The Johnson - Grigsby Connection

THE ELUSIVE ANCESTOR
I went searching for an ancestor, I cannot find him still
He moved around from place to place and did not leave a will.
He married where a courthouse burned, he mended all the fences.
He avoided any man who came to take the U.S. census.
He always kept his luggage packed, this man who had no fame,
And every twenty years or so, this rascal changed his name.
His parents came from Europe, they should be on some list
Of passengers to the USA, but somehow they got missed.
And no one else in this wide world is searching for this man,
So I play gene-solitaire to find himdavi if I can.
I'm told he's buried in a plot--with a tombstone he was blessed,
But the weather took engraving and some vandals got the rest.
He died before the county clerks decided to keep records.
No Family Bible has emerged in spite of all my efforts.
To top it off this ancestor, who caused me many groans,
Just gave me one more pain as he betrothed a girl named Jones.
 —Author Unknown

This poem expresses my feeling in looking for the parents of Winifred Beatrice Grace "Winnie" JOHNSON, b 1861, Laclede County, MO.   See pictures

Her parents were surely the John A. & Elizabeth Johnson, who were living in 1850 in Laclede Co, MO
Family stories say that Winnie was half Cherokee Indian, but on the 1880 census she is listed as "white."
Pictures of her 3 children show them with dark features.  ( Walter, Myrtle & Russell)

One of Winnie's grandchildren, Eva Bea Lindesmith Wood (b 1905) said that she thought Winnie was from Laclede Co, Mo.  and that her father was John A. or John E. Johnson.  
The birth record of Winnie's son, Russell (b 1887), says that she was born in Laclede Co, Mo. in about 1861.
The 1880 census shows that Winnie's parents were born in Ky & Tn, which matches the 1850 couple.
On the 1900 census all 3 of Winnie's children (2 living at home with their father, and one married daug) listed that their mother was born in Iowa.

There was a John & Samuel Grigsby in the 1821 Militia of Roane Co, Tn.
Samuel was living on Suwee Creek in the 1823 Tax list of Roane? Co.
1840 Pulaski Co had Samuel Grigsby (p207),

1830 census --
There was definitely a connection between the Honssinger family and the Johnsons. In 1870 (see below) Elizabeth was living with Thomas Honssinger and the next year (after his wife died) she married him. After Elizabeth and Thomas divorced 55-yr-old Thomas married 17-year-old Sarah Simpson. Sarah was 2 days older than Elizabeth's daughter Winnie Johnson. Sarah's parents also lived on the Honssinger place and worked for him. So, obviously they all knew each other very well -- all of them lived in the Drynob area of Laclede County, Mo. The Simpson family was from Warren Co, Kentucky, John Johnson was born in Kentucy, so I wondered if there was some connection there. Searching 1830 Warren Co, Ky (where the Simpson family was from),
on p65 I found Joel Johnson (20-30) and wife (20-30) with one son (0-5) [John A. would have been about 5]
p78 -- Benjamin C. Johnson (45-50), woman (30-40), 3 boys 15-20, 2 boys 5-10, 3 boys 0-5, 1 girl 0-5, 24 slaves.
p84 -- Tandy Johnson (70-80), 10 slaves.
p85 -- Elizabeth Johnson (50-60), 2 women & 1 man (20-30), 1 girl (15-20)
p86 -- Wm. W. Johnson (40-50), woman (30-40), 2 boys 15-20, 2 boys 10-15, 3 boys 5-10, 2 boys & 1 girl 0-5
p86 -- Thos. Johnson & woman (30-40), 2 girls & 1 boy 5-10, 2 girls 0-5, 3 slaves
p91 -- Wm Simpson & woman (30-40), 1 girl 5-10, 2 boys 0-5
p95 -- Wm. C. Johnson 60-70, woman 50-60, 2 boys 15-20, 2 boys 10-15, 6 slaves
p95 -- Sylvanus Johnson 50-60, woman 40-50, 1 man & 1 woman 20-30, 1 boy & 1 girl 15-20, 2 girls 10-15, 1 boy 5-10
p105 -- Wm. Simpson 50-60, woman 60-70, 2 men 20-30, 1 boy 15-20, 1 boy 10-15
p108 -- Thos Johnson 30-40, woman 20-30, 1 girl 0-5
p109 -- Alx. Johnson & woman 30-40, 1 girl 0-5, 1 slave (Alexander
p109 -- Hugh Johnson & woman 30-40, 2 slaves (Hugh W. Johnson and wife Jane

