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.

David Elijah Smith - A Real Character

Was a Very Interesting Man

What do we know about David Elijah Smith?  We know that he was born in Arkansas City, AR as the 10th and last child to Thomas H Smith and Agnes Arnold on September 8, 1858.

David Elijah Smith was a man with rugged, masculine, handsome looks.  Some have said that his looks were a mix of Tom Selleck and Sam Elliot.  My Grandpa, Fred Burke Smith, used to say that his Daddy was a big, red headed, Irishman.

David Elijah Smith and his son Frank

Dave married C J Long on January 23, 1881 at the age of 23.  I don't have any details about C J, but I know that their marriage didn't last for very long and they didn't have any children together.

D E Smith married M F McGill in Paris, Logan, Arkansas, on September 18, 1884 according to the Arkansas County Marriages Index for 1837-1957.

Dave and Margaret "Tinny" McGill Smith had the following children. 

Robert Carriston 1885-1972, known as Carriston, died at age 87
Frank Thomas 1893-1971, died at age 78
Adalai H 1894-1966,  died at age 72
Augusta Caroline, 1900-1981, known as Callie, died at age 81
Fred Burke, 1903-1990, died at age 87
Charles Hilliard 1905-1979, died at age 54
Ralph W 1906-1941, died at age 35

Fred Burke was my Grandfather.  He lived to be the oldest out of all of his siblings other than his brother, Carriston.   My Grandpa was the last one to pass away out of all of his siblings.

David Elijah remarried for a third time at the age of 63, October 14, 1921, the following year after my great grandmother, Tinny passed away.  I don't think this marriage lasted very long.  They did not have any children together. I don't remember my Grandfather ever mentioning this marriage.

Dave was a socialist who ran for office once under the socialist ticket.

Dave was a savvy businessman who obtained a business loan to obtain equipment for his farm. 

David Elijah was my Great Grandpa.

Another thing we know about David Elijah Smith.  He liked to be married.

He was living with his son, Charles when he passed away on May 20, 1933 at the age of 75. 

More to come about David Elijah later.  He was quite a character of course.  How could he not be coming from this line of Smiths?

Watermelon Party

Not A Happy Camper

I'm not sure what happened to Helen Jane (me) here, but it looks like she isn't a happy camper.  She is crying while her cousin, little Manny looks on.  I suspect that my little sister might have helped herself to a bite of my watermelon.

This photo was taken at my Grandpa Johnson's house in Stockton.  I guess we were stripped down for easy clean up.  I don't remember how we were cleaned up.  Maybe they took us outside and hosed us down. 

Manny is my first cousin and my Dad's sister's son.  Manny is six months younger than me.  I think both of us were about four years old here.  My baby sister's leg and arm are barely visible in the photo by my hand.

                                                     

Left to right, little Manny, Helen, and Tudy's arm and leg

Unexpected Genealogy Gift

A Gift From A Cousin

My husband Frank and I flew to Dallas a couple of weeks ago to attend our nieces wedding.  As we arrived, there was a very bad thunder storm with lots of lightning.  For safety reasons, all of the ramps had been closed down.  We had to wait for about an hour and a half before we could collect our luggage and our rental car and be on our way.

While we were waiting, I checked my email and my Facebook.  One of my cousins that lives in Oklahoma and who is from my Smith line had sent me a photo of my Grandma and Grandpa Smith that I had never seen before.                                                 

Left to Right is my Grandpa Fred Burke Smith, his sister Augusta Caroline (Callie) Smith Butcher, and my Grandma Stella E Marie Holland Smith

I was extremely close to my Grandparents and they practically raised my sister and me until I was eleven and she was nine and we moved from Poplar, CA to the San Francisco Bay Area.  We would still visit them frequently and spent a month every summer with them.

I couldn't find a date on the photo, but I believe it was taken sometime in the 1960s so that would have put my Grandparents somewhere in their early 60s.  This photo was taken when they went back to Oklahoma to visit relatives.

This is how they always dressed for most of my life.  Later on Grandpa started wearing striped overalls sometimes.  When he went outside, he would wear a straw cowboy hat.  Near the end of his life, he would wear slacks, a shirt, suspenders and a dude hat when he went to the doctor.

