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