from Warren Co, Ky Deed book D
-- JOHNSON, Alexander. Release agreement between Hugh W. Johnson, Samuel Johnston and myself into in 1834 who were formerly in the merchantile business said agreement being now in the hands John Johnston of Green Co. which provides I am to sell our possessions in Martinsville Warren Co. consisting of town property and farm adjoin??. Wife Eliza. Jane, wife of Hugh W. Johnston. Executor, Hugh W. Johnston, Samuel Johnston, John Johnston and William Feland. Children Margaret, Joseph, John Alexander. Dated december 22, 1834. (it is signed Johnston). Wit. William Harris, George Allingham, Recorded January court 1835. pg77  [Though Alexander here had a son named John A., on the 1830 census he did not have any sons.]
-- JOHNSON, William C. Wife. Children James, David H., Robert, George W., Peggy Rider, Sally C. Cox, Elizabeth Smith, Matilda Moberly, now dead. Grandson William Franklin Smith. Executors sons Robert and James. Wit. Garland J. Belwett, James H. Stone, John B. Martin. dated Feb. 6, 1842. A codicil dated Nov. 20, 1847. Mentions Granddaughter Susan Carroll. Wit. by Thomas Price and J.B. Blewitt. Proved July court 1848. pg244

I am wondering if Elizabeth's grandfather was John Grigsby who married Winnifred Elizabeth Breeding. He died in Hawkins, TN in 1826. He had several sons: James D., William, Samuel, John, Ashby & Nathaniel.  The only known children of these men were of William and Nathaniel. I think it’s possible that Elizabeth was the daughter of one of the other brothers--maybe John, and she named her daughter Winnie after her grandmother.
However, the 1840 census below looks like the family patriarch was George Grigsby.

The 1830 census of Crawford Co, Mo (which included what was later Pulaski County) has:
Honsinger, John Jr - p176
Honsinger, John Sr - p170
Johnson, Abraham - p170 - 101001 - 210001
Johnson, Henry W. - p175 - 10002 - 00001
Johnson, Richard - p177 - 10001 - 20001
Johnson, Thomas - p170 - 1121101 - 020101
no Grigsbys

John A. Johnson would have been  5 years old, so any of the men above could have been his father.
1840 census

By the 1840 census there were many Johnson and Grigsby families in Pulaski Co, Mo. So They probably moved there before about 1838 from Tennessee.
The part of Laclede County, Mo where they were in 1850 and on, was a part of Pulaski County before 1849. There were Grigsbys in the 1840 census of Pulaski County, Mo:

In 1840 Pulaski Co, Mo. there was
p207 L3 - Terrill Grigsby (20-30) - 10001 - 00001
p207 15 - Nimrod H. Grigsby (40-50) - 0102101 - 0010001
p207 18 - John Grigsby (30-40) - 110001 - 120001
p207 28 - Robert Grigsby (15-20) - 0001 - 0001
p211 2  - George Grigsby (60-70) - 101100001 - 200001
[Legend: 0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40. 40-50, etc.]
Some of the Grigsbys stayed only a short time in Pulaski Co, Mo, then moved on, several to Napa Co, Ca.]

