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UPDATED 28 August 2017
THIS IS A VERY ROUGH DRAFT OF A BIOGRAPHY IN PROGRESS
The Life and Times of Jim Johnson
As written by Great Grandson Mel Johnson
Dedication
This is dedicated to Aunt Vera Johnson Baughman
For her endless and tireless conversation and pursuit of family history.
Name: James “Jim” Johnson (middle name/initial unknown, If any)
Born: 16 July 1865 in Unionville, La Salle County, IL [1] d. 29 Jan 1949 in Twisp, Okanogan, [2]
Spouse: Ivy Martha Barnhart Born: 13 Sep 1877...
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UPDATED 28 August 2017
THIS IS A VERY ROUGH DRAFT OF A BIOGRAPHY IN PROGRESS
The Life and Times of Jim Johnson
As written by Great Grandson Mel Johnson
Dedication
This is dedicated to Aunt Vera Johnson Baughman
For her endless and tireless conversation and pursuit of family history.
Name: James “Jim” Johnson (middle name/initial unknown, If any)
Born: 16 July 1865 in Unionville, La Salle County, IL [1] d. 29 Jan 1949 in Twisp, Okanogan, [2]
Spouse: Ivy Martha Barnhart Born: 13 Sep 1877 in Webfoot, Linn, Oregon
*Jim was 12 years her senior
Married: 8 Jan 1896 in Okanogan County, WA by Okanogan County’s first Justice of the Peace, Commodore Napoleon Stone. Witnesses: Richard Waglay and Emma HXXXXXX
Father: James C Johnson b. 1815 in Fayette County, Ohio-d. 1865 in Streator, La Salle County, IL
Mother: Suzanna Mary Hays/Hase b. 1831 in Randolph County, VA – d. 1907 in Twisp, Okanogan County, WA
Paternal Grandfather: James Johnson 1772 in New Jersey? d. 185? Most likely in Allen County, Ohio
Maternal Grandmother: Eleanor Timmons b. 1782 in New Jersey? d.185? Most likely, Allen County, Ohio
Preface
"We all know the stories, we all know the fairy tales: Cowboys ride into sunsets, the good guy always gets the girl, Cinderella just fit a glass slipper that changed her world…
Right from the beginning, we're all looking for a happy ending.
I find it necessary to caution the reader with a very, very strong warning before you begin this memoir: if what you seek is a story with a fairy tale ending, you’ll walk away discontented and that’s not my desire. I don’t want to disappoint you.
That kind of ending simply is not to be found within these pages, nor is it hidden between these lines.
But that’s not to imply this is a virtuous endeavor. Not by any stretch of any imagination.
If you have the courage to, please read on.
I have looked forward to this with vast trepidation for quite some time: finally knowing enough about this remarkable ascendant to author his yet untold life story, while knowing all too well that I still know so precious little about the subject for which I am writing, and yet ironically, I likely know more about the subject than any living being. Yet, t is still not enough…
When setting out on this journey, I was concerned and admittedly, apprehensive, of what it is that I might find. Yet, as the story slowly and very agonizingly unfolded before me through years of research, I found myself feeling intimidated; this coming from a man who has very seldom experienced any feelings like that. I found myself even beginning to fear for what I might miss.
And I still do…
Genealogy work is far too often abbreviated to a short profile of the day one takes their first breath, the day they let out their last, and sandwiched in between those two “milestones” are some dates that somehow are offered to highlight events and experiences that sum a person.
Seldom are the breaths that are taken in between chronicled in a manner in which is meaningful to anyone. This is my effete attempt to bring to life the lifetime, or rather, some of those breaths of a rather noteworthy soul.
By definition, biographies are the reduction of another person’s life into mere words, and the very thought of this is daunting, not to mention, absurd.
This author is of the firm and unwavering belief that a true and accurate biography has never been penned, on anyone, anywhere, anytime. Ever. I assure you, this one is no different: justice undoubtedly will evade these paragraphs as it has all other biographies before, and since, as it will continue to do for eternity.
Writing the story of another’s life? Is there anything more preposterous?
Yet without this process, we fail to advance our knowledge, to rediscover and understand history, to learn from the past, to understand who we are, learn where it is that we came from and resultantly, remain consigned to ultimately fail in our worthwhile and noble struggle: the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of those who preceded us and whom are ultimately responsible for our very existence.
So, it is with tremendous reluctance, but great honor and determination that I take action, knowing all too well that I will have fallen far short of the goal before I have even taken pen in hand. Yet that will not stop me, just as failures didn’t stop Jim Johnson.
Understand that this story is based almost entirely in fact that can be drawn wholly from the actions of the subject (s).
Human egos often negatively impact our willingness to accept and take responsibility for our own shortcomings and lapses in judgment. Words are too frequently used to justify, veil or otherwise shield these errs and to lay the blame at the footsteps of others. I intentionally entered into this process entirely free of agenda, with the sole intent to allow ascendants actions to speak entirely for themselves, because actions always speak louder than words.
That bears repeating: Actions always speak louder than words.
Actions also go direct to the fabric of our souls, the essence of who we truly are. Actions are the dictating factor of who we are.
And that is exactly as it should be.
The reader will find little conjecture or speculation pursued by this author, and also that I largely ignore words from those who have disagreements or hard feelings and simply have had the good fortune of being born in a time of advancing technology and a sequence of being a descendant. In fact, in an interesting turn of events, I often take those same words and demonstrate where a given person may have been wrong in their own judgments.
All of us, being mere imperfect mortals, it is only natural to tend to view others’ lives, others actions, through the prism of our own experiences. After all, this is the sole reference point, the very limited yardstick, in which we have to draw from and conclude. We are, after all, the sum of our experiences.
Thus, as we judge one another, it has always said far, far more about the person judging, than it ever does about the person being judged. When we point a finger and accuse, there are always 3 fingers pointing back at us.
As you read, should you dare to venture and expose yourself to the consequences, be cautious with the metric you choose to use as you arrive at your inevitable judgments. Be open minded, and slow to judge. To put yourself in the shoes of another and see the world from their prism, is a fool’s errand that can only be, at best, achieved fractionally and never completely. Judgment is always better left to those without sin.
But make no mistake about this: tremendous pride and emotion is seeping between every line in this story, it’s bleeding from every word and dripping off of every single letter.
When embarking upon this writing I never could have envisioned a journey so rewarding that I would come to consider it one of my life’s finest achievements: telling the untold story of a very misunderstood man in life, which misunderstanding unfortunately, followed him for decades in death.
Until right freaking now.