Grandma told me that when they met, Grandpa was known as that big eyed Smith boy.  Grandpa did have big eyes...big blue eyes.  One of his eyes had a little bit of brown in it though.  My Grandma had very, very, deep blue eyes....almost purple or violet at times.  They were a beautiful shade of blue.

Thank you so much, cousin Medessa Cook Montgomery for the lovely gift that you shared with me.    It turned an otherwise somewhat challenging day into a wonderful, blessed day!  It also gave me one more photo to share with my other Smith cousins.  Medessa's Grandmother was my Grandpa's sister, Aunt Callie.

I heard a lot about Aunt Callie.  My Grandma would talk on the phone to family members and would relay the conversations to my Grandpa who wouldn't hardly ever get on the phone. 

I miss them both so much and think about them every day, sometimes, I think about them several times a day.  They didn't have much money and they didn't have much formal education, but they taught me so much, and gave me unconditional love.  That was priceless!!!

Johnson News

Johnson Brothers Visit

The article below was found in The Walnut Grove Tribune (Walnut Grove, Missouri) printed May 05, 1915, Wednesday page 5.
It tells of how Josiah Johnson (my second great grandfather) came from Oklahoma to visit his brother Jap (Jasper) Johnson and other friends and relatives.  Joe (Josiah) and Jap were both sons of Williamson Johnson and Elizabeth (Betsy) Perryman Johnson, my third great grandparents.

Jump genealogy : an American family from colonial times

Jump Genealogy

The title of this post is also the title of a genealogy book written about my Jump line.  It also mentions other Jump lines that we may or may not be related to.

I have a copy of this book and have included a copy of the Table of Contents of the book here. 

I used this book to help me prove my lineage to John Jump who served in the Revolutionary War. 

If anyone believes they are descended from the Jump line and if you have any questions, I would be happy to look the information up for you.  Obtaining a copy of this book is not easy.  I was able to get a copy from a member of the Polk County Genealogical Society in Bolivar, Missouri.  I am very grateful to Carolyn for helping me out!

Thank you to Janet Pease and others who worked so hard researching the Jump Surname.

Please feel free to send me an email or contact me through this blog.

Ellen Jane Johnson Simao

My Aunt Ellen

 

Aunt Ellen was my Dad's sister. She was next to the youngest in a family of five children and the only girl.  I remember when I was little and we would visit, she loved to pat my legs and tell me that she loved my fat little legs. 

When I was little I didn't understand why she loved my fat little legs so much.  I hadn't given too much thought to my legs at that time.  It was later that I realized why she liked my fat little legs so much.  Aunt Ellen was tall, about 5' 5" (taller than my Mom), and thin.  She was built up like my Dad.  Both of them were tall and thin with thin legs.  Of course, I thought her leg were fine.  See the photos below of Aunt Ellen in her youth wearing summer clothes and a bathing suit.
                                           

Ellen Jane Johnson with unknown sailor

I don't know how old Aunt Ellen was in the above photo, but she looks to be in her teens.

                                            

Ellen Jane Johnson

Now check out those legs!  I used to wish I had legs like Aunt Ellen!
                                                   
Aunt Ellen was one of the most generous people ever born. She was always helping someone out, especially her family, friends, friends of friends, and friends of her children. She would give the shirt off her back to someone even if she didn't have another one.  If someone got into trouble, they went to Ellen. If someone needed money, they went to Ellen.  If someone needed someplace to live, they went to Ellen.  She had a huge heart. Of course she and her family were taken advantage of several times, but that didn't stop her from helping people.  Her daughter, Patricia Simao Nicolia is just like her in that respect...always helping people.  They were born with the helping gene.

I loved my Aunt Ellen very much and loved staying at her house.  This is one of the aunts that I was named after.  Her name was Ellen Jane and my name is Helen Jane.  She was a real character....she was funny and kooky.  She had red hair and wore her lipstick like Lucille Ball.

Aunt Ellen had my cousin Margaret Ellen at a young age.  She is shown in the photo below with my cousin Margaret (Marge), and my Grandma Cora Lee Meek Johnson Sinclair.

