MARTHA
AND OLLIE JOHNSON
Martha
Eliza Johnson, daughter of Thomas and Huldah Anna (Hoffa) Johnson
was born on March 12, 1882, in Decatur County, near Van Wert Iowa. On September 30, 1884, at the age
of 2 years she came in a covered wagon with her parents and a 4
year old brother, and a 6 month old sister to the Garfield community
west of Arnold, Nebraska where they settled on a homestead.
Martha
received her education and grew to womanhood in the Garfield community,
She and her sister Nancy helped their Father carry the mail on the star
route between Garfield and Myrtle post offices for 4 years, when their only conveyance was a
horse and buggy. Martha was an active member of the Garfield
Church and played the organ for the many church activities. She was
baptized on June 26, 1898, with several other young people, in
the General Baptist Church by Rev. H. C. Clinton. Rev. Clinton
was instrumental in building the church at
Garfield.
Ollie
Lewis Johnson, son of Jessie Addison Johnson and Mary Frances (Bever)
Johnson, was born August 25, 1883, in Gothenburg, Dawson County, Nebraska,
where he spent his childhood and received his education. He moved with
his parents and brothers and sisters, in young manhood, about 1900, to what
is known as the Forrest or Harvey Brown place west of Arnold, Nebraska.
Ollie
was the first child born in Gothenburg and was next to the oldest of ten children.
His two youngest sisters, Grace and Jewel were born at Garfield. Martha
and Ollie farmed and lived on Garfield in a sod house, across the road
west and a little north of Thomas Johnson's home buildings. Ollie taught
school for one year at the Kilmer Valley School. Martha and
Ollie and two small sons moved to a
ranch south of Brady, Nebraska in 1912 or 1913, where they lived
until about 1920 where they lived until about 1920 when they moved to Chadron,
Nebraska where Mr. Johnson worked for the railroad. In June 1931 the
family moved to Spencer, Nebraska where they operated a dry cleaning
establishment, until after the death of Martha's mother, Mrs. Tom
Johnson, in November 1931. In February 1932 they moved back
on Martha's old family homes place, as her father was now compelled
to use a wheelchair most of the time, after he had the misfortune
to lose one of his limbs through a foot infection in 1930.
In
1941 Martha and Ollie moved to Montana to be closer to their sons. Ollie
died July 10, 1949, after living in Great Falls, Montana eight years.
Martha moved to Billings, Montana.
To
this union were born three children: Vernon Thomas Johnson, born at Garfield
December 5, 1908; he lives in Billings, Montana, is married and has two sons, one daughter,
and six grandchildren. His wife Ann, was killed in a car accident
in 1969. Wayne Lewis Johnson, born at Garfield December 30, 1911: he
lived in Billings, Montana, with his wife until 1965 when they moved to Monterey,
California where Wayne died April 9, 1967. Vivian Gladys Johnson (Mrs.
Kenneth Steele) born in Lincoln County, south of Brady, Nebraska; she lives in Utah and has
one daughter and one son, and two grandchildren.
From
“Garfield Stories”, Chapter VII pgs. 101-103.
C opied by Tracy Johnson Summerville September, 2001