That misrepresented misguided misunderstanding stops right freaking now.
This puts an end to all of that.
We are all broken. The reason we walk this planet is because we are broken. Each and every one of us, we are all broken. Some of us are just a little more broken than others, but broken nonetheless. And there are no exceptions. None. Nada.
This narrative is about a man who, like all that have come here before and after, came here with nothing and took it with him the day he took that last breath. And that gets me right back to all those breaths in between, the very essences of this effort.
All those breaths taken seemingly were filled with one monumental challenge after another, almost from that very first one, many times coming relentlessly and in waves, one after another without compassion or care for its victim. Yet, through it all, Jim Johnson was a man that would not give up or give in. While not always successful against a mountain of continuous and constant adversity, Jim Johnson never, ever quit. Not until that very last breath.
I hope you too find it as truly remarkable as I have come to.
Should you take anything away from his life story, anything at all, you should understand that Jim Johnson was no quitter. Quite to the contrary, he would not go quietly into the night, always disregarding whatever the next obstacle was, willingly, only too willingly, taking the next adversity on, and regardless of the pain that must have been a lifelong companion to him, at his side with each and every step or lurking around the next corner.
And for his massively colossal and over powering effort, he would be denied reprieve and relief.
When the weight of those hardships bore down so very hard on Jim Johnson that it must have left the imprints of his footsteps on the path he walked, his sheer will and undeniable determination to fight the adversities he faced, time and again, repeatedly, is a testament to the fortress of internal strength he clearly, and undoubtedly, had. After reading these pages and seeing the facts, no reasonable person will be able to refute that.
When faced with the many, and constant, life hardships he had, Jim Johnson squared up with each and every one, and, staring right into the eyes of the beast, he fought through one after another, only to be “rewarded” by facing even greater adversities later.
And yet, when his faith must have been so very thin, almost transparent enough that one could see right through to his soul, Jim Johnson disavowed surrender.
After all, he was a pioneer.
And the son of a pioneer.
And the son, of a son, of a pioneer.
Yes, this story, as was Jim’s life, is void of a happy ending.
But from the opening page to the closing cover, you’ll discover why the caged bird sings. Pull up a seat and stick around until the closing scene…
…because the journey of Jim Johnson, every step…
...and each and every breath in between…
…is spellbinding…
and it’s the story of you.
******************************************************
For decades, James “Jim” Johnson was the family lighting rod of controversy and mystery. Much of this resulted from his own actions; but, as is the case with so much in life, contributions from other actors and forces that play rather significant roles to promote such inaccuracies.
Jim Johnson, the man I have come to understand, can best be summed from the words of Elmer Johnson, Jim’s youngest son, who once recalled in a story about his experiences on the “old homestead”, as it has come to be affectionately called in family lore, in a newspaper article in 1977. The story as it appeared in the Methow Valley News:
“Once Elmer’s father got bitten on the end of his finger by a small one [rattlesnake] while he was out fencing. He just took out his knife, sliced deep into the bite and sucked out the poison”.
Welcome to the life and difficult times of Jim Johnson, the baddest assed man in all the land.
In my mind at least, this man has gone from a figure of controversy and some might even say disdain, to one of a quite legendary status. I believe that in the following pages, you will come to understand him in much the same manner.
Jim Johnson was born in Bruce Township, Unionville, La Salle County, Illinois on 16 July 1865. Jim very likely never knew the cities name in which he began life, because the city had three different names, including the name Streator, in which it still bares today.
The maps on the following page will help to place the location. The Illinois state map is on the left and La Salle, County is highlighted in red. You can see that La Salle County is in the north central part of the state. The map on the right is of La Salle County with cities identified. You’ll not that Streator, is located on the southernmost center part of the county.
Streator’s maiden name was “Hardscrabble”, a name that original pioneer John O'Neil bestowed upon it (at the time a popular term, meaning “struggle”, which will prove to be a harbinger of Jim’s life).
At the time the area was vibrant, young and growing, a collection of rough and rugged pioneers’, an emblematic symbol of a proud Johnson family heritage, as I have fondly come to learn. To honestly understand Jim Johnson, it is necessary to appreciate the set and setting from which he was meld. And here, in Unionville, is the genesis of his story.
The very first documented settlers came to what will become La Salle County, Illinois area in 1823 and claimed lands in what is now the Ottawa area, just north of what will eventually become the city of Streator. Most of these pioneer inhabitants came from New England, New York and Ohio, the latter of which is where the Johnson family hailed from, Allen County, OH to be precise, but that will be discussed in Jim Johnsons’ fathers’ biography, yet to be written.
The trickle of people was constant, steady and by 1830, Illinois had a population of 157,445; and in 1831, when La Salle County was formally organized, its population was estimated at a scant 700. The La Salle County township of Bruce (then including both Otter Creek and Allen townships), is where Jim was born, and it was one of the first to be settled in the county. About this time the area just south of Hardscrabble (Amity and Reading townships in Livingston County) also received their first settlers. There will be more on this shortly.
1. The pioneers generally “acquired” their respective land merely by occupying, or “squatting” on it. This was a cornerstone of “Manifest Destiny”, the 19th-century doctrine or belief that the expansion of the US throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.
People arriving and deciding to remain in the area would often use their covered wagons, if they were fortunate enough to have the luxury of one, as homes until they could build a simple “lean-to” to live in, most of which were of poor quality construction and generally about 12 by 16 feet.
Some settlers built log homes, but wood was scarce and needed for other purposes, such as heat.
Corn was the staple food and meat was a “luxury” then, often in the form of deer, otter, beaver, opossum, muskrat, raccoons, squirrels, wildcat, lynx, prairie wolf (as coyote were called in the era) and in the very early years, buffalo too, but they were all gone by 1840.
Illness, often in the form of malaria, was a common frontier hardship along with poverty, brutalizing labor and isolation, as the people lived rather long distances from one another. One adjective that has never been used to describe the life of a pioneer, is “easy”. This too, would be true of Jim Johnson. To put it mildly, Jim’s life was far more than challenging.
The great political issue of the time was slavery and Illinois was dead center in the middle of the fight. With each new 1850’s political event: the Compromise of 1850, the Dred Scott decision, the Kansas-Nebraska ll (that will ultimately lead to “Bleeding Kansas”, this refers to the time between 1854-58 when the Kansas territory was the site of much violence over whether the territory would be free or slave, a situation then known as “popular sovereignty”). With the passage of the act, thousands of pro- and anti-slavery supporters flooded the state. The tension was methodically increasing with each passing day.