                                              

Ellen Jane, Margaret Ellen, Cora Lee Meek Johnson

In the photo above, I am guessing that Aunt Ellen was about nineteen or twenty.  Marge looks to be about three or four.  Grandma Cora would have been about forty two or forty three. 

When Aunt Ellen was about thirty six, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  The docs performed surgery, but they couldn't get all of the cancer.  She was terminal.  It hit everyone in the family hard. Her oldest daughter was grown and out of the house. Her son was about thirteen and her youngest daughter was about eleven.

She lived for about four years after the diagnosis.  She had treatment for the cancer, of course.  She became paralyzed on one side and wasn't able to walk unless someone supported her.  It was painful for us all to see her decline and very scary for her young children.

Aunt Ellen and my Dad, Lawrence, aka John, were very close. Daddy was about two years younger than her.  He was devastated by her illness and spent a lot of time with her. 

In the photo below, my Dad is laying on the bed with her.  Back in those days, everyone smoked in the house.  In this photo, Aunt Ellen is about 39 and my Dad is not quite 37. 

                                               

Ellen Jane Johnson Simao and Lawrence Gerald Johnson, Jr., aka John or Johnny

Aunt Ellen was born January 9, 1933 which happened to be her big brother Charles Paul Johnson's birthday.  My wonderful aunt succumbed to cancer on September 21, 1974.  She was 41 years old. Like a Johnson, she fought hard. Like a Johnson, she kept living long after the docs said she should have died.  The docs would give her so many weeks, or so many months, more than once and she just kept going. Like a Johnson, she didn't know how to give up because that wasn't in her nature.  But, God saw his child was weary, that her little body was worn out, and he called her home.

Until we are all together again...

John 14:1-2

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

My Cousin Booger

Adventures with Booger

My maternal grandparents had over 30 grand kids.  My cousin, Booger was one of those grand kids and one of my many playmates when I was young.  I'm not sure exactly how he got the nickname of Booger, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was our Grandpa Smith that gave it to him.  I will refrain from saying what his given name is here, but those in the family will know who I am talking about.

Booger was an active kid and was blessed with red hair, freckles, and blue eyes.  He is about two and a half years older than me, and I remember that even as a child he had definite ideas of what he did and didn't like.  He is still like that to some extent.

I remember he and I were sitting next to each other one morning at Grandma and Grandpa's house having our breakfast.  Booger was quite active to the left of me, giving a lot of attention to the food on his plate.  I asked, "Whatcha doing, Booger"?  He said, "I'm mixing my egg (fried), gravy, and potatoes (fried) together".  I asked, "Why"?  Booger said, "Cause its good"?    I thought it looked like a big mess to me, but since my big cousin, Booger said it was so good, I thought I would give it a try.  I proceeded to try and create the same kind of mess on my plate as Booger had on his.  I ate some of it, but that was the last time I ever tried out one of Booger's recipes!  I wasn't as impressed with it as Booger was.  Lol

I remember my Grandpa telling about another Booger adventure as I was growing up.  Grandpa liked to tell how Booger was expelled from Kindergarten and then he would laugh and laugh about it.  Back then, if a boy stood up for himself, it was a good thing.  I could be wrong, but I don't think Booger was expelled.  I think he might have been suspended for a couple of days.  I don't know what he did, to be kicked out of school for a couple of days, but most likely he was just being active or maybe had a skirmish with another kid.  Remember, Booger always was a little stubborn, knew what he did and didn't like.  I think it goes with the red hair. 

None of us had very many toys, but I remember one time, I had gotten a doll for Christmas and I believe it was Booger had gotten a gun.  It might have been one of his brothers, but I think it was Booger.  I wanted to play with the toy rifle.  I always thought that boy's toys were so much better.

Booger is a good guy, who is highly intelligent, has a great sense of humor, was a good Husband, is a good Father, and is a good Grandfather.  He always has loved his family.

I always looked forward to visits with Booger and his family.  I am so blessed to have had so many cousins, playmates, and friends in one family. 

Booger definitely left an impression on me!

Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's House

A Smith Family Thanksgiving

One of my happiest memories as a child was spending Thanksgiving day at my Grandma and Grandpa Smith's house in Poplar, CA.  Although, I spent almost every day at their house, Thanksgiving was even more special because there would be so many Aunts, Uncles, and cousins visiting. 

