The reporter stated that he didn't think Virgil realized the enormity of what he had done. I think Virgil did realize what he had done and he just didn't care. 
There will be more to come regarding the death of the young man, Ed Anthis by the hand of Virgil Johnson. 

                                    -Stay Tuned-        

A Deplorable Homicide Occurred by two Teenage Johnson Cousins

Here We Go

When I first ran across this article, I wondered if I might be related to some of the Johnsons mentioned in this article. One of my Dad's brothers was named Virgil and he had another one named Jasper. I didn't know who Joseph Johnson was but it wasn't long before I figured out that they were speaking about Josiah Johnson, my 2nd Great Grandpa.

I have gone back and forth with myself. Should I write about what I know about my Johnson line?  Do I really want the whole world to know about how bad and crazy, or would that be bat $hit crazy some of them were? Well I have decided to do it. Just remember, there are some good Johnsons that come from my Johnson line.

A Deplorable Homicide Occurred

A deplorable homicide occurred Graydon Springs in this county last Friday. Ed Anthis, a young man 20 years of age, was killed by Virgil Johnson, a boy of 17. Johnson is a son of Joseph Johnson and was raised in the neighborhood. Virgil and his cousin, Loman Johnson, a boy of 15, and a son of Jas. Johnson are under arrest and have given bond for their appearance before Squire Johnson next Tuesday, at which time their preliminary examination will be held. As the cases are in court we forbear comment further than to say that public opinion is somewhat divided as to whether the killing was justifiable or not.

The article above was originally published in The Index (Hermitage Missouri) 5 Oct 1893 Thur Page 3

My Dad used to tell me that his Grandpa, Virgil Eagleton Johnson was a very mean man. There were a lot of people that were afraid of him.

As it turns out, the boy Virgil Johnson that is referenced in this article was my Great Grandpa.  He was not quite 17 when he killed Ed Anthis. I think Loman, who was Virgil's first cousin was there for moral support.

I have decided to write about Virgil E Johnson at least, although there were others that came after him who did the same thing if not worse. I have their trial records and their prison records.

There are other articles that were published regarding this murder that I will include them at a later time. I will also write about and include GG Virgil E Johnson's trial records as time allows. They were all handwritten since it was so long ago and are difficult to read.

Thelma and Bernice

Thelma and Bernice or...

My sister and I used to think it was so funny when our Grandpa Smith would call me Thelma and Tudy, Bernice.

Our Grandma and Grandpa Smith had thirty-one grandchildren but Tudy and I spent the most time with them as children since they took care of us while our parents worked.  We moved to the San Francisco bay area when I was eleven and Tudy was nine but we still spent a lot of time with them since we were so attached to them. 

As Grandpa got older, he would forget and call us Thelma and Bernice instead of Helen and Tudy.  We would laugh between the two of us and go ahead and respond to Grandpa when he got our names wrong.

Aunt Thelma was our Mother's oldest sister and Aunt Bernice was her second oldest sister.  Mama was the youngest child out of a family of six children.  Actually, Aunt Bernice's name was Helen Bernice, but she went by Bernice and didn't use the Helen. I was named after her with my name being Helen.

Sometimes if one of us wanted to get the attention of the other one, we would call each other Thelma or Bernice and then laugh.  We loved both of our aunts very much and we loved our Grandpa very much.  We just thought it was funny and cute.

They are all gone now.  Aunt Thelma, Aunt Bernice (Nicey) Grandpa, and my baby sister, Tudy (Doreena), but I have very fond memories of all of them.  This is one that I thought I would share.

Grandma Goes Hunting

Grandma's Hunting Stories

As my sister and I were growing up, my Grandma, Stella Ethel Marie Holland Smith would tell us what her life had been like in Mountain Home, Arkansas when she was a girl.

Grandma loved Mountain Home and missed it. She was one of the older children and I know Grandma took care of her younger siblings also.  Her mother, Minnie Bell Kirkland Holland was sick much of the time.

Anyway, Grandma would tell us about how she would wear her hair in two braids and go hunting with a slingshot.  Sometimes she would go with her brother. If she got a squirrel, she would take it home, and they would have a nice squirrel stew.  I would wonder what squirrel stew tasted like and wonder what Grandma looked like as a young girl hunting for squirrel and rabbit or whatever with her slingshot. 

I know Grandma could be quite fierce in the chicken pen when we were going to have chicken for dinner.  She would go in there with the chickens, grab one in each hand and wring their necks.  After they stopped flopping around, we would take them in, pluck their feathers, cut them up, fry them up, and eat them.  Nothing like raising your own food.

I have been wanting to go to Mountain Home ever since I was little because I know that is where my Grandma was born and how much she loved it.  My 2nd Great Grandpa, Martin Holland is something of a legend there with all of his shenanigans. He is called Uncle Mart in those parts. My dream will come true very soon.  I am so excited.

Tudy and Her Bottle

Looking for Tudy's Bottle

I remember when my baby sister was about 18 months old, my Mom and my Grandma Smith were trying to put my sister down to sleep. 

They were putting her down in the bed in the room that served as the kitchen, dining room and bedroom. The front room served as living room, and bedroom for Grandma and Grandpa. That was when Grandma and Grandpa only had two rooms to their house.

Anyway, Tudy would say she wanted her bottle.  Every time Mama would give her the bottle she would throw it and cry for the bottle again. Tudy wanted to go outside to get her bottle.  So we all went outside (except for Grandpa) with the flashlight looking for Tudy's bottle. We get out there and what does Tudy do?  She crawls under the house and comes back out with one of Grandpa's wine bottles!

That was back when Grandpa still drank alcohol. He would drink wine and beer.  Grandma never allowed anyone to bring alcohol into the house so Grandpa would drink outside and he hid his wine bottles under the house.  Tudy must have been watching Grandpa and decided she wanted to try out some of the stuff Grandpa was drinking.  The house was up on blocks so there was space under the house.

Of course Tudy wasn't allowed to have any of Grandpa's wine but leave it to her to have us going on a wild goose chase right from the start.  Never a dull moment with that girl, I tell ya even when she was a baby.