The Founding Fathers had decided to “kick the can down the road” regarding the issue of slavery. When the Declaration of Independence was being penned by Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia in 1776, he moved in the original draft to free all slaves. The colonies of Georgia and South Carolina objected and with a vote of 11 colonies in agreement for abolition, versus the 2 objectors were “resolved” by Benjamin Franklin, with him saying in his now famous quote “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” Franklin believed that all 13 colonies must be united in their quest for Independence against King George III and England, or they would fail in their historic effort. This decision would have reverberations on the citizens of what will become the United States that are still felt today, it would eventually cost countless lives and it will bring financial hardship that will be felt globally.
And with Franklin’s words, slavery would remain and will ultimately serve as the very catalyst for great unrest and turbulent times for our foregoers, and which would ultimately lead to the Civil War, the bloodiest conflict in United States history, and would cost more American lives than any other war, before or after. And Jim Johnson would be right in the center of all of it. This will play a huge role in Jim’s very existence, which I will try to make sense of as our story progresses.
Large contingents of Hardscrabble area immigrants were from northern states, people of which were avid abolitionists. A major hub for the “Underground Railroad” was Chicago, Illinois, just 100 miles to the north, and one of the Underground Railroads largest spurs, was the little town of Hardscrabble.
In 1858, a local attorney turned politician named Abraham Lincoln was taking on a powerful incumbent Democrat by the name of Stephen Douglas for seat in the United States Senate.
The first Lincoln-Douglass debate, took place a mere 17 miles from Hardscrabble, in Washington Square, Ottawa, La Salle County, Illinois.
It’s not difficult to believe that many of our ascendants would have taken the opportunity to travel the short distance and see the debate, perhaps even met Lincoln himself.
In the end, La Salle County ended up supporting Lincoln in his senatorial quest, one in which Lincoln lost to Douglass.
Lincoln may have lost his battle with Douglass, but Lincoln won the war, becoming our nation’s 16th President a mere two years after that defeat to Douglas, in 1860.
With the election of Lincoln to the highest office in the land, South Carolina seceded from the Union in Demeter, 1860 and a proud nation of immigrants was thrown into the depths of a Civil War. Shortly after the fall of Fort Sumter in South Carolina, the La Salle County citizens met at Ottawa and adopted the following resolution:
Resolved, that we will stand by the flag of our country in this, her most trying hour, cost what it may of blood and treasure."
The La Salle County Board of Supervisors granted $8.00 to every man who volunteered to the Union Army between April and October, 1861. In Bruce Township, 270 men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five were available to serve in the Illinois militia, 134 had volunteered by September. There was no doubt which side Hardscrabble clung to.
The townspeople were so fervent about their beliefs that they changed the name of Hardscrabble, to Unionville, which was platted on 27 April 1865, less than three months before Jim Johnson’s birth. When originally platted, only about six square blocks were encompassed by its boundaries.
Although Jim would never know it, the Civil War, brought on by that fateful decision not to abolish slavery by the Founding Fathers, will have inevitable “unintended consequences” that will ripple through his entire lifetime and haunt him. That will also be true for all of the country’s citizens.
However, Unionville was attracting attention and things were soon to change, or continue changing anyway.
The Unionville area was rich in coal, which was rapidly becoming a source of fuel to replace wood and power the rising of steam locomotives, the most recent “technology” that was taking the nation by storm and it was trains that played a major role in the Union victory over the south, giving the Union a way to transport troops and equipmemt faster than they could have marched or rode horses. It was trains that would ultimately help the nation and its relentless pursuit of “Manifest Destiny”.
When John G. Nattinger, an Ottawa businessman, learned that the area was producing coal on a small scale, he sent samples to a friend in Cleveland, Oho, a Dr. Worthy L. Streator, who was a physician and investor. Streator and a group of businessmen formed the Vermillion Coal Company soon afterward, and now you know the rest of the story of how the town got its current name.
According to records I’ve assembled, Streator, was formally founded in 1868, three years subsequent to Jim’s birth, and incorporated as a city in 1882.
As for the Johnson family, they far preceded all of these formalities: both James C Johnson and Mary Susannah Hays, Jim’s future father and mother, can be found with their respective families in the area, the Hyas in the 1840 census, and the Johnsons in the 1850 Federal Census. The Hays were among the earliest of pioneers here.
For those that are so inspired, a great resource for the history of this area can be found in “Biography in Black, a History of Streator, Illinois” by Paula Angle.
And that brings me back to the birth of Jim Johnson, shortly after the Civil War had ended and Abraham Lincoln’s assassination by John Wilkes Booth in Ford’s Theater.
Jim was the third, and final child, born to James C. Johnson (middle name presently unknown) and mother Mary Susannah “Susan” Hays. For Jim’s parents, it was the second marriage for each and, as a result, it was what we term today as a “blended” family e.g. both parents had children from a previous marriage in which spouse’s passed on. It was the 19th century version of “The Brady Bunch” which happened all too frequently in that and previous eras.
Due to the myriad of dangers in life, many people passed early for various reasons. Unfortunately, second marriages were more often out of necessity than love, not that this one was. It was simply a matter of survival in a very difficult and hard world in which people were forced to move on or perish. There simply were no social programs prior to nearly the middle 20th century that people could fall back upon in difficult times.
James C. Johnson and first wife, Lovina Flinn, had at least 6 children before Lovnina’s untimely passing, at age 33, in 1860. You can learn more of this family in James C. Johnson’s forthcoming bio.
Jim’s mother Susan had first married William W. Strong in Hardscrabble in 1852. The couple had at least 2 children: Stephen, in 1853 and Mary Ellen, in 1856. William passed, coincidentally the same year as Lovina Flinn, 1860, and was but 32 years of age himself.
We know little about the reason for either spouse’s passing. Death certificates were not in common practice in the area at this time and many newspapers of the era have simply not survived to present day in which to shed light on these matters. However, as I have been fortunate in my research for this writing, to have secured many court documents in which involves the disbursement and management of the assets of the estate of William Strong, none of the papers provide a cause of William’s passing or do anything to explain it. Some of these more pertinent papers will be shared here shortly
To provide a more comprehensive understanding of these families as they were just prior to Jim’s birth, I have elected to include the information from each family’s 1860 Federal census, to get a clear picture of what is going to become a very confusing transition.