Grandma would stuff and cook the turkey early in her stand alone electric oven so it would be ready to eat by noon.

Grandma's stuffing recipe:
cornbread
white store bought bread or stale biscuits
chopped celery
giblets
chopped onion
minced garlic (optional)
couple of boiled eggs
couple of raw eggs
milk
sage
salt and pepper to taste
Boil giblets until done.  Let cool, and chop liver, heart, and gizard meat.  Remove meat from neck and chop. 
Crumble cornbread, and tear bread into small pieces.  Mix in large bowl with chopped meat, chopped boiled eggs, celery, chopped onion, water from giblets, seasoning, milk, until the right consistency and taste.  Add a couple of raw eggs to help hold stuffing together before stuffing bird and putting remainder of stuffing in pan to be cooked. 

I still make my stuffing like this but sometimes add spinach to it.

We would always have mashed potatoes, gravy, sometimes green beans and corn or some other vegetable.  We would always have pumpkin pie, always have banana pudding and sometimes we would have a cake.

Sometimes the Clay cousins (family of 9 kids), and the McKay cousins (family of 7 kids) might be there at the same time.  Aunt Betty and Uncle Bill Smith had 2 kids.  Aunt Betty and Uncle Don Smith had 4 kids.  Aunt Pat and Uncle Junior Smith had 5 kids, and my Mom and Dad had 2 kids. Grandma and Grandpa had six kids and thirty one grand kids.  The house was only two rooms, but I don't remember it being crowded at all when there was a lot of people.  Of course, I spent a lot of time outside playing with my cousins. 

Grandpa later added two bedrooms and an indoor bathroom.

We didn't have many toys, but we would play Red Rover, Red Rover, Dog Pile, Jump rope, Chinese jump rope, marbles, etc. 

It was so much fun with so many of my cousins there and the food was so good!

I am very Thankful to God for blessing me with my Grandma and Grandpa Smith, my Mom and Dad, my sister, my children, my grandchildren, my aunts and uncles, and all of my cousins that I grew up with.  I'm also Thankful for good health and all of my other cousins that I have.  I have so much to be Thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Transgressions of Charity and John Hollon/Holland

Background

Before I start filling you in on Charity Brewer and John Holland, my 4th Great Grandparents, I would like to remind you about my background and upbringing.

My Grandmother was Stella Holland Smith.  Grandma was very strict with the girls.  She didn't want our hair cut, we weren't allowed to wear shorts, and we weren't supposed to notice if a woman was pregnant and if we did, we weren't supposed to mention it or even know what it meant.  Grandma wouldn't even wear a dress with any red in it, when I was growing up, because only women of the night wore red.  She relaxed a little later in life and started wearing more colorful clothing.

Grandma came from a large family.  Two of her sisters had their own churches.  Aunt Rosie had a church in Stockton, CA, and Aunt Nellie had a church in Poplar, CA, (my home town). 

I attended Baptist and Pentecostal Churches.  My Grandpa Smith's family were mostly Baptist, but Grandpa didn't go to Church.  My Grandma's family were Pentecostal.  I was raised more in the Pentecostal faith.   Although, if you ask me, I can't see a big difference.  But then again, I'm not a religious scholar. 

Anyway, we weren't supposed to do anything that was fun, like going to dances, movies, etc.  Women weren't supposed to wear pants or makeup.  Women weren't supposed to do anything that might make themselves more attractive to the opposite sex either. 

I think you all might be getting the picture.   But, I had a little Mama, that liked to break the rules, so she didn't enforce any of that.  I guess you could say, Rosie Mae Smith Johnson was a little Hell Raisin' Holy Roller.

Even with being brought up in such a rigid religious environment, I still have a very strong faith that has helped me through many bad situations throughout my life.

I also must tell you that I had the best Grandparents ever.  They gave my sister and me so much love, I don't know where I would be today if I had not had them in my life.


Speaking of Hell Raisers.  Since John and Charity were my 4th Great Grandparents, they were my Mom's 3rd Great Grandparents.   Oh and here is the good part!  They were my Grandma Stella Holland Smith's, Aunt (Reverend) Rosille Holland Snow's, and Aunt (Reverend) Nellie Holland Snow Ozner's 2nd Great Grandparents.