Since Elizabeth was born in 1833, she would have been 7 years old. Only John Grigsby had a girl that age, but according to other researchers, he doesn't have a daughter named Elizabeth. [There isn't a John Grigsby the right age in Missouri in 1860. There is only one who was 50-60. He was in Napa Co, California -- John Grigsby 54 Tn, farmer, living alone]

There was a John Grigsby and wife Nancy Wilson who has son Jefferson Sylvester (b1838 Laclede Co)  -- even though there was no Laclede Co until 1849. Died 1876 Franklin Co, Mo. Had several children, but not Elizabeth (1833).
Also, John Grigsby was born in 1806 in Tn., married Dicey Stone 1832 Marion Co, Mo, m 2nd Mahala Shields 1857 Napa Co, Ca, d 1876 Franklin Co, Mo
These two seem to have been the same man -- Capt. John Grigsby, b Mar 3, 1806, Marysville, Blount Co, Tn; son of George Grisby and Rebecca James; m 1828 to Nancy Wilson

Samuel Grigsby was listed as a Justice of the Peace in Pulaski Co in 1836 & 1840.
1848 - Samuel H. Grigsby listed on a probate record as public administrator for the county.

There were 14 Johnson families in Pulaski county, but 5 of them were on page 206 & 204, so they would surely have known the Grigsbys. John A. Johnson would have been 15. Samuel, below, had a son that age.
206 L5  JOHNSON       James (20-30)  - 12001 - 00001     
206 19  JOHNSON       Abraham (20-30)  - 00001 - 0001   
206 23  JOHNSON       James (20-30)   -  10001 - 20011
206 26  JOHNSON       Mary (40-50)      00011 - 1021001
204 30  JOHNSON       Samuel (40-50)    - 1112101 -  120001
Looks like maybe Mary & Samuel both had a son named James.

The only Johnson marriage I can find in Laclede Co, MO that was during or before 1850 was
David Johnson & Rebecca Odle - Apr 29, 1848.  (David was born in Ky abt 1830 and died 1850-60 in Wright Co, Mo. Rebecca was born in Tn. They  had a son named Sidney)

Probate records of Pulaski County, Mo:
record of Henry Johnson; adm Isbell Johnson; Dec 5, 1836
record of Henry W. Johnson; adm Isaac N Davis; Aug 3, 1837
record of John Johnson; wife Catherine; ch: Lorana Higgins, David, Reuben (all of Pulaski Co), Delila Rambo (on Ind), Christopoer and John (res unk); adm David Johnson; sec Hiram Johnson, Catherine Johnson, Oct 14, 1844
record of Abraham L. Smith; adm: Thomas Johnson, Mar 25, 1846
record of M. Sulivant; adm Abraham Johnson, May 11, 1853
record of Reuben, Johnson, wife Elizabeth; ch: Sarah Cathern, William A., Rhedolphus; adm David Johnson; Mar 8, 1858.
record of Mary Carpenter; heirs: Georgia, Esther S, etc.; adm Abraham Johnson, Feb 18, 1874
record of Reuben I. Johnson; no heirs mentioned; adm JH & TW Johnson, Aug 31, 1880.
record of Mary A. Johnson; heirs Samuel, John, Sallie Pritchard, M.E., A.J.; Apr 21, 1888
record of James H. Johnson; heir: Robert L.; Jan 28, 1901

1890 special census of Civil War vets of Pulaski County, Mo:
John H. Johnson (pvt, A co, 48th Mo Inf), John H. Johnson (pvt, H co, 32nd Mo Inf), Thomas Wilson Johnson (pvt, H Co, 32nd Mo Inf)


1850 census:

1850 Pulaski Co. there was only one Grigsby left -- Samuel (p96, #354))
    Grigsby, Samuel U? - 54 Va, occ: none
    . . . . . Mary - 54 NC
next door was :
    Johnson, Rheuben - 22 In?
    . . . . . Mary E. - 17 Ala
    . . . . . Sarah C. - 1 Mo
    , . . . . David - 1/12, Mo.

Looking through the 1850 census of Laclede County, MO, I found:

p 124 - Johnson, John A. - 25 KY (farmer)
    . . . . . . Elizabeth - 17 TN
    Tyre, Nathan - 57 VA (farmer)
    Johnson. ---- - 4 (male) MO   [maybe David B.?]
    . . . . .   ----- - 2 (male) MO   [maybe William]
[Since Elizabeth was only 17, I'm going to assume that these were not her children, but were John's by a first wife.
In 1860 they had sons William 11 and John 9. No David the right age anywhere on the Mo census.
In 1870 there was a John F. Johnson (22 Mo, printer, in Lebanon twp, living with his editor), and also a David B. Johnson (23 Mo, living with James O. Honssinger's family). No William.]

