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Johnston: Generation 4A

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Some Children of Stephen Darden Johnston & Rebecca Flinn

 

 

 

This family is another exception to my "direct ancestors and their siblings only rule".  There was too much material not to include them.

 

 

 

Mary Amaranda Johnston & Washington Lafayette Gray

 

1 Nov 1839: Mary Amaranda was born in Desoto County, MS.[1]  She may've been named for Amaranda Flinn, wife of her uncle Stephen Flinn.

11 Nov 1857: Amaranda married Washington Lafayette Gray, the ceremony being performed by W. C. Crane, Baptist Minister.  The bondsman for the marriage was A. W. Stokes.[2]  Washington was probably the brother of John Marion Gray, who married Amaranda's sister Frances.

29 Jul 1858: In his will, father Stephen referred to a marriage gift to Amaranda of property valued at $3,312.95.  He requested that she account for it at his death as part of her inheritance.[3]

1860 Census, Desoto County, MS (Pleasant Hill P.O.): Farmer W. S. Gray 25, born AL, with real and personal property valued at $9,080 and $19,350 respectively; female M. A. 20, born MS; male H. W. 20, born MS, with personal property worth $15,000; male J. M. 18, with real and personal property estimated at $2,500 and $17,000; female M. B. 17, born MS, with personal property worth $17,000; and L. C. Gray 15, a male, born MS, with personal property worth $17,000.[4]

1863 Desoto County Personal Property Tax Roll: Wash Gray was taxed on 1 carriage, 1 clock, 1 piano, and 9 horses.[5]

26 Aug 1870 Census, Desoto County, MS (T2 R7, Nesbit Depot P.O.): Farmer W. L. Gray age 35, born in AL, no real or personal property listed; M. A. age 30, born in MS; female M. B.  age 11.[6]

October 1870: Amaranda died in Desoto County.[7]

 

 

Children of Amaranda Johnston and Washington Gray:

 

Minnie Gray (c. 1859 -     ; m. John Burket)

 

 

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Lovie Elizabeth Johnston & Hyphecion Stuart

 

c. 1838: Hyphecion [or Hephestion] Alexander Stuart was born in MS.

20 Feb 1843: Lovie Elizabeth Johnston was born in Desoto County.[8]

Dec 1862: Lovie and Hyphecion were married.[9]

10 Jan 1870 Census, Desoto County, MS (Township 1 Range 6, Olive Branch P.O.): Farmer Hephestion  Stuart 30, born MS, with real and personal property worth $6,000 and $7,375; Love 25, born MS; James 8; Emma 6; Hephestion 1; farm laborer Creo Hedderson 25, born England.[10]

19 Jun 1880 Census, Olive Branch, Desoto County, MS: Farmer H. A. Stuart 42, MS NC NC; L. E. 37, MS AL AL; J. W. 17, MS MS MS; Emma 15; H. A. 10.[11] 

5 Jun 1900 Census, Desoto County, MS (Beat 1): Widow Lovie Stuart 67, born Feb 1833, MS MS AL, a landlord, mother of 4 children 3 living; son H. A. 31, born Nov 1868, MS MS MS, married for 5 years; daughter Jessie 28, born Aug 1873, MS MS MS, married for 5 years, no children.[12]  Jessie was actually Lovie's daughter-in-law, not daughter.  Lovie's age was also entered incorrectly, with her birth year adjusted accordingly.  She was age 57, born in Feb 1843.

 

               

Children of Lovie Johnston and Hyphecion Stuart:

 

                James W. Stuart (Oct 1862 -     ; m. Cecile Blair c. 1895)

Emma Stuart (9 Oct 1865 - 20 Sep 1915; m. James Allen McCargo 29 Dec 1885)

Hyphecion A. Stuart (c. 1869 -     ; m. Jessie MacNeil)

 

 

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Frances Wilson Johnston & John Marion Gray

 

23 Jun 1841: John Marion Gray was born.  In the 1860 Census, a J. M. Gray, 18 years old, was enumerated in the household of Washington and Amaranda Gray.  He was almost certainly this man, thus two brothers, Washington and John Gray, married two sisters, Amaranda and Frances Johnston.