Oh, I almost forgot.  Their other sister, Argie Alice Holland Simpson Robinson, used to tell me all the time when I was growing up, that the devil was going to get me.  I don't know why she would tell me that.  I might be playing outside or going around in circles getting dizzy, and all of a sudden, Aunt Argie would be telling me that the devil was going to get me. She may be right about that since I can't help but enjoy the story I'm about to tell you.

Below are two photos.  The first photo is of Aunt Nellie and my Grandma.  I did think that the other person was Aunt Argie but it isn't. I think the other woman is their sister in law. 
                                            

Nellie Holland, Stella Holland, and Sister in law, I think.

The next photo is of my Grandmother, her Father, John Wesley Holland who is sitting in the middle, and her siblings. 


                                                  

Back row, left to right.  Rosie, Argie, Nellie, Stella.  Sitting in the middle is John Wesley Holland, their Father.
In the front are the brothers.  One of them is probably Clift and she had another brother named Claud Orville.  I'm not sure who the extra guy is.  To the left in the background, it looks like it is either Jr. or Don.  One of my Grandma's sons.

The photo above was taken after they came to California from Arkansas and Oklahoma, I think.

S  C A  N  D  A L 

There are many tales, and family legend surrounding Charity Brewer and John Hollon.  If you google their names, you will come up with tons of info.  Not all of it is true, however, some of it is.  Several book articles and newspapers articles have been written about them.

Lets get started.  First let me tell you a little about John Hollon and Charity Brewer each.

John's surname is found on records spelled as Holland, Hollon, and Hollin. John Hollon, my 4th Great Grandpa, was born April 24, 1777 in Montgomery County, VA.  That part of the county is now Grayson. 

There are several different versions, according to family legend, John was betrothed to Charity Brewer, who was born September 26, 1777, in what is now Ashe County, North Carolina.  It is just across the border from Grayson County. 

It is believed that Charity was the daughter of Ambrose Brewer, (she named a son Ambrose, so I believe this to be true) who was the brother of Lewis Brewer of Grayson County.  John Holland's aunt Agatha married Lewis Brewer.  There is a good chance that John and Charity knew one another as children.

John ordered a survey of land in Grayson County in October, 1799, on Middle Fork Creek, but withdrew the survey.  Instead, he went to the Kentucky wilderness to stake a claim.  He planned to return and marry Charity. 

When John did not return at the appointed time, family convinced Charity that he was dead.  She married another man, with the surname of Maynard.  They were married long enough for Charity to give birth to a child.  When John Hollon returned alive and well, she left her child and husband behind to go to Kentucky with him.

Their home site was in present day Wolfe County, Kentucky.  Charity gave birth to the first white child in the region about 1804.  One of the family legends says that Rebecca was born in the cave on Holly Creek, since their cabin was not finished yet.  Please see photo of the Cave below.

                                              

Cave where John and Charity lived while cabin was being built and where their first child was born

John and Charity had 9 children and over 100 grandchildren. Their children were Rebecca, William, Fannie, Ambrose, Lucinda, Phoebe, Andrew Jackson "Jack" (my 3rd great grandpa), Hiram and John Jr.  Many of their descendants hold reunions each year in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Texas.  At one point, over 3,000 descendants had been identified.  I don't know what the count is up to now.  I'm sure Timothy J Barron has a better idea than I do what it is.  He is a distance cousin of mine from the Holland line.  He is also the source for much of the information in this article.  

Here is the Scandalous Part

 

A marriage record from Floyd County, Kentucky, shows that John Hollon and Charity Mains (should have been Maynard) were married May 21, 1820, by Daniel Williams.  This means that their first eight children were born out of wedlock.  Charity may have still been married to her first husband.  Furthermore, she was about seven months pregnant with their ninth child, John Jr., at the time of their marriage.  

John and Charity are honored as the founders of Wolfe County in the County Historical Society in Campton, Wolfe County, Kentucky.
                                                

    John and Charity are buried together in the Hollon Cemetery on top of a hill in Hollonville, Wolfe County, Kentucky.  They are buried in cairns which is an unusual design in Kentucky. 