p 124 next door to John Johnson:
    Tyre, Martin E. - 32 TN
    . . . . Ann E. - 28 TN               [in 1880 Lebanon, Laclede Co, there is an Ann Tyne - 53 Mo, a servant liv/w Thomas Connor]
    . . . . Marquis Q. L. (boy) - 5 MO
    . . . . Missouri F. (girl) - 4 MO
    . . . . Albert E. - 3 MO
    . . . . Thursday L. (girl) - 5 mos, b MO
p 123 - Honsinger, Thomas F. - 27 MO, with wife Mary E.-27 NC, & daug Susan D.-3 MO  [see 1870 census below, Elizabeth is living with this family, and she married the widower in 1871.]
p 122 - Honsinger, Matilda - 40, b NC (mother of Thomas F.)
    Matilda has children: Mary Jane-21 MO, Malinda E.-16, William G-14, Matilda A.-12, Rebecca Ann-9, John F-9, Jane A-7

It seems strange that Nathan Tyre would be living with the Johnsons when his own son lived in the next house. Nathan Tyre was in neighboring Pulaski Co in1840 (p212) - 0002101-0021001 [meaning Nathan was 40-50, wife was 40-50, son 20-30 (Martin-22), 2 sons 15-20 (Wm-20, AJ-18), daug 15-20 (Sarah-15), 2 daug 10-15 (Rhoda-14, Lucinda-12)].  (If Elizabeth was Nathan’s daughter she would have been 7 yrs old in 1840 -- so probably not.)
A Nathan Tyree, later living in OK with Indian groups, is said to have m Elizabeth Childress.
Nathan’s brother was prob George, whose daughter moved to Oregon Co, Mo.
See:  http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/ARRANDOL/1999-03/0922896995
Martin Tyre b. 1818 TN m. Analizia E. Strickland b. 1822 Tenn.  Martin’s name in 1860, 1870, 1880 Censuses Laclede Co., Mo. was given on indexes as “Maston E. Tyre” but it obviously is “Marton”.
See also:  http://users.aol.com/rtyree/a/Lebanon.html
http://users.aol.com/rtyree/a/Lebanon01.html

If Elizabeth is somehow related to this Tyre family, some of them (AJ) migrated south from Laclede Co, MO into the north part of Arkansas.  The southern part of Missouri is probably where Elizabeth's daughter Winnie met and married her husband, Myron Pease.

1851 marriage in Laclede Co, Mo:
Francis Grigsby & Sarah Thurman, Dec. 28, 1851, Osage twp.

In 1850 there is a Samuel Grigsby in Pulaski Co, Mo,  (p96)

James L. Johnson was born in Pulaski Co, Mo in 1854, son of David (1823 Ky) & Rebecca (Bates, 1825 Tn); m Mary, daug of BD Bostic.
Pulaski County Probate Records:
record of W.T. Bates; widow: H.; adm. David Johnson; Mar 21, 1854.
record of B.D. Bostic; heirs: Mary A. Johnson, etc; adm J.C. Johnson; Feb 12, 1878.
record of Samuel Carson; witn. J.L. Johnson, Dec 8, 1897



1860 census:
There are no Grigsbys left in Pulaski Co, Mo. There is only one in Laclede Co: Catharine - 53, b Tn, living in Smith twp (p278),

There isn't a John Johnson in 1860 or 1870 census in Laclede Co, or any Johnson with a child named "Winnie" or Winifred Beatrice Grace.  It's possible that they may have moved to another county.  Eva Wood said that she thought her mother (Winnie's daughter) mentioned something about Birch Tree, Shannon Co, MO, that perhaps Winnie was living there when she married Myron Pease.  However, I cannot find any Johnsons in Shannon County.  Since Winnie was born in Jan 1861, John must still be alive, though he seems to be dead by 1870.

Winnie died in 1889, but on the 1900 census 2 of her children, still living at home with their father, said their mother was born in Iowa. Her married daughter also said that her mother (Winnie) was born in Iowa. This does make one think that maybe the Johnson family took a trip to Iowa and Winnie was born there.

