Biographical Sketches
REV. THOMAS JOHNSON
On The pages of western history this name stands prominently forth. Its wearer was a man of influence, accomplishing a work for good during the early days of this section of the country that cannot be estimated. He was ever the champion of the oppressed, the advocate of progress, and his name will descend to future generations as a benefactor of the Indian race.
Mr. Johnson was a native of Nelson county, Virginia, born July 11, 1802, and was reared in the Old Dominion. His school privileges altogether would not cover a period of more than 13 months, and he walked to and from school, a distance of 5 miles, at the same time doing the chores on the farm. In 1820, when a young man of 18 years, he accompanied his father's family on their removal to Howard county, Missouri. He was of an earnest nature and deeply religious turn of mind, and when about 16 years of age began preaching. As a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church he preached upon a circuit in Texas during his early manhood, and received his pay in raw cotton, which he hauled 20 miles to have ginned. Subsequently he had charge of a Missouri circuit, and in 1828, as one of the pioneer ministers on the frontier, he established a mission between the present towns of Argentine and Turner, in what is now the State of Kansas but then formed a part of the Indian Territory. It was called the Shawnee Mission and was carried on for about 5 years. It included an Indian manual-labor school, where the children of the tribes in that locality were taught not alone to read and write but were also instructed in useful occupations, which would make them self-supporting citizens and materially benefit their condition. This mission was under the auspices of the United States government and the Methodist Episcopal church missionary board, with headquarters at Nashville, Tennessee, each bearing half the expense.
Rev. Mr. Johnson had full charge of this mission from its inception until 1873, and its privileges were enjoyed by the Shawnees, Wyandottes, Delawares and Ottawas. In addition to these there were some few members of the Miama, Sac and Fox tribes and a few Sioux and Flatheads. Mr. Johnson put up all the necessary buildings and had the entire care and management of the mission. There were from 100 to 150 children who attended the school and worked on the farm. Between 600 and 1,000 acres of land were thus cultivated. There was a blacksmith shop in which the repair work was done. A mill ground the grain for the needed bread stuffs and a store supplied the other necessary commodities. The Indian maidens did the spinning and weaving and made the clothes, and almost everything used by the mission was either raised or manufactured by the members except shoes, and even they were partially made by them. During a large portion of the time Mr. Johnson had charge of 3 missions - the Shawnee, the Delaware, about 15 miles from the first, and the Kaw mission at Council Grove. He was a close student of the different tribes, their habits, methods and needs, and no man on the western frontier did more for the betterment and upbuilding of the Indian race.
Mr. Johnson was ably assisted in all his labors by his estimable wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah T. Davis, and was a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky. She was born June 22, 1810, and was a daughter of George Davis, of Kentucky. Some of her relatives were taken prisoners by Indians at Ruddle's mills, in that state. Her father came to Pike county, Missouri, at a very early day, and there was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Davis, on the 7th of September, 1830. They at once went to the mission, and Mrs. Johnson assumed charge of the indoor work, nursing the sick, preparing and administering the different medicines, and acting as counselor and guide to all the women of the tribes, many of whom gave her their warm friendship. That Mr. Johnson won the confidence and the regard of the Indians, who when once their friendship is given never falter in their allegiance, is evidenced by the fact that he was always given a seat in their councils and stood especially high with the Shawnee tribe. These worthy people continued their labors among the red race until 1843, when the ill health of Mr. Johnson forced him to leave the frontier, and he returned to Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1844 a split occurred in the church, and our subject took the stand for the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
After preaching there for 1 year, Mr. Johnson returned with his family to Howard county, Missouri, and purchased a farm about 1 mile from Fayette, where he lived for 3 years. In 1847, he returned to the Shawnee Mission, of which he was again given charge and continued to faithfully labor among them for some time. The tribe gave 2 sections of land to the missionary board of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, and the board then transferred it to the Rev. Thomas Johnson, condition that he bear all expenses of the mission, including board, clothes and tuition. These terms were agreed upon, but the church afterward claimed the land and the heirs of Mr. Johnson had to establish their prior claim in the department of the interior, at a cost of over $20,000. When the Shawnees ceded their land to the government they gave to Mr. Johnson 1 section in return for a beef, which he provided them for their annual feast, and these 3 sections eventually become the property of his heirs.
About 1858 he removed his family to a farm which he owned 2 � miles East of Westport, but still retained control of the mission, although he left his son, Alex S. Johnson, in charge. On the 3rd of January, 1865, he received $1,000 in money, but paid it out the same day.