                                                     

Story about Charity's First Child

Timothy J Barron proved that the legend of Charity having another child that she left behind is true.  His DNA matched with a descendant of Mahalia Maynard Brewer, Charity's first born that she had with her first husband, Shadrack Maynard. My DNA also matched with a descendant of Mahalia's at a later time.

The articles written to date....

1958 Book article about John Hollon & Charity:  "Hollon and Related Families in Wolfe County" written by Clay Hollon, appeared in "Early and Modern History of Wolfe County" pages 115-116

1958 Book article about John Hollon & Charity:  "The First Hollon to Settle in Wolfe County" written by Capt. James I. Hollon, appeared in "Early and Modern History of Wolfe County", page 128

1961 Book article about John Hollon & Charity: written by Clay Hollon, appeared in "Fragments of Knowlege from Around the Globe"

1967 Newspaper Article about John Hollon & Charity: "Cave House on Holly Creek Birthplace of First white Child Born in Wolfe County" written by Steve Swango, appeared in unconfirmed newspaper.

1979 Book article about John Hollon & Charity:  appeared in "The Pence Genealogy: Early Pioneers of Wolfe County, Kentucky including Pences, Hollons, Brewers, Banks, Tomlinsons and many others and who was who," by Sally Singleton page 15

1989 Newspaper article about John Hollon & Charity: "The Saga of Charity Brewer"  written by Athelene (Jackie) Genge of Spooner, Wisconsin appeared on March 3, 1989 in the Wolfe County News from Wolfe County, Kentucky. 

1995 Book article about John Hollon & Charity:  "John Hollon and Charity Brewer" written by Sandra Lake Lassen, appeared in "Bicentennial Heritage Grayson County, Virginia" page 246

So there you have it.  Charity and John created quite a stir, and were a scandalous couple.  I'm not exactly sure when the Hollands got religion.  Maybe John and Charity had religion but I haven't read anything about it, if they did.

This is Part of Mine and my Daddy's History

Daddy And I Both Loved Elvis

Since this is a family history blog, I would like to share a song and a video by Tom Jones about Elvis, The King of Rock and Roll.  Tom and Elvis were very good friends. 

Here is another one, where Elvis is introducing Tom in Las Vegas, then Tom talks and sings a new song for Elvis " I was thinking about Elvis......watch till the end......

I was fortunate enough to be able to see both of them perform in person.

Hope you enjoy.

                                                
            

Hartwell Johnson and Son Jasper

Closing in on Hartwell Johnson Jr.
 
As you know, I did a timeline on my 4th Great Grandpa, Hartwell Johnson Jr.  I have since updated it with a small bit of information that I discovered recently.  However, this small bit of information is huge in the world of genealogy.  Please see latest timeline for Hartwell.  The update I made is in red.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LwjJboStsKTg-OWGAYM_5Q46CAQOOhhrJwGqrRkdAE0/edit#gid=293211040

Jasper Johnson's Civil War Prison Records 

 

When I found my 3rd Great Grand Uncle Jasper Johnson's Civil War prison records, I became very excited.  I knew that I had hit pay dirt.  What I found out....

Transcription of attached records in link below:
 
Gratiot Extract: From roll of prisoners of war sent forward from Little Rock, Ark, Dec 2, 1863. By order Sg? Col J.S. Chandler P-- War Genl.  Jasper Johnson, private teamster, captured near Benton in Ark, Nov 17, 1863.

Examination: Jasper Johnson of Polk County, Missouri. Taken the 6th day of January, 1864. Confined at Gratiot St. Prison, St. Louis, MO.  Taken by George H Richerson.

Statement of Jasper Johnson, a prisoner at the Gratiot St. prison, St. Louis, made the 6th day of January, 1864.
My age is thirty six years.
I live in Polk County, Missouri
I was born in Halifax County, VA
I was captured in Arkadelphia, Arkansas on or about the 28th day of October 1863.
The cause of my capture was I was a Rebel Soldier and was driving a C.S.A team and was taken prisoner by some Iowa troops, I think.
I was in arms against the United States, and was a Private in Captain Mitchell's company "G", Burn's Inftry Reg, C.S.A., I was sworn into the Rebel service about the 15th day of October 1862, by Col Burns, in Arkansas for three years during the war.
When captured. I was first taken to Little Rock, Ark and remained there about three months and was not examined there and was sent to Gratiot St Prison about the nineteenth day of December 1863.

