| Johnnie J. Johnson was born June 1, 1866 in a log cabin on the north
bank of the Jim Ned Creek at Greaves Crossing near Camp Colorado.
Johnnie’s father was John Jackson Johnson, who came to this area with the
army at Camp Colorado. He was killed while in the army. J.
J.’s (Johnnie) mother’s name was Matilda (maiden name unknown), born about
1842 in Arkansas. She was married three times, first to John Jackson
Johnson, second to John Rhoads (see John Rhoads), and third to John B.
St. Clair (see St. Clair). She died in 1884, buried at Camp Colorado
Cemetery, just south of her son, J. J. Johnson, with a brick marker, but
no name. There were Indians in the county at that time; they would
send up smoke signals before raids, then steal corn, tobacco, and other
supplies. They would even steal horses tied to the cabins where people
were living. In one family, they killed and scalped the mother and
father, put the baby on an ant bed and left. When J. J. and Jeff
Morgan were teenagers, they were chased many times by Indians. Once,
while bareback riding, they were almost caught, but the boys jumped off
the horses and crawled into a thicket; the Indians took the horses and
left.
About this time, Henry Lobstein and family came to Coleman County (see
Henry Lobstein). One of the Lobstein girls was Katherine, later to
become Johnnie’s wife. Katherine and Johnnie were only five years
old when they first saw each other. She often, down through life,
told of him having a long shirt and being barefooted, when they first met.
There was only one day’s difference in their ages, Katherine having been
born June 2, 1866. They were married June 12, 1884. Born to
Johnnie and Katherine were five children:
(1) Myrtle, October 25, 1885, married Edd Gramm, died about
1947, buried at Ballinger. Their children were Dick, Tommie, May,
Alyne, Henry, Dorthy, Harold, Virginia, and Buster.
(2) Marye, December 22, 1888, died June 28, 1972, buried at Lubbock.
Her husband was Sim Allen, died August 10, 1927, buried at Gunsight Cemetery,
near Cisco. Their children are Kathleen Dixon of Taft, California;
Olive Santa Anna of Maryland, and Maxine Hansen of Lubbock.
(3) William Wiley, April 23, 1891 - November 25, 1965, buried at Post,
married (1st) Mildred Lucille Boren, February 9, 1889 - January 5, 1983,
buried at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Brown County. Their daughter
was Lucille Mildred, born October 12, 1912, married Jack Diamond, September
2, 1939 at Ballinger (see Jack Diamond). When only a few months old,
Lucille was given to her grandparents, Johnnie and Katherine to raise.
In October 1929, Wiley married (2nd) Grace Wells at Hobbs, New Mexico.
Their children were Johnnie J., August 13, 1932; Lorene, January 10, 1937
(married a Kelley); and Colleen Rhue, August 13, 1943 (married a Witt).
(4) Jenetta, December 25, 1893 at Ardmore, Oklahoma - February 8, 1975,
buried at Karnes City, Texas. She married Jim Greaves in Coleman
County (see Lawrence D. Greaves). Their children were Billy, Eunice,
Gladys, Marcella, Avary, Jimmie, Bob, and Junior.
(5) Emma, January 17, 1896 - 1969 at Pleasanton, married H. L. Creager.
Their children were J. C., Eloise, Madee, Butch, and Jack.
Johnnie and Katherine, at one time, had five children, six head of horses,
a wagon, and only $1.75. In later years, he was ranching and had
registered cattle. He also had oil business and was a pumper for
an oil company. Katherine operated and owned a boarding house and
cafe during the oil boom at Echo. They moved into Coleman, where
they bought a home on East 7th Street. Johnnie died June 8, 1939;
Katherine, April 30, 1946; both are buried at Camp Colorado.
(Images to be added)
Myrtle Johnson and Edd Gramm
William Wiley, Mildred Lucille, and Lucille Johnson
Johnnie J. and Katherine (Lobstein) Johnson
Emma, Marye, and Jenetta Johnson
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