2 Jul 1845: Frances Wilson Johnston was born in Desoto County, MS.[13]  She was nicknamed "Fanny".

1861: J. M. Gray enlisted in Co E, 9th Regiment.

1 Mar 1864: Fanny and John Marion Gray were married.[14]

1 Sep 1870 Census, Desoto County, MS (Pleasant Hill P.O.): Farmer J. M. Gray 29, born MS, with real and personal property valued at $3,000 and $1,000; F. W. 25, born MS; Maggie 4; black domestic Mary Banks 16, born MS.[15]

17 Sep 1878: J. M. Gray who purchased 3 parcels totaling 80 acres from Theodore F. Johnston.

c. 29 Dec 1889: Fanny died in December, cause unknown.[16]

1907: J. M. was 65 years old, living in District #1 in Desoto County, when he was listed in an enumeration of Confederate veterans and widows.[17]

4 May 1918: J. M. Gray died, presumably in Desoto County.

 

 

Children of Frances Johnston and J. M. Gray:

 

Margaret Rebecca Gray (m. Hayes A. Robinson)

Amaranda Elizabeth Gray (m. _______ Horn)

 

 

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Rebecca F. Johnston & Leonidas Clay Gray

 

26 Aug 1851: Rebecca was born in Desoto County, MS.[18]  Her middle name was most probably Flinn; her nickname was "Ribbie".[19]

5 Sep 1867: Rebecca was married to Leonidas Gray, with A. W. Stokes as bondsman.[20]  Leonidas was undoubtedly related to Washington and John Marion Gray, both of whom married Rebecca's sisters.  In the 1860 Census, an L. C. Gray, age 15, was enumerated in the household of Washington and Amaranda Gray, but he was a decade too young to be this Rebecca's husband.

16 Jun 1880 Census, Woodruff County, AR (DeView Village): Dry goods merchant Leonidas Gray 24, MS AL AL; Rebecca 28, MS AL AL; Daisy 7, AR MS MS; boarder Edward Scales 24, TN TN TN, employed as postmaster; black servant Cruse Sapes [very difficult to read] engaged in general housework.[21]

Leonidas died in AR.  Ribbie married Edwin [or Edward] Scales, who had been their boarder in the 1880 Census.

1900 Census, McCrory, Woodruff County, AR: Salesman Edwin Scales 44, born Oct 1855, TN TN TN; Rebie F. Scales 48, born Aug 1851, MS AL AL, mother of 5 children, only 1 still living, married 19 years; music teacher and step-daughter Daisy Gray 26, born Jun 1873, AR MS MS.[22]

6 Jan 1920 Census, McCrory, Woodruff County, AR: Grocery salesman E. Scales 66, TN TN TN; Rebecca 68, MS AL AL.  They are renting a house on Taber Street.[23]

 

 

Children of Rebecca Johnston and Leonidas Gray: [24]

 

Leonidas Gray

Ernest Gray

Daisy Gray (Jun 1873 -     )

 

Children of Rebecca Johnston and Ed Scales:

 

James "Jimmy" Scales

 

 

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Stephen Darden Johnston & Anna E. Nesbit

 

30 Dec 1853: Stephen was born in Desoto County, MS.[25]

15 Jan 1879: Stephen married Anna Nesbit.[26]  Anna was no doubt related to the Lellie M. Nesbit who married Stephen's brother William and who later resided close to Stephen's family in Memphis.  Lellie was not listed, however, as one of the heirs of Thomas Nesbit in 1883 when Stephen sold property for those heirs.

1880 Census, Desoto County, MS (Lauderdale Voting Beat):  Farmer age 26 with wife Anna E., daughter Mary R., age 7 months.[27]

17 Feb 1883: He was granted power of attorney by the heirs of Thomas Nesbit to sell a lot in the town of Nesbit, the site of a mill, gin, and adjoining tenant house owned by Nesbit & Co.  Wife Ann was one of the heirs.[28]

17 Feb 1883: He was mentioned as a member of the Board of Supervisors, then again as the Supervisor of District 5, in the Desoto Times on 22 Nov 1884.  In 1886, he was again listed as one of five County Supervisors.[29]

20 Feb 1883: Stephen sold land described as SE¼ S26 T2 R8W to E. S. Nesbit, the surviving partner of Nesbit & Co.  Stephen was acting as "atty for the heirs of Thomas Nesbit, deceased".[30]