Question, Answer session....
Q. How many times have you been in arms during the rebellion?
A. Once

Q. What commanders have you served under?
A.  Burns
Q. What battle or skirmishes have you been in?
A.  None, was driving team all other times
Q. Have you ever furnish arms, or ammunition, horse, provisions, or any kind of supplies to any rebels? State when, where, and how often.
A.  Never furnished anything
Q.  Have you ever been with any one taking horses, arms or other property?
A.  Never have
Q.  Are you enrolled in the E. H. H.- loyal or disloyal?
A.  I am not
Q.  Are you a Southern sympathizer?
A.  I am
Q.  Do you sincerely desire to have the Southern people put down in this war, and the authority of the H. J. government over them restored?
A.  I do not
Q.  How many slaves have you?
A.  None
Q.  Have you a wife--how many children?
A.  Wife and 1 child
Q.  What is your occupation?
A.  Farmer
Q.  What relatives have you in the rebellion?
A.  Don't know of any
Q.  Have you ever been in any Rebel camp? If so, whose--when--where--and how long? What did you do? Did you leave it or were you captured in it?
A.  Something about Arkansas....handwriting difficult to read, and Done teamster duty in ?

On the examination intake form, it asked....

What impression does the prisoner make--
The answer was, truthful, candid, mild, vigorous, healthy.  Recommend that prisoner be exchanged.


Jasper was forwarded to Rock Island prison, Illinois, on January 18, 1864. 

In the link below, you will find Jasper Johnson's statement swearing that he will defend the Constitution of the United States, etc., that he signed at the Headquarters, Rock Island barracks, Illinois on March 20, 1865.  In the statement a physical description of him is provided.  He is described as having a fair complexion, light hair, and grey eyes and is 6 feet inches high, and is 36 years of age. 
https://app.luminpdf.com/viewer/kJEdHF9yYq6XHGJEp/share?sk=bb15e8c2-851e-4b50-8f60-b99e1e3699df




                                                                         

Jasper Johnson, son of Hartwell Johnson and Lydia Shaw Johnson

I have highlighted the answers that Jasper gave in his prison examination, in turquoise that I either know to be false or suspect.
His answer about only being in arms once during the rebellion, I believe  to be false.  He was only "caught" with arms once during the rebellion.

His answer that he didn't have any slaves was false.  He did have slaves.

His answer that he never furnished any guns, any provisions or any kind of supplies to any rebels is suspect.  That is what teamsters did.  They provided supplies, and food for the troops.

His answer about not having any relatives in the rebellion was false.  His father Hartwell was involved in the rebellion as well as three of his brothers, Leonard, John, and Gideon.  As a matter of fact, Hartwell, Jasper, Leonard, and John are all on the list of "The Rebels of Polk County".  The list was drawn up in 1861. I will write about that another time.

The fact that Jasper Johnson made a good impression on the Yankees, all I have to say, is "Boy did he have them snowed"!  I'm sure he was quite charming, but the fact that many of his answers were false says a lot.  Of course, he was doing what he needed to do to survive.

The items I have shaded in yellow are important.  Hartwell started showing up in tax records in Halifax County, VA for the period of 1805-1820.  Some of his children were born during this time period but I never had documentation showing that they were actually born in Halifax County.  Since Jasper provided documentation that he was born in Halifax County, and the census records put his birth at about 1826-1827, we can assume that the Hartwell Johnson family lived there until they moved to Tennessee in around 1830. 
this is important because I know where to look for records for the family and especially Hartwell in order to trace our Johnson line.

The other item I highlighted in yellow is of the physical description of Jasper.  Luckily we also have a photograph of Jasper but that isn't always the case.  The physical description provides details that the photo doesn't and that is his height and age at the time.

Well, I covered a lot of information today.  On my Geni Bucket list is to find out who Hartwell's Daddy is.  With each little piece of information uncovered, I am getting closer.

Until the next time, the Johnson Saga continues....

Genealogy Vacation to Polk County Missouri and Nearby Areas

Searching for Ancestors and Their Secrets

A few months ago, we made a fact finding trip from California to Missouri to conduct genealogy research.  We also met up with some cousins, and friends that I have made through the years over the phone and online.