Here is the Strong family, as they appear in Amity, Livingston, Illinois census:
Wm Strong Age 32
Susan Strong 28
Stephen Strong 7
Mary E Strong 3
James Winters 24
Here’s a short summary of the family: Head of household is William Strong ad he is alive and living at this time as his unfortunate end will take place later in the year, on 4 December. Wife Susan will give birth to Jim Johnson in 5 short years. The couple’s two young children here, Stephen and Mary, will lose their father and become Jim Johnson’s half siblings in the next decade in what must have been very difficult times for the youngsters.
The final person in this census, try as I may, I have no understanding of who James Winters is. I have not been successful in linking him to anyone before the census or after. Perhaps someone will have better luck than I have had, in the future, albeit I have not given up trying. It may be of some family significance.
Next, we have the James C Johnson family as they appear in the 1860 Bruce Township, La Salle, Illinois census, is as follows:
James Johnson Age 45
Louisa Johnson 16
Mary Johnson 14
Sarah E Johnson 12
Julia Johnson 9
Lucy Johnson 7
Henry Johnson 1
You’ll note here that Head of Household James Johnson’s first wife, Lovina, is not in this census. According to her headstone, Lovina has passed on 7 May 1860 and the 1860 Federal Census was not taken until July of that year. It also appears that her death was not the result of a child’s birth, which was common then, as son Henry, age 1 here, is born in 1859 and well before Lovina’s passing. Henry will come to play an important role in the future of the Johnson clan, albeit he never marries nor produces any offspring. His future actions tell me that he was clearly a kind, caring and compassionate person.
Interestingly enough, Henry is buried with a headstone that has the surname Johnston, not Johnson, on it even though all of his censuses express the name Johnson, as does his father’s. Regardless, by any account, Henry grows to be a fine person and his yet to be born sibling, Jim, will honor him by doing, as only Jim can, as you too will soon learn: naming at last one future child for him, but that’s a topic for later discussion.
In an effort to clarify data that will be in the 1870 Federal Census, it is necessary to demonstrate now what happens which leads to the linking of the next census for the Strong/Johnson family, in 1870.
After the death of William Strong, due to the lack of a Last Will and Testament, it is necessary to go through probate with the court system in Illinois.
On February 18, 1861, after husband William Strong’s death in December, 1860, Susan Strong petitions the court as his widow.
The first of those documents, which I have included a copy of in the addenda section at the end of this biography, this one marked “Addenda 1”.
The document reads, as follows:
“Petition of Susan Strong in the matter of the estate of William Strong deceased for letters of administration. To the Hon WG McDowell, Judge of the County, Court of Livingston County.
The petition of the undersigned Susan Strong respectfully represents that William Strong late of said county, deceased, died at his residence in said county on or about the 7th day of December A.D. 1860 leaving property and effects in this county leaving no Last Will and Testament as far as known to and believed by this petitioner. And leaving personal property in said county to the probable amount of one hundred fifty dollars. That said deceased left surviving from petitioner, as his widow, and Stephen Strong and Mary Ellen Strong, as his lawful children.
Your petitioner, being widow of said deceased, therefore prays that letters as afore on deceased estate that may issue to James Bradley February 18th, 1860.
Signed Susan Strong
{her mark}
This document critically and clearly identifies Susan as William’s widow, and equally as important, Stephen and Mary Ellen Strong as their children, thus unquestioningly linking the 1860 family census to William’s passing, and successfully providing clarity to the next census in 1870.
Also in this document, one other thing is made clear: Susan is unable to read, write or sign her name.
At the bottom of the document, it states “Signed Susan Strong {her mark}” and an “X” is placed between the words “her mark”. This is customary for people at the time that are unable to sign their name. It is also very common among pioneers not to be able to read, write or sign their names.
In a second document, this one marked in the addenda section of the biography as “Addenda 2”, is an “Administrator’s Bond” filed with the same court on the same date, naming James Brandley and Solomon Hays as Administrators of the William Strong Estate.
This document is indeed a blessing for us. While I don’t know who James Bradley is, as I am unable to locate any James Brandley in all of Illinois in either the 1860 or 1870 censuses, I do know who Solomon Hays is, indeed. And come the 1870 census, you will too.
One additional document that is flied in the estate of William Strong, which is included as “Addenda 3”, is a “Relinquishment of Rights”.
In this document, Susan Strong, as the Widow of William Strong, relinquishes all of her rights as Administrator of the estate. This document is also signed via “her mark”, an X.
Some other important documents are filed in this case as it progresses, which I will address a bit later.
Ӂ
Sometime after William Strong’s and Lovina Flinn’s passing’s, Jim’s future parents enter into their second marriages together. James C. Johnson is about 45 years of age, about 15 years senior to Jim’s mother Susan, whom is about 30.
Albeit there is a marriage record for Susan Hays and William Strong in 1852, and marriage licenses were common at this time in the area, a marriage record has not been found to evidence the union of James C. Johnson and Susan Strong so far. As a result, we can only guess that the marriage date was sometime in 1861 or 1862. It’s an educated guess, as the documents will soon show. Unfortunately, the marriage is ill fated, as James C Johnson will not make it to the 1870 census.
But first things first, as a need to establish a clear trail of relationships is mandatory. To do that, we need to return to some additional court documents in the William Strong probate file.
On 1 May 1865, the Livingston County court in the William Strong estate is petitioned for a new administrator to replace then administrators James Brandley and Solomon Hays with new co-administrators James C. Johnson and Thomas McClelland. I have included a copy of this document on the following page, and in the body of this biography, due to the significant historic import to the family.
James C. Johnson clearly was educated enough to be able to sign his name, which for the time, was unusual. It is not known if he could read or write, but we can speculate a bit here. Remember, my “qualification” in the preface of this biography is that I do “very little conjecture or speculation pursued by this author”. Allow me to elaborate on this.
As I’ve stated, pioneers were not wealthy. They had very few possessions. Books typically were not among those possessions, save one: a bible. If one wanted to learn to read and write, it was generally because they had a desire to read their family bibles. Thus, people that were “educated” at the time also tended to be more religious. As we will see when we ascend to James C. Johnson’s biography, he comes from a rather deeply religious family. And if you could write, there was more than a reasonable chance that you could also read, since writing is a prerequisite of reading.
Please also note here that James signs his name without a “t”. James is also the biological father of Henry Johnson, mentioned earlier, who is buried under the name Johnston as discussed. Spelling errors are a routine happening in ancestry work and headstone errors are also very common, much more common than anyone would ever think.
Also on this document, as a co-administrator, is one Thomas McClelland. I have an abbreviated history developed on Thomas and I’m uncertain as to his relationship to the family. I’m unable to make a connection, which makes it all the more strange. The co-administrator’s in both cases appear to be people that have no biological relationship to the family.