I can’t find them in the 1860 Iowa census. However, there is a John A. Johnson on the 1860 census of Knox Co, Mo., way up northwest of St. Louis near the Iowa border. He is the right age and from Ky, his wife’s name is Elizabeth (though it says she was born in Ky not Tn) and he has 2 boys close to the same age as those in 1850. Maybe he went there for employment. (township map of Knox Co).

1860 Missouri census, Knox Co, Fabius twp, PO Newark, Aug 21, p197:
Johnson, John A. - 36 Ky, basketmaker
. . . . . Elizabeth - 35 Ky
. . . . . William 11 Mo
. . . . . John - 9 Mo
[In 1870 there was a John F. Johnson (22 Mo, printer, in Lebanon twp, living with his editor), and also a David B. Johnson (23 Mo, living with James O. Honssinger's family). No William.]

There is a John A. Johnson mentioned a couple of times in the Missouri Civil War papers:
John A. Johnson, Lebanon, Laclede Co - Nov, 1862

1860 Laclede Co, MO, Smith twp, PO Hazel Green (July 3, 1860) p 279: (it's strange that the page before and after have PO Lebanon, 2 pages before are for PO Hazel Green)
Honsinger, Thomas F. - 36, b MO
. . . . . Mary E. - 36 NC
. . . . . Susan L. - 13, b MO
. . . . . Hanah E. - 7, b MO
. . . . . Farmer T - 3, b MO
[Elizabeth is living with this family in 1870]
The only Johnson in Smith twp of Laclede Co was:
Sarah Johnson-20, b MO, p 282

1860 Shannon Co, Mo, PO Birch Tree, p149
Grigsby, Lilburn - 40 Tn
. . . . . Adaline - 35 NC
. . . . . Angeline - 15 Tn
. . . . . Ligby A. (m) - 10 Tn
. . . . . Minerva - 7 Tn
. . . . . James - 6 Tn
. . . . . Minnie - 4 Tn
. . . . . John L. - 1 Tn
. . . . . Laura A. - 1 Tn
[Winnie Johnson may have married in Birch Tree in 1875, and Sterling died there in 1913; however, by 1867 Lilburn was in Ark. Can't find him on the census there, though. His name must be spelled funny. There are no Grigsbys in Shannon Co, Mo in 1870, 1880, 1900, or 1910.]

The Civil War Battle of Wilson's Creek near Springfield affected the people of Laclede County. Gen. Steigel's army of Germans marched through Lebanon on their way there and then again after their defeat on their way back. Soldiers for both sides were recruited for the armies. [For more on this see "A History of Laclede County by Nyberg, 1926, p31-48.]
Many Laclede county soldiers went to Springfield to join Confederate Gen. Sterling Price's army. Since John A. Johnson named a son Sterling P. in 1862, it would appear that he was for the South, and probably went to Springfield to join Price's army, probably serving in Mo and Ark, and if he lived, maybe all the way to the Battle of Pea Ridge, Ark. I can't help but wonder if he died in the conflict, since he is not around in 1870.


1870 census:  [I looked through all of Pine Creek]

The first passenger train ran into Lebanon, Oct. 26, 1869.

1870 Laclede Co., MO, Smith Twp, PO Pine Creek, MO, p89 (Aug 10, 1870)
#42-Honsinger, Thomas F.  -  47 MO, farmer
. . . . . Mary E.  - 47 TN 
. . . . . James J.  "    14 Attending School MO
Johnson, Elizabeth - 40 (F/W) TN, House Keeper [can't find her or her children in 1860 or 1880]
. . . . . Martha W.B. - 10 (F/W) Attending School MO  [could this be Winnie?? She and mother were right age, mother b in TN]
. . . . . Sterling P. - 8 (M/W) Attending School MO  [see below for more on him]
. . . . . Susan L. - 5  (F/W) MO
[Laclede Co cemeteries, Osage twp, Phillips Cem near Dry Knob on E 32 hwy has: Thomas F. Honnsinger 2/18/1823-3/15/1907 and Mary Elizabeth Honnsinger 6/23/1823-6/12/1870.  Evidently Mary E. did die and Thomas married Elizabeth Johnson in 1871, however the census date is August and her tombstone says she died in June.]
        