I met with my cousin Linda Ivy, face to face for the first time.  She and I both descend from Hartwell Johnson and his oldest son, Williamson Johnson.  We have been communicating for years through Facebook, Ancestry, and email.  We first met on Ancestry through our DNA.  We had a wonderful time together!

I also met with Mike and Mona Duby who are possible cousins from the Griffin side.  We had a ton of fun together too!

We all met at the Polk County Genealogical Society in Bolivar, MO, for the first time.  I also met Susan Sparks, the president of the society, face to face for the first time as well that same day. 


We  spent the day at the Society research center researching our ancestors.  During my visit to Missouri, I came away with some additional bits and pieces of family history to add to the files.  The folks at the Society are very helpful.  They have been assisting me with my research efforts from afar for several years.  Susan, has been especially helpful.


During this trip, I came away with the court records for the trial of my Great Grandfather, Virgil Eagleton Johnson and his cousin Loman Johnson.  I will not say at this time, what the trial what about.  Suffice it to say, that it wasn't for something that was frivolous. 


My Johnson line is one of the main reasons I named my blog, "Hell Raisers and Holy Rollers" although, I can't place all of the blame on them.  The Johnson Family were Baptist.  Back in the day, when they weren't being good Baptist, you can rest assured, they were raising some kind of hell.

I also came away with an obituary for the last one of Hartwell and Lydia's children to pass away.  In it, the person who preached at her funeral and wrote the obituary mentioned how close he was to the Johnson family.  He also mentioned the Johnson sons that he had fought with in the Civil war on the Confederate side.  Apparently, Leonard Johnson saved his life.  I will write about that and include the obituary at another time.

The Old Johnson Cemetery

We all met up in Morrisville, Cousin Linda, her husband Charles, Cousins Mike and Mona Duby, Lisa Ann (lives in area), and Frank and me. We proceeded to drive out to what used to be part of the old Johnson farm but now has a new owner.  It is my understanding that Hartwell's former farmland was split up and two different people own it now.  The owner that has the land with the cemetery on it, allows the Johnson descendants to visit it whenever they want to.  It is in the middle of a pasture.  The pasture was really overgrown, and we were a tad concerned that we might start a fire driving through it with our cars. Please see attached films of the caravan of cars.  Please note, we were the number two car in a caravan of four cars going there.  There are two other cars behind us.

Here are a couple of films showing us leaving the Cemetery with HJJR narrating.  That's me :-) 

Below are photos of gravestones taken in the Johnson Cemetery.  I would have taken more, but there were a lot of critters out there.  Charles and Frank cut down quite a bit of brush.  The cemetery is located in the middle of a pasture. 

 Hartwell's stone is flat on the ground and had been buried under over 100 years of dirt and debris.  That is probably why it is so well preserved.   The above photo was taken before it was cleaned.

 This photo was taken after Hartwell's stone was cleaned with water.

 Lydia's stone had been broken off of the base when a big storm came through.  We found it propped up against a log.

 These were the children of someone, but I wasn't able to make out the parent's names.

We finally found Hartwell Johnson's gravestone with the help of Lisa Ann.  I met Lisa on ancestry a few years ago on a message board and we have been in contact ever since.  She is writing a book about the area and is quite knowledgeable about the family history of various families in the area.

Above are some of the photos we took while at the Old Johnson Cemetery.  Some of the gravestones were difficult to read until they were cleaned.  I took jugs of water, gloves, and rags to clean some of them off with.

Below are several photos of historic and old buildings located in the town of Walnut Grove, MO.  My Great Grandfather, Virgil Eagleton Johnson was born in Walnut Grove.
                                                   

Hay!

Below are photos of the Brighton Post Office.  This is the very same Post Office that Hartwell Johnson used.  He sent and received many letters regarding his fight to obtain his pension from the War of 1812.  He conducted much of his business in Brighton as well, buying dry goods, etc.                                                    

We also visited many antique shops and a few historical sites while we were there.  Of course, we didn't have nearly enough time to do everything we wanted to do.  I, at least will be back.  It reminds me of my hometown of Poplar, CA.  I love the people in Missouri.