The Adinistrator’s Bond I on th following page, if you look down on the lower right hand area of the document on the following page, you will find the signature of family ascendant James C. Johnson.
James Johnson’s signature appears on this document, directly above.
11 days after filing the above Administrator’s Bond, on 12 May, 1865, while Susan Johnson is pregnant with their third child Jim Johnson, husband James C Johnson is accepted as the administrator for the William Strong estate by the Livingston County Court and signs the Oath of Administration. This must have been a bit awkward for Susan, having a second husband assume the administration of a first husband’s estate. After all, the assets of the William Strong estate inures largely to Stephen Strong, to whom James C. Johnson has not biological predisposition.
This is subtle to most, but I read t as extremely significant, however I am familiar with James C. Johnsons’ past. This is another one of many actions that tell me all I need to know about James C. Johnson, and just as importantly, Susan.
This action is a statement of confidence by Susan, knowing full well that James wouldn’t do anything deemed questionable or selfish. Susan was trusting of James, confident in him even under these circumstances. And James C. Johnson was very trustworthy. After all, he was a Johnson and the name meant a great deal to him and it is obvious he was very much respected because of it.
The following document also bares the signature of James C Johnson, perhaps the final signature of his life, and for that reason it’s of great family historical significance.
The above document is a close up highlighting the signature. As a result, some of the page wording has been cut off. Due to this, I have also included a full page copy, marked as Addendum 4 so that future genealogists would be able to view it in its entirety. The true significance for the family in this document is that it likely contains the final signature of James C. Johnson.
At just 34 years of age, Susan Hays Strong Johnson, Jim’s mother, has seen two husbands pass.
After James C Johnson’s death, Susan takes the very honorable action of having James buried next to his first wife, Lovina Flinn. This is but one of many actions she takes during her lifetime that tells me all I need to know about Susan Hays. Words are meaningless; actions always go to the heart and fabric of who we are.
And in this instance, the burial of James C Johnson at the side of his first wife, Lovina Flinn, was certainly an important case/action in point. This volunteers insight of the integrity of Susan Hays Johnson. Why she did this is of inconsequence, the mere fact that she elected to, is clarity of her forthrightness. I will come to rely heavily upon this action, to interpret many of her future actions, something that is no small feat as you will soon learn. It is clear that Susan was an incredibly strong woman, a survivor, a trait that has clearly been passed to many women of the family today, as I have found, and hope you will also.
James C. Johnson’s untimely death, ironically, leads us to the next document, which is the unquestionable link that bonds James C. Johnson and Susan Hays to our genealogical history. The document was found in James C Johnson’s Probate file.
Again, this is a smaller version of the legal sized document. I have also included a copy of the document as Addendum 5.
This document is among the most important collected to date as it defines specifically the heirs of James C Johnson, in addition to his wife.
The list of heirs, as they appear here, are as follows:
Susan Johnson, widow
Mary E Harbit
Louisa Morrison
Julia A Johnson
Sarah E. Miller
Lucy Johnson
Henry Johnson
Almina Johnson
Aaron Johnson
James Johnson
In the interest of brevity, I will simply acknowledge the elder children of James C Johnson and Lovina Flinn as being Mary E Harbit, Louisa Morrison, Julia A Johnson, Sarah E. Miller, Lucy Johnson and Henry Johnson. While they are still of biological import to this family as they are all offspring of James C Johnson, it is the younger kids that will play a significant future role to help establish identities and family bonds, those being Almina, Aaron and James Johnson, respectively. Susan is the guardian of each of these children.
Please not here also the fact that George D. Miller is the administrator of the James C Johnson estate. George Miller, as we will later learn, married two of James C. Johnson’s sisters, Drucilla and Samantha. Drucilla passes young, at around 30 and George marries her younger sister, Samantha. I have found George Miller to be an extremely interesting person. He is clearly very well thought of in the family based upon the fact that he married two Johnson sisters in addition to acting as administrator for James C. Johnson’s estate. James C. Johnson and George appear to be very close as they move to the same locations, often being neighbors, throughout their lives, until James passing in 1865. George’s offspring with the Johnson women are cousins. In fact, George is in the 1863 Illinois State census, just a couple of doors down from James and family.
This wraps up the general introduction, geographical layout, Jim Johnson’s birth and the conclusion of the 1860’s, the beginning of Jim Johnson’s life. To put it mildly, it has been a rather difficult start for Jim and the rest of the family.
Unfortunately, things will only improve for a short time before they take a turn for the worse…if that’s possible.
The 1870’s: another difficult decade
There’s a new decade in front of the blended Johnson/Strong family and it wouldn’t be difficult to understand that Susan and company couldn’t bid the last one good bye soon enough. It certainly hasn’t been easy for the young family. But this is where the story takes a confusing twist.
The first census data that we have showing Jim in the family is the 1870 Federal Census, and they are no longer in Streator, Illinois. At age 5, Jim is with his siblings and his still single mother, Susan Johnson, and they have moved to Ladore, Neosho, Kansas.
We don’t know what has prompted the move. Perhaps it’s bad memories, a need to find better scenery, maybe employment or possibly hardened relationships. Given the extremely difficult decade this family has just endured there’s plenty of reasons to “Get the hell out of Hardscrabble”. Indeed, for this family, the town lived up to its meaning: “struggle”.
Let’s take a look at the family members, as they appear in the 1870 census:
Susan Johnson, age 36
Mina Johnson 7
Aaron Johnson 6
James Johnson 5
Stephen Strong 17
Mary Strong 13
John Hays 19
Susan, which she is called for the majority of her lifetime, has a new last name from the 1860 census, Johnson, which has been explained with the documentation from the 1860’s.
Susan represents in this census that she was born in Virginia. This is consistent with her 1850 and 1860 censuses respectively, in addition to future censuses she completes. Susan also states that she is 36 years old, which is a bit off, depending on what date you choose to believe she was born. Her earliest census says she was born in “about 1831” but her headstone will say she was born in 1841. Confused? Trust me when I say that confusion reigns supreme in the 1870’s Johnson clan…
Susan also reports that, as the head of household, her “profession, occupation or trade” is “Keeping house” and she also states that she owns her residence, which is valued at $600.00. It is unusual for women, in this time period, to own their own property. But then, it’s also unusual for women to have this many dependents and be single. This cannot be very easy for the family.
Also present in this census are Stephen and Mary Strong, the biological children of the late William Strong and Susan that we saw earlier in Susan’s 1860 census in Amity, Livingston County, Illinois. This is important because they are absent in the probate case data for James C. Johnson’s death, which is normal given that the two children were not his offspring.
