Colorado Cobweb Chasers: 2015

wife Mary Elnora (Ellen) Hill and William Albert Johnson on their wedding day.

This page will be dedicated to their story, and is a work in progress.You will need to check back once in a while to find out how much I have added.
William and Mary Elnora [Ellen] Hill Johnson were the parents of 10 children 8 survived to adulthood.

1 Etta May 1872-1937 [m] Robert Murray. This is the aunt to Goldie that had the daughter named Hulda which went to school in Kansas with Goldie. You may remember the Hulda stories.

2. Alma Celestia 1875-1878

3. Edward Clarence 1876-929 [m] Elda Dobbins [d] Florissant, CO [parents of Goldie Johnson Stoll]

4. Orie Elmer 1877-1878

5. Bertha Rose 1880- 1915 [m] John Melvin Fair [d] KS

6. John Otto 1883-1944

7. Leona Pearl 1884-1970 [m] John White

8. David Ross 1886-1952 [d] NB

9. Alveretta Maude 1889-1922 [m] Earl Burton Vilott they lived in Berlington,CO

10. Amanuel Sims 1891-1949 was called Blddy [m] Cecil Fox [d] Red Cloud, NB

Mary Elnora Hill was the descendant of John Hill [b] 1740 in Scotland he [m] Abigail Fessend 1765. He was Scots-Irish and immigrated from Northern Ireland in 1781. His son was Samuel S Hill [b] 1765 in Ireland who [m] Margaret [Peggy] Arbuckle. Margaret was the daughter of John Arbuckle and Rebecca Ross. Their son was William Alexander Hill who [m] Mary Gill, and their daughter was Mary Elnora Hill Johnson. Nothing is known to date as to the parentage of William Albert Johnson.

The town of Burr Oak, Jewell county, KS established in 1871 [in North Central KS] was situated on the banks of White Rock Creek, a water power steam in Burr Oak Township 10 miles northwest of Jewell Centre later called Mankato. [it's post-office was est the same year, James McCormick served as postmaster. It's first newspaper was the Burr Oak Reveille est 1879] The 1880 terminus of the Central Branch CBUPRR was constructed through the town giving it direct RR facilities. It was a shipping point for wheat, corn, hogs and cattle.

{Since 1875 Burr Oak has made a more rapid growth than any place in the county. It is larger in population and does more business, owing to the fact that it is the terminus of a railroad and has the trade of a very rich and well-settled district. The first school was taught here in 1873. The town now has an elegant and commodious school building, just completed.}

Ezbon later called Esbon, part of Limestone Township, Jewell county Kansas was est 1887 and incorporated in 1904. Like Burr Oak it had daily mail service its post-office was est in 1874 M. B. Appleman served as postmaster. Esbon was situated 13 miles west of Mankato as a shipping point for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific RR.

The Johnson family were in Burr Oak, Jewell, KS by 1876. In 1880 William Albert Johnson,was working as a mail carrier. William's middle name has; at times been confused as Edward {which is that of his son}
After William and Ellen divorced in 1895 William remained in Burr Oak and was listed as farming, though in 1901 William was working as a mail carrier as well. Son C. Edward known as Ed was the only child living with his father. William and Ellen's daughter Etta May had married to Robert Murrey, they and their 3 children were living close by while Robert worked at farming. Mary Elnora {Ellen} was living in section 14 of White Mound Township along with her children John aged 17 he worked on the farm Ellen rented, Bertha was 19, Pearl was 16, David was 13, Alveretta, and Amanuel he was 8.

Murder of Wm Johnson:
12 Jul 1901, ESBON TIMES, pg 4:

MURDER IN ESBON.
ROY WILSON KILLED W.A. JOHNSON
On Wednesday evening the 3rd at 8:45 there occurred in Esbon a murder of the most cruel form.
W.A. Johnson, an old man 50 years old, was shot and instantly killed by Roy Wilson a young man 26 years of age.
The circumstances connected with the murder, as we have found out, are as follows;
Young Wilson had been keeping company with Johnson's daughter for some time, despite the objections of the parent, and last Wednesday while Johnson was away from home Wilson drove up to Johnson's and getting the girl brought her down to Esbon. In the meantime Johnson returned home and when Wilson and the girl returned, a quarrel ensued but no blows were struck.
Johnson, supposing the affair ended for the time, got into his buggy and came down to Esbon. Wilson, it seems, drove the other direction until Johnson was out of sight, then turned and followed him into town, and on arriving in Esbon started on a hunt for Johnson, finding him in front of the meat market. On coming up to him Wilson asked "Are you ready to settle it?" and before Johnson had time to answer, struck him in the face, some say with a pair of knucks, nearly bringing him to the ground, and then struck him twice more the third blow knocking him down. Johnson at this time got away from Wilson and started for his team, at the time remarking to the crowd, "If you don't keep him off from me I'll kill him". Then went north to Hurst's corner, Wilson following, and then went east toward his team. Just before Johnson reached his team Wilson pulled his gun and told him to stop. Johnson kept on and reaching his buggy got his gun, and just as he turned half around Wilson commenced to shoot, the first or second shot struck Johnson in the arm below the elbow. Wilson then shot two or three times more, the last shot striking Johnson below the left ear, cutting the jugular vein and lodging in the vertebra produced almost instant death. After he ceased firing Wilson went to his team, untied then, got into his buggy and started out, but was stopped by the crowd. He was taken to Mankato Wednesday night and turned over to the sheriff.
R.W. Turner and J.M. Livengood have been secured to defend Wilson and County Attorney McBride will secure abundant help to assist him in the prosecution.
The preliminary trial will be held at Mankato next Wednesday.