7 Mar 1887: He proved the will of his uncle Samuel Johnston in court.[31]

8 Jun 1899: He was executor of the will of brother William J. Johnston, the will being proved 8 Jun 1899.[32]

2 Jun 1900 Census, Desoto County, MS (Beat 5): Insurance agent Stephen D. Johnson 46, born Dec 1853, MS AL AL, married for 21 years; wife Anna E. 44, born Jul 1853, MS NC NC, married for 23 years, mother of 5 children, all living; daughter Mary R. 20, born Oct 1879, MS MS MS; daughter Nina L. 19, born Feb 1881; son Will Porter 17, born Oct 1882, a salesman; son Frederick S. 13, born Jul 188__ [illegible], also listed as "salesman"; daughter Irma Gray 10, born Oct 1889; boarder Alfred J. H. Reid 30, born Mar 1870, MS GA AL, an inventor.[33]  Why don't Stephen and Anna's years of marriage agree?

15 Apr 1910 Census, Memphis, Shelby County, TN: Stephen D. Johnston 56, MS AL AL, married 31 years, engaged in "real estate/timber"; Anna E. 54, MS AL AL, mother of 5 children, all living; Mary R. 30, a policy clerk for an insurance company; Porter 27, a dentist; Fred S. 23, a commercial traveler in dry goods; boarder Margaret Porter 29, MS MS MS, a policy writer for an insurance company.  All the children had been born in MS.   The family is residing on South Tucker Street, close to the Lellie M. Johnston family.[34]    

 

 

Children of Stephen and Anna Nesbit Johnston:

 

Mary R. Johnston (Oct 1879 -     )

Nina Johnston (Feb 1881 -     )

William Porter Johnston (10 Oct 1882 -     )

Frederick S. Johnston (3 Jul 1886 -     ; m. Agnes C. _______)

Irma [or Mamie] Gray Johnston (Oct 1889 -     )

 

 

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William Jesse Johnston & Lellie M. Nesbit

 

10 Mar 1856: William was born in Desoto County, MS.[35]

15 May 1879: William married Lizzie Lindsey in Desoto.[36] 

1880 Census, Desoto County, MS: There is a farmer named William J. Johnston listed.  He's 24, the correct age to be Stephen's son, and he's residing very close to Thomas Johnston, Samuel's son; but this William's wife is named Sarah E. 

14 Apr 1881: He might have been the William Johnston who had "the cabins unroofed on his place" in a tornado.[37]

26 Aug 1881: Mrs. Lizzie Lindsey Johnston died 26 Aug 1881, leaving a young baby.  Described as the wife of W. J. Johnston for only two years, she was buried in an unmarked grave.[38]  The baby didn't live long.  In a grave in Blocker Cemetery is inscribed: "Lizzie Johnston, Daughter of W. J. and L. Johnston, 12 Aug 1881-16 Nov 1881".[39]   But there was apparently a third Lizzie Lindsey since next to William Jesse Johnston's grave is the grave of "Lizzie Linsey Johnston, 1888-1889, Daughter of William J. and Lellie M. Johnston".  We can only assume that William and Lellie named a daughter after William's dead wife and child, but that child also died.  (In the 1910 Census, Lellie stated that she was the mother of six children, five of whom were still living.  All five were residing with their mother, leaving the Lizzie buried next to William as  Lellie's deceased child).

25 Oct 1883: William married Lellie M. Nesbit.[40]  Her real name was Mary Ellen Nesbit.  Her nickname often written as "Lillie", but was "Lellie" in two censuses.

1899: William apparently paid his mother 3 bales of cotton weighing 500 lbs each as rent for the year.[41]

23 May 1899: William signed his will, which was proved 8 Jun 1899.  Witnesses: M. W. Nesbit, J. S. Johnston, and J. M. Crawford.  J. S. must be Joseph Samuel.[42] 

According to his tombstone, he died on 27 May 1899[43] - only four days after signing his will.