Stephen and Mary Ellen’s presence in this census unquestionably links Susan to William Strong of Streator, Livingston County, IL. Streator, IL enjoys a rather unique feature in that it sits directly on the dividing line between the counties of La Salle and Livingston. Thus, it is a city in two separate counties in Illinois.
Stephen Strong, who is 17 here, is also listed as being born in Illinois in this census while also being employed as a farm laborer. This will be the last time we see any evidence of Stephen’s existence. He no longer appears in any future census with the family and he, to date, has not been located in any subsequent census (s). Thirty years from hence, in 1900, we will discover more related to this.
Mary Strong, who is 13 here, is shown as having also been born in Illinois. As us the case with brother Stephen, this too is her last census with the family. And she too will also be lost to future documentation as to who, or if, she marries and has any offspring. As is the case with brother Stephen, we will also discover additional information in 1900 that may shed some light on
this.
Regardless, the two Strong children irreversibly chain Susan to the same Strong family we see in the 1860 Amity, Livingston County, Illinois Federal census, then headed by William Strong. Everything matches the Strong family with the respective surviving members here. The solitary difference is Susan’s last name. But the similarities do not end here.
Important in family lineage in this census, Susan has three children that share her present surname Johnson: Mina, Aaron and James, whom clearly appear to be siblings in this census. The census in 1870 still doesn’t define the household member’s relationship (s), as it will in all subsequent censuses.
Now we need to turn our attention to the final person that appears in this 1870 census: John Hays.
John Hays is critical to understanding who Susan is. John Hays will lead us to our maternal ascendants and if his surname sounds familiar, that’s because it is.
John represents in this census that he is 19 years old, born in Illinoin about 1851 and that he too, is a “farm laborer” like Stephen Strong. Little other data is given. Now, that leaves things about as wide open as it can possibly get. Nothing else links him to the family. He could very well be a farm laborer on Susan’s farm for all we know from this and that would be that. Critical here is finding out who John Hays really is. We can leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of who we are, where we came from.
A search turns up a likely candidate, whom also happens to live in Amity, Livingston County, Illinois in the 1860 census, no less, and not far from William and Susan Strong’s place.
The census, as is appears, follows:
Margaret Hays Age 47
Solomon Hays 27
Henry Hays 22
Nicholas Hays 21
F ranklin Hays 10
John Hays 9
Meet Susan’s mother, and Susan’s brothers. Just as in the 1870’s census, the1860 census individual relationships are not defined, but John explicitly ties Susan to the Hays family, who can also be found in Streator in the 1850 Federal census. But that’s not all. Do you remember the name of the co-administrator for William’s Strong’s estate? Yes, Solomon Hays. He’s also here in 1860 too, right under his mother Margaret, who happens to be single in this census. The Hays women appear to be unlucky in love.
Margaret’s husband and Susan’s father John Hays Sr., who was present in the families 1850 census, has passed in 1858. John Hays final resting place is in the same cemetery, Calder Cemetery, Cornell
Livingston County, Illinois, which also happens to be where wife Margaret Yoak is buried, Susan’s mother, in 1860 just after this census was taken. William Strong is also buried in the same cemetery.
I will discuss this in far more detail in Susan’s forthcoming biography. For the purposes of this biography, I simply want to link the John Hays in the 1870 census to his true identity and the importance it has to our family genealogy.
So we now have Susan undeniably linked to a family, a maiden name (Hays) and we have something to pursue the maternal family pedigree.
Now how or why Susan and company end up in Ladore, Neosho, Kansas is of clear speculation, something of which I will not succumb to.
It is likely the reader may never have heard of Ladore, KS but trust me here, it is of great interest.
Located in southern Neosho County, the "wild west" community of Ladore flourished between late 1860’s and 1901, when it disbanded entirely and has since become a ghost town. .
Ladore, KS is located about 550 miles from Streator, Illinois, just on the other side of neighboring state Missouri
Early Ladore events included such things as gambling and lynching’s that stamped the town with truly legendary character.
It’s the roughest, toughest “Wild West” town that you’ve never heard of.
For those so inclined, more can be found in “The Rough and Gone Town of Ladore, Kansas” by Christy Mog. It’s well worth your time.
It also is indicative of Susan Hays Johnson undeniable strength, something which we will see repeatedly, again and again and again and again (repetition specifically intended), in her rather remarkable lifetime, as has just been witnessed, and which may have escaped the reader’s attention.
Allow me to clarify: in the prior dozen years, Susan Hays has just been widowed twice in 5 years (1860 and again in 1865), raised at least 5 children as a single mother from 1865 to 1870 in addition to losing her mother around 1860, Margaret Lucenda Yoak, her father, John Hays Sr. in 1858, and has accepted the responsibility of raising at least one of her brothers, John Hays, Jr. who is located here with the family in the 1870 census. She also likely took in one or two other brothers until they were old enough to pursue their own life goals. And this doesn’t account for any of the 6 other children of James C Johnson’s from his marriage to Lovina Flinn which she may have cared for in the interim! And, may I say again here, that she is single, during a time when women had few rights, were typically unable to work outside the home, unable to vote, own land and were normally harshly judged by other people if they deviated from the “norm”. Mary Susannah Hays was a virtual fortress of strength. She had to be, there was no other choice if the family was to survive…
And unfortunately, the next decade may not be any easier for the lady citadel…
On 1 January 1871, at the age of about 40, Mary Susan Hays Strong Johnson marries her third husband, Edward M. Thomas, in the neighboring county of Labette, Kansas. Now, I don’t know about you, but if I were Edward M Thomas, I’d be seeing a psychiatrist before I put a ring on that finger. This cannot possibly end well…
We now run up against the first of several time periods in which the effects of a smaller population, caused by the extraordinary large loss of people caused by the Civil War, will economically impact Jim and the family.
At the time, the Civil War was followed by a boom in railroad construction between 1868 and 1873. Railroad investment was driven by government land grants and subsidies given to the railroads to incent them to build. Until this time, the most efficient mode of transportation was the rivers throughout the burgeoning country, but the newest technological improvement, the steam engine, was changing all of that. At this time, the railroad industry had become the nation's largest employer outside of agriculture, and it involved large amounts of money and great risk. A large infusion of cash from speculators caused abnormally aggressive growth (read “bubble”) in the industry as well as overbuilding of docks, factories and ancillary facilities. And whenever too much speculation goes on in a given sector, especially when “encouraged” by government incentives, all good things must come to an end. And in 1873, it did
Now, the first rule about bubbles is: they always burst; there has never been a “soft landing”. More importantly, there likely never will be either. And that’s the way it should be, too. I will explain this in further detail later.