ESBON TIMES, 19 JUL 1901, pg 4:
Roy Wilson, who murdered W.A. Johnson in this city July 3, was held to the district court on the charge of Murder in First Degree, which is not a bailable case, therefore he will board with sheriff Myerly until the next term of court.
Same paper, same page as above: No witnesses for the defense, were put on the stand at the Wilson preliminary Tuesday.

ESBON TIMES, 09 Aug 1901, pg 4: Last Monday Judge Evans granted bail to Roy Wilson, who murdered Johnson in this city on July 3. The bail was placed at $17,500, an amount which he cannot raise, but at the same time this counts a great deal in favor of the defendant. This is the first case we know where a man clearly guilty of first degree murder, was admitted to bail. Was it right? We do not think it was.

ESBON TIMES, 28 Nov 1901, Front page: The rottenest verdict that ever emanated from a court house was perpetrated last week when Roy Wilson was acquitted, on plea of self defense, (just think of it) of killing Wm. Johnson in this city on the evening of the third of July last.
Taking into consideration the fact that Wilson hunted for Johnson in T.W. Lewis' store, waited for him to come out, and then started a fight in which he beat Johnson up, then followed him to Hurst's corner and shot him down in cold blood the plea of self defense does not seem plausible to us.
We have failed to find a man who could comprehend any cause within the bounds of reason, law or common justice, why the verdict should have been as it was, and it is safe to say that if Wilson had appeared in Esbon last Saturday a demonstration would have been made that could leave no doubt in his mind that Esbon township citizens (except H W Brody) were as one man against him and believed that the verdict was wrong.
A FEW REFLECTIONS
It is 66 feet from where Johnson fell to where Wilson stood. We understand that Brody swore that Johnson walked 40 feet toward Wilson after he got his gun. If this is a fact, Johnson's buggy was about 40 feet east of Buckley & Ross's store, but as a matter of fact Johnson's buggy was not as far east as the rear of the store and he (Johnson) did not get 10 feet from his buggy before he was shot and was not more than 25 feet away from his buggy when he received the fatal shot.
We were informed Tuesday by an eye witness of the affray that Johnson fell about 25 feet south-east of his buggy. This is 65 feet different than Brody is said to have sworn.

{*note} In the original article above Brody's name was not capitalized; which indicates that he was not in favor at Esbon and therefor was siding with Wilson. (Brody was the constable for Esbon Township, he resigned Jan 1902) {Horace W Brody [b] 1848 [s/o] Reason and Sarah Driskel Brody [h/o] Lydia Luella Moyer. Later went to farming had moved to Esbon before 1884 [d] 1924 Jewell county, KS.}

William was buried in Baker Cemetery, near Burr Oak, KS.

ESBON TIMES, 27 Dec 1901, pg 4: Roy Wilson, who murdered Johnson in this city, on the eve of July 3, went to Cameron's sale near Burr Oak last week and went up against a man who was a little too quick for gun play and got decidedly the worst of the encounter that ensued. {*note} Wilson however did not die from this second gun fight.}

After reading the posts about Roy you know he was an aggressive young man. He killed William 3 July 1901 by about the 18th of July he was acquitted of the murder, said to have been self defense though he was the instigator. And less than 6 months later tried for more gun-play.

Roy was not the only young-man hot under the collar. This story continues with many a twist and turn. According to family lore Ed Johnson irate over the court findings; determined to find Roy Wilson. He followed Roy to Hartsel, Colorado where upon hearing that Ed was searching for him Roy then left the area.

Roy later returned to KS where he married had children and seemed to live a less aggressive lifestyle.

Pearl at age 23 married John White 23 Apr 1905 at Otego, KS. They lived at Center KS and were the parents of 2 children.

Ed seemed to be the child most adversely affected by his fathers death. And his own life story reflects his many struggles.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Joseph and Frederick Stoll family research

Monday, March 23, 2015

Colorado Cobweb Chasers: Welcome: to the Colorado Cobweb Chasers home:

Colorado Cobweb Chasers: Welcome: to the Colorado Cobweb Chasers home:

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

William Albert Johnson 1848-1901