This latter fact, however, was not known by a band of 8 robbers who came to his house at 12:00p that night with the intention of securing the money. At their first call he opened the door and answered some of their inquiries. They then dismounted and were passing around the house ostensibly to get a drink of water. As they neared the door they made a rush for him, but he succeeded in closing it. They then fired through the panels and a ball struck him in the abdomen. He fell and never spoke again. As he was falling it is thought that he turned the key and locked the door. His wife was at his side in an instant, and soon aroused her son, William, who was sleeping upstairs, and a hired man. She carried up a shot gun and a small pistol. William stepped to a porch in front of a window and attempted to fire on upon the crowd, but the gun would not go off. He then found that the hired man had a musket and 3 charges. He directed the man to open fire upon the men, but the fellow was so frightened that he shot one charge into the air. Mr. Johnson then leveled the pistol at him and told him to surrender the gun or he would be instantly killed. Peering out into the dense darkness Mr. Johnson saw an object which he supposed to be a man and fired at it, but the next morning it proved to be a large black kettle. Next, seeing an object move, he fired and later found that he had shot a man through the leg. His ammunition was then exhausted. He heard one of the men say, �Look out, boys! Will is at home!� then they left. When he first stepped out upon the porch a ball from one of their guns pass through his beard close to his throat. Before the robbers left they set fire to the rear porch of the house, but the mother stepped outside the door and extinguished the fire with a few pails of water near by. The father was buried on the 5th of January, and the funeral was the largest ever attended in this locality. From far and near came friends to pay their last tribute of respect to one whom they had loved and honored, whose noble life was ever a source of inspiration, help and encouragement to them. Though he is gone his memory remains to those who knew him as a blessed benediction, and his influence for good is still seen in the lives of those with whom he came in contact.
Mrs. Johnson remained at the mission until the year following the death of her husband and then removed to Kansas City, making her home at the corner of 9th and Main streets, and afterward removing to Walnut streets. In 1869 she built a resident on 9th between Locust and Cherry streets, and her death occurred at the residence of Judge Holmes, September 26, 1873. Her family numbered 13 children, 7 of whom reached maturity, namely: Alex S., who was born July 11, 1832, the first white child born in what is now the State of Kansas, married Prudence Funk, October 7, 1852. She died leaving 1 child, who survives her - Mrs. Nellie Fargo, of Chicago. Alex S. Johnson afterward married Zippa Tewksbury. For many years he was the land commissioner of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company, but is now living retired in Topeka, Kansas. Eliza S., the second child, born April 20, 1836, was married September 20, 1854, to John B. Wornall, now deceased. She passed away July 5, 1865, leaving 2 children - F. C. and Thomas J. A. M. and W. M. were the 3rd and 4th member of the family. Laura L., born July 22, 1847, was the wife of Frank Waterman, and died in 1883, leaving 2 children - William H. and Avis. Cora E., born August 22, 1849, is the wife of Harry W. Fuller, general passenger agent of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. They have 2 daughters - Nellie and Louise, and reside in Washington, DC. Edna, born June 6, 1853, is the wife of W.J. Anderson, a stock broker of Kansas City, and has 2 children - Sadie and Jamie.
Rev. Mr. Johnson and wife were life long members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He was a pro slavery man, but did not believe in the overthrow of the union. In the political affairs of Kansas he took a very prominent part. He presided over the house during the first session of the first general assembly of Kansas, that noted body convening in his home. His son, Alex, was a member of the Senate at the same time. The father was the first delegate to congress from Kansas, and Johnson county was named in his honor. He was president of the Union Bank, the First State Bank in Kansas City, and educational, social, political, moral and material interests are all indebted to him for his efforts in their behalf.
William M. Johnson, who like his honored father has been prominent in the public life of the West, was born July 6, 1845, in Howard county, Missouri, and was reared at the Shawnee Mission, his playmates being the Indian children. He began his education there under his father's instruction, and afterward attended the Emery and Henry College, of Washington county, Virginia, where he was a student at the breaking out of the Civil War. He was then only 15 years of age, but he joined the Washington mounted rifles and served during the Virginia campaign in the 1st year of the war. He then returned home and started out again with Colonel Upton Hayes and served throughout the struggle, participating in many engagements. He received a sabre cut in his hand and a bullet wound in his head. After the war he became a resident of the suburbs of Kansas City. Few men are more familiar with the history and development of the West. He has engaged in freighting across the plains, is familiar with the experiences of the frontier, and has many times journeyed across the Rocky mountains.
On the 25th of November, 1869, was consummated the marriage of William Johnson, and Miss Lizzie Price, daughter of Richard M. G. Price, who was killed at Wakarusa, Kansas in 1856, an officer in a company from Clay county, Missouri. Mrs. Johnson was born in that county, March 4, 1849, acquired her preliminary education there and completed her studies in Lexington, Missouri. 3 children were born of this union, but all are not deceased. After the war, Mr. Johnson lived for 2 years in Kansas City, and then removed to Clay county. In October, 183, he located on his present farm, where he owns 55 acres of very valuable land, all highly cultivated and improved.
He is a prominent Mason, holding his membership in the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Kansas City, and Kansas City commandery, No. 10, K. T. In politics he is a democrat. His wife belongs to the Baptist church of Westport, and in social circles they occupy a most enviable position, while throughout the community their circle of friends is very extensive.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.