In September of 1873, the entire country suffers a financial crisis we now call the “Panic of 1873”. This event would trigger a depression in Europe and North America that will last until 1879. At that time it was known as the "Great Depression" until the events in the early 1930s took precedence. Throughout Jim Johnson’s life, he and his family will be impacted by significant economic occurrences such as this one. It is impossible for us to understand just how much it impacted them, but this economic downturn was hugely significant and likely caused a great deal of hardship and disruption in the family.
And this is when we catch a genealogy break…
A gigantic “break” comes when Kansas State takes a census in 1875. In it, we find the following people:
E. M. Thomas, age 42
Susan Thomas 40
M Johnson 12
Aaron Johnson 11
James Johnson 10
Lizzie Thomas 9
Wm Thomas 7
Grant Thomas 3
Ellen Thomas 1
In this census, Mary Susan’s last name is now Thomas as she has been married for a third time, as previously stated, on 1 January 1871 to Ed Thomas. . The aforementioned marriage is documented via a marriage certificate in family possession. Unfortunately the certificate isn’t signed by either the bride or groom, as it is now, because it wasn’t customary for the times.
Susan, as she is called until her 1900 census, shows that she was born in Virginia, which is again consistent with our records and all of her censuses.
Also in the census are James, Aaron and M [Mina] Johnson, all the biological offspring of James C Johnson and Susan, just as in the 1870 Federal census 5 tears earlier. Each child’s respective state of birth is Illinois, also consistent with our records and their respective 1870 census. By all indications, there is little doubt that these are the same people that appear in the 1870 Federal Kansas census in Ladore, Neosho, Kansas and the same people mentioned in the James C. Johnson probate file.
It is believed that the two minors here named Lizzie and Wm Thomas are the biological children of Edward M Thomas from his first marriage with May Ann Nicholson (believed to be her maiden name), whom has passed sometime after the 1870 census and before his marriage to Mary Susan Hays in 1871. I will have more on his later.
The other two young ones in this census, Grant and Ellen Thomas, appear to be the biological children of Edward and Susan’s marriage.
Now things are getting complicated, and don’t expect anything to get crystal clear anytime soon either. In fact, it only becomes more opaque, and yes, more confusing…
Given this census data and the marriage certificate between Susan Hays Johnson and Ed Thomas, we are forced to conclude that Mary Ann Nicholson died sometime after the 1870 census, which occurred on 1 June 1870. Consequently, we are then forced to acknowledge that, sometime less than 7 months later, Susan and Edward marry. Kansas didn’t implement the mandatory use of death certificates until 1 July 1911. To date, I have not found any death verification, not even a grave, for Mary, if any even exists. Fortunately I am told that the Kansas State Library has newspapers for the area for the time period. I hope to someday glean what might have happened to Mary Ann Nicholson sometime in the future.
Of interesting side note, it appears the Edward Thomas and Mary Ann Nicholson were married in Livingston County, Illinois, the same county in which William Strong and Susan Hays and children resided in 1860. If this is the same couple, Ed and Mary were married on 20 September 1865, shortly before James C Johnson’s passing. It is possible that Susan, Mary and Edward all knew one another and might even had been friends or relatives possibly. Little is known about either Mary or Edward before Susan marries him and a definitive family history is evasive and speculative at this time.
The next time we will have any independent validation of Jim Johnson, or mother Susan, will be as pioneers with their arrival in the Methow Valley, Washington Territory, circa November, 888.
And they will be alone…
The confusing 1880’s
Have I mentioned that the Johnsons can be somewhat of a group of holograms at the most inopportune and confusing times? Well, they can be. Take 1880, for example…
I simply have not been able to find any documentation in the 1880 Federal census of Susan, Mina, Aaron or James. None of the Johnson’s is to be found in 1880. At least, not under those specific names anyway. And it doesn’t there either. If you want mystery, please, read on… because we’ve got it in spades…
Okay, so no Johnsons to be found. What about Grant and Ellen Thomas, the apparent biological children of Susan and Edward clearly showing in the 1875 Kansas state census above? Nada. Zero. Bupkis. In 1880, the little ones are nowhere to be found either! Now, there’s a possible answer to that, but first things first.
So, you are likely asking yourself, “Who IS to be found in 1880?” Well, I’m very glad you asked that question, because here’s where the real mystery is in the 1880 census…
Edward M Thomas is(the man mary Susan married in 1871 and who she and famlily are with, in 1875)! As are Edward’s children from his first marriage, William and daughter, Elizabeth. No kidding! In neighboring Baker, Crawford County, Kansas no less. Conspicuously absent from this census: Susan, the Johnson kids and Grant and Ellen Thomas…
In the 1880 Federal census, Edward represents himself as a “widower”. Now, he was, in fact, a widower. Remember, his first wife, Mary Ann Nicholson, did likely pass in 1870. But, as we will ultimately find out, his second wife, Susan, is still very much alive. What he meant by this, I’ll leave to the reader to speculate….
The next time, and the last time, we see Edward Thomas definitively, is in the 1885 Kansas State census, when he is with Joseph William Thomas, his son, again. Daughter Elizabeth has left the home, apparently. Once again, he is listed as a “widower”. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the 1890 Federal census burns up in a fire in 1921, destroying it almost in its entirety. Many possible answers have been taken by the flames with it.
So, where are the Johnson’s in 1880?
One possible answer as to where the Johnson family is in 1880, lies within the colloquy of a 1977 Methow Valley News article, previously mentioned in the opening paragraphs of this biography, the Diana Hottel did with Aaron and Elmer Johnson, two of Jim Johnson’s numerous offspring, to wit:
“Sometime around 1890, a young man by the name of James A. Johnson left the coal mines of North Dakota “because he had a roving spirit about that time,” and with his mother made his way over the Bald Knob Trail by covered wagon.”
Now, I write this as being a possible “solution” with tongue in cheek and more than just a little apprehension. Based solely on the accumulation of material data to date, I’m not entirely convinced that Aaron and/or Elmer had a great deal of real understanding about just where Jim Johnson came from or who he really was. Let’s take a look…
Firstly, notice the trail that is mentioned in the paragraph, the “Bald Knob Trail”? You see, the Bald Knob Trail is just outside of Spokane, Washington. Right state anyway, but wrong area. Jim came to the Methow the only path there was at the time, the Chiliwist Trail, as we will soon learn below.