15 Apr 1910 Census, Memphis, Shelby County, TN: Lellie M. Johnston 43, a widow, married for 26 years, mother of 6 children, five living; William J. 25, married 1 year, employed as a sales manager, wholesale dry goods; Edward 24, a stockeeper in wholesale dry goods; Margaret 19; Will 17, a policy clerk for an insurance company; Mary 15; daughter-in-law Mary K. TN TN TN, married for 1 year, no children.  Their address was 37 S. Barksdale Street.[44]

1920 Census, Memphis, Shelby County, TN: Widow Lellie Johnston 55, MS MS AR; widower William J. 35, MS MS MS, employed as a manager in "white goods dept - wholesale dry goods"; Edward M. 33, a commercial traveler in wholesale dry goods; Will 27, a manager for a fire insurance company; granddaughter Lellie M. 8, TN MS TN; granddaughter Dorothy B. 5; granddaughter Mary K. 6/12.  They were living at 37 S. Barksdale Street, next door to the Fred S. Johnston family.[45]  Fred was the son of Stephen and Anna Nesbit Johnston.

 

 

Children of William and Lizzie Lindsey Johnston:

 

Lizzie Lindsey Johnston (12 Aug 1881 - 16 Nov 1881)

 

Children of William and Lellie Nesbit Johnston:

 

William Jesse Johnston (c. 1885 -     ; m. Mary K. _______ c. 1909)

Edward M. Johnston (c. 1886 -     )

Lizzie Lindsey Johnston (1888 - 1889)

Margaret Johnston (c. 1891 -     )

Will Johnston (Oct 1892 - 3 Mar 1964; m. Marjory Ruth Wilson 8 Mar 1927) 

Mary Johnston (c. 1895 -     )

 

 

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Joseph Samuel Johnston & Sarah Elizabeth Lauderdale

 

13 Mar 1858: Joseph was "born on the old Stephen D. Johnston home place, which has been in possession of the Johnston family since it was occupied by the Indians, the father of Stephen D. Johnston having purchased it at that time - May 13, 1936".[46]

2 Aug 1865: Sarah Elizabeth Lauderdale was born in Desoto County, the daughter of Joseph Andrew and Sarah Driver Lauderdale.  Joseph Andrew Lauderdale was the son of John Gammel Lauderdale, the brother of Sarah Lauderdale Leonard, whose daughter married Samuel Johnston.

1880 Census, Desoto County, MS (Lauderdale Voting Beat): He was residing with his "farmer" mother Rebecca and sister Sallie C.  Johnston.  No occupation is given, simply "at home".[47]

10 Jan 1884: Joseph and Sarah were married.[48] 

23 May 1899: Along with M. W. Nesbit and J. M. Crawford, J. S. Johnston witnessed the will of [brother] William J. Johnston.[49]

1900 Census, Desoto County, MS: Farmer Joe S. Johnston, age 42, born Mar 1858, MS AL AL, married 16 years; wife Sarah E. age 34, born Aug 1865, MS AL NC, mother of 2 children, only 1 still living; son H. Grady 11, born Nov 1890; mother Rebecca, age 83, born Apr 1817, AL SC SC, mother of 9 children, five living; father-in-law Joe A. Lauderdale, age 72, born Feb 1828, AL SC TN; black servant Charles Nesbitt age 18, born Dec 1881.[50]

16 Apr 1910 Census, Desoto County, MS (Beat #5, Hernando): Farmer J. S. Johnston 52, married 26 years, MS SC! AL; Sarah E. 44, mother of 2 children, 1 living; Grady age 19; nephew John Moore Lauderdale, a barber age 22.[51]

19 Dec 1914: Joseph died.[52]

6 Oct 1947: Sally died.  Both she and Joseph are buried in Baker's Chapel, United Methodist Cemetery.[53]

 

 

Children of Joseph and Sarah Lauderdale Johnston:

 

Rebecca Johnston (21 Oct 1884 - 9 Oct 1896)

Henry Grady Johnston (20 Nov 1890 - 5 Dec 1963; m. Rose _______ 16 Jan 1922)

 

 

 

If you have material about or photos of any individuals included in Nancy's Dead Relatives, can add well-documented family lines, have corrections and/or comments, or wish to establish a link to or from this site, please contact me at nancy@nancysdeadrelatives.com.  However, the decision whether or not to include any submitted material is the webmaster's (mine) alone. 

Nancy Denty Breidenthal

 

 

 

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