[also on that same page]:
#35-Honsinger, James O. - 28 MO
. . . . . Martha A. - 22 TN
Johnson, David B. - 23 MO, works on farm  [could this be the 4-year-old son of John A Johnson, unnamed on the 1850 census?]

[on p 90]
#55-Johnson, James H. - 25 MO, farmer
. . . . . Robert L. - 3
. . . . . Sallie E. - 9 mos
#56-Johnson, Charles R. - 27 MO, farmer
. . . . . Sarah A. - 19 IN
. . . . . Laura J. - 11 mos MO

[on p 96]:
#136-Honsinger, John A. - 28 MO
. . . . . Mary J. - 27 Mo
. . . . . William H. - 3 Mo
#145-Johnson, Thomas L. - 30 Mo, farmer
. . . . . Margret - 30 Ind
. . . . . Thomas M. - 1 Mo

[on p 99]:
#185-Newberry, Hindesmith? - 50 Va, blacksmith
living with him and his family was:
Johnson, Mary - 20 Mo, house servant

In Lebanon twp, PO Lebanon (July 22, 1870) house #38:
Lewis, Alonzo F - 28 ME, editor
. . . . . Mary A - 26 MO
Johnson, John F - 22 MO, printer   [could this be another son of John A. who was 9 on the 1860 census]
Seaman, Charles F - 18 PA, printer

Winnie was about 14 when she married Myron Pease in 1875. There is no record of it in the Laclede County Marriage Book. Her granddaughter Eva thought she remembers her mother Myrtle saying that her parents were married around Birch Tree, Shannon County, Mo, but I've haven't been able to find any Johnsons in that area who could be them.
I think Winnie’s family lived in the Drynob area (map) of Laclede Co, MO. There was a mill at Drynob (see picture in “History of Laclede County”, 1979 by Beard, p. 85). This makes me wonder if maybe Myron didn’t come to that mill around 1875 since the Pease family was also involved in the milling business. There is also a Pease, Mo. located in Laclede Co,.

I wonder if there were any newspapers around there. There was in 1918 "the Supplement to The Laclede County Republican"


Census: 1880 Douglas Co, Mo (Clinton twp) shows:
Pease, Mirom     - 25 (b 1855 Mo), farming, par b Vt & NH
. . . . . Winney B.  - 20 (b1860 Mo), par b Ky & Tn, race: white
. . . . . Walter A.  - 1 (b 1879 Mo), son

Winnie died in 1889, probably as the result of an epidemic there, and sometime between the deaths of her infant twins Norma & Nola who died in Jan. & April, 1889.  Winnie was buried in an unmarked grave in the Old Horton cemetery near the location of their mill. 

Shannon Co, Mo. marriages:  [don't know if any of these are related]
1885, Dec. 24 -  Sarah Grigsby & James A. Nicholson
1889, Jan 13 - Elizabeth Johnson & Charles Kreps
1891, Nov 5 - Margaret E. Johnson & John A. Woodall
1891, Dec 20 - Martha J. Johnson & Rufus A. Connell (R.M. Johnson, father of Martha consents)
1893, Dec 24 - Thomas B. Johnson & Pemecia Chilton at Bartlett.
1894, Oct 11 - Annie E. Johnson & Thomas J. Humphrey. Written consent by C. Johnson father of Annie. At Birch Tree
1897, Aug 21 - Myrtle Johnson & Jeff Chapin at Winona
1898, Mar 16 - Georgia Johnson & Horace McKinzie at Winona.
1898, Sept 25 - Olenis Johnson & Lucy May Davis. Jack Davis, father gives consent. At Akers.
1899, Dec 14 - John A. Johnson & Mollie Ball at Birch Tree.


Searching for Sterling P. Johnson -

His death certificate says he was born Jan 1862 in Laclede Co, Mo. He was divorced and 51 years old when he died April 21, 1913 in Birch Tree, Shannon Co, Mo. His parents were John A. Johnson and Elizabeth Grigsby (b Ky/Tn).