In reading the 1977 article further, it is perfectly clear to see that neither son was particularly close to their father, as both ran away from home at some point in their early teens and neither one speaks terribly favorably about their father, who is long dead and gone at the time of this article. What has happened here to the long honored and revered belief that we mortals shouldn’t speak ill of the dead? Let’s simply term their relationships as ‘fractured”. I was always taught that it takes two to tango…
More data that cast’s doubt
Moving on to Aaron Colfax Johnson’s 1930 census, while in Kennewick at the time, he says that both his mother and father were “Born in the United States”. Now, that’ covers a whole lot of territory. In other censuses that I’ve seen, generally a STATE is inserted here, but an entire country? The country that is taking the census, no less? Hmmm. Call me foolish, but I’m beginning to sense a lack of knowledge…
Presumably, Aaron handled the final arrangements for father Jim. Now Aaron, Elmer and Mina were the only children living in Twisp at the time Jim passed and, based solely upon the data that is in the obituary for the newspaper, I’d conclude that it was Aaron that provided the data for the article. Here’s the language, complete, in said printed version, what do you think:
“Services Held For Another Pioneer
”Funeral services for James Johnson, 83, an early pioneer of Okanogan County who passed away Saturday, January 29 were held at the Methodist church in Twisp Tuesday afternoon. The Reverend Wendell Cone officiated and music was furnished by Nadine Allen with Dinah Watkins as vocalist.
Mr. Johnson was born in Minnesota on July 16, 1865, grew to manhood in the east. He was married Jan. 19, 1892 to Ivy F. Barnhart at Okanogan.
Besides his son Aaron Johnson of Twisp,, he is survived by nine children, 22 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Burial was made at Beaver Creek Cemetery with Precht funeral Home of Omak in charge of arrangements.”
Hmmmm. Only one offspring of Jim’s is mentioned here, Aaron. Is this a smoking gun or what? Now, let’s count the errors in this article;
Wrong state of birth: Minnesota
Wrong middle initial for Ivy (her middle name was Martha)
Wrong date of marriage: Jim married Ivy on 8 Jan 1896, not January 19th of 1892.
Jima and Ivy were married in Twisp, not Okanogan, by Commodore Nathaniel Stone as we will see later.
I might add here that, for being 83 years old, apparently Aaron didn’t think Jim had done very much with such an abbreviated obituary. This biography, in part, is intended to do the boasting for a man that had lots to talk about, but apparently didn’t, because he was busy working hard and feeling pretty badly about things in general.
Also note that Jim’s headstone says that he was born in 1883. I’m hoping someone experienced a big discount on the work. This one defies explanation…
And there’s more…
Looking to Jim’s death certificate, the following is noted:
Item #3. Name of Deceased a. (First) James b. (Middle) left blank c.(Last) Johnson”, yetthis article (the 1977 article0 says his middle initial is A? I reiterate here that I have yet to see any legal document that bears the middle initial or name for Jim on it, including any of the numerous land transfers Jim did in his lifetime.
Continuing, under item “#11. Birthplace” is first answered as “Unknown” and then as “Minn”, implying Minnesota. Hmmmm.
Also on the death certificate, is says on item #“13. Fathers name [meaning jim’s father, Aaron’s grandfather]: “’Unknown’ Johnson”
And item #“14. Mother’s maiden Name [meaning Jim’s mother’s maiden name, Aaron’s grandmother]: “‘Unknown’”. Aaron was 9 years old when Mary Susan Hays passed. He certainly knew her as eell find out more on this later too…
And finally, item # “17. Informant Information has the signature of Aron Johnson” eliminating any doubt that may have remained.
In another biography of Jim Johnson, this one done for the “Methow Valley Pioneers” book by local historian Dale Dibble, precious little is recalled of Jim. Precious little. Firstly, the biography begins with “James Aaron Johnson” and then goes on to say very little, mostly repeating simply what the 1977 Methow Valley News article says which I have included above. It then lists a James Aaron Johnson Jr. as James first son. If Jim Johnson’s eldest son was ever a Jr, it doesn’t appear that he was ever aware of it. No documentation that I have collected to date has anything with a Jr. attached to it. Additionally, thus far into this, I have never been successful in associating a middle initial, let alone a full middle name, with Jim Johnson as previously mentioned. To make matters even more confusing, for Jim Johnson to have the middle name of Aaron would be rare, very, very rare indeed. As we have seen, Jim Johnson’s elder brothers first name was Aaron. To say that it is extraordinary for two kids, born consecutively, to share the same names is very unique. In fact, in all my research in genealogy to date, I’ve only seen it done once when a child hasn’t died before the next one being named the same, another rare anomaly in and of itself. And Jim Johnson is the sole person that I have ever seen it done by. This will be covered in much greater detail when we get into the latter part of the 19th century of Jim Johnson’s life.
In conclusion, insofar as the reliance upon the knowledge of any of Jim’s kids to tell us anything in which we can depend, just color me skeptical…but we cannot dismiss it entirely. We are in search of facts that will provide answers, not emotion and contempt that will perpetuate animosity. I’m simply uncertain that we can find what we are looking for within these articles or data.
The tireless search for the exact 1880 whereabouts of the missing documentation for Susan and the other people mentioned here continues to this day. Until it is found, we can only contemplate.
Who needs census data when we’ve got Ray Libby!
We cannot leave the 1880’s behind, not just yet. There is far more confusion to muddle through…
What we do know, without question, is that, in 1888, Jim Johnson shows up in the Methow Valley with his mother, “Susan Shenyer” and Mrs. A.C. Libby and her three sons in tow. This is clearly documented by one of the son’s, Ray Libby, in “Winter 1976-77” for the “Okanogan Heritage” and titled “Libby Creek was Home” to wit:
“ARRIVED IN THE METHOW VALLEY Nov. 10, 1888 with my mother and two brothers, Ralph and Ches. At that time, I and my twin brother Ralph were four years old and would be five in December and Ches was just a little over a year old.
We came into the valley with Mr. and Mrs. Jim Johnson [This is obviously a reference to Jim Johnson’s mother, Susan, as Jim isn’t married until 1896]. My dad, A.C. Libby,, stayed in Spokane where he had a job building roads with a four horse team. Dad, Josh Risley, Mr. Sanford and Jim Johnson had come into the valley that summer and homesteaded. Mother and Mrs. Johnson were approximately the sixth and seventh white women to arrive in the valley. Those already being in the valley as I remember were Mrs. Pleas Rader, Mrs. Sumter, Mrs. Peel, and Mrs. Harvey Nik |