In 1886 there was a marriage in Pulaski Co between Sterling P. Johnson (age 25) and Nannie M. Lundy (20).  This Sterling would have been born about 1861, which would be about the right age. In 1887 he was in Tn. where his son was born. They were in Memphis in 1900.

There are two Sterling Johnsons on the 1900 census. ages 38 and 39:
The one in Washington Co, Mo I know is a different man.
This one in Monroe County, Mo  may be, too.
Sterling Price was a famous Civil War general with many little boys named after him.

Monroe Co, Mo, Jefferson twp, p 82
Johnson, Sterling J - 38, b Dec 1861 Mo, par b Ky/Va
. . . . . Mary L. (wife) - 29 Mo
. . . . . Claude L. (son) - 18 Mo

There was only one other Sterling Johnson in the US that was about 38-39, born in Mo.
Shelby Co, Tn, Memphis, p 319:
Johnson, Sterling P - 40 Mo, b June 1860, par b Mo
. . . . . Nannie (wife) - 35 b Mo (m 14 yrs, 7 ch)
. . . . . Sterling (son) - 12 Tn
. . . . . Eva (daug) - 10 Ark
. . . . . Gladys (daug) - 7 Ark
. . . . . Mary (daug) - 5 Ark
. . . . . Mildred (daug) - 5 Ark
. . . . . May (daug) - 3 Tn
. . . . . Laura (daug) - 8/12 Tn



There was another Sterling Price Johnson who lived in Potosi, Washington Co, Mo. The 1900 census says he was born in Apr 1862. He was the son of Pleasant Johnson and Angeline Cook who were b in MO. He married Nellie Hafford (b 5/10/1865, d 6/7/1926). He died a widower 4/21/1929 in Washington Co, Mo. No children living.

1900 MO, Washington Co, Liberty twp, p213, June 16
Johnson, Sterling (head, single) - 38 MO, b Apr 1862, par b KY/MO
Douglass, Joseph (boarder) - 25 MO

1910 MO, Washington Co, Liberty twp, p 253, Apr 22.
Johnson, Sterling P - 47 Mo, farmer, m 9 yrs (par b KY/MO)
. . . . . Nellie (wife) - 44, 1 ch/0 liv (par b Ireland/MO)

1920 MO, Washington Co, Breton twp, Potosi, p 177, Jan 6:
Johnson, Sterling P. (head) - 57, b MO, par b Ky
. . . . . Nellie J. (wife) - 53, b Mo, par b Ireland
Hafford, Mary (sister-in-law) - 61, b Mo, par b Ireland

I found a Sterling Johnson (age 52) on the 1910 census in Keytesville, Chariton Co (north of the Mo. River), but it can’t be the right man because this Chariton Co man was still there in 1920.

1910 Mo, Chariton Co, Keytesville twp, p. 121, Apr 28:
Johnson, Sterling (head) - 52 Mo, par b Ky
. . . . . Bettie (wife) - 47 Mo, m 30 yrs, 6 ch/6 liv
. . . . . Luther (son) - 28 Mo
. . . . . Walter (son) - 26 Mo
. . . . . Ella (daug) - 20 Mo
. . . . . Amelia (daug) - 15 Mo
. . . . . Lilian (daug) - 12 Mo
next door is:
Johnson, Luther (head) - 30 Mo, par b Mo
. . . . . Eva (wife) - 26 Mo
. . . . . Fay (daug) - 2

It’s interesting though that he named a son Walter because his Winnie named her first son Walter 2-4 years earlier.

1920 MO Chariton Co., Keytesville, p 149:
 Johnson, Sterling P - 63 MO
 . . . . . Bettie C. - 57
(on the same page):
Johnson, Luther - 38 & wife Eva-34, daug Faye-11
Johnson, Andrew C.-26 & wife Mollie M.-24, son Howard W.-7
Worsham, John-25 & wife Lillian S.-23, son Noel J.-5, daug Mildred-3 mos.
Welch, Joseph-33 & wife Ella K.-30, daug Dorris G.-7, daug Nona H.-3

1930 MO Chariton Co, Keytesville