Happy Birthday, Edward Johnson

I wanted to acknowledge Grampa Johnson on his 139 birthday. This picture shows all property east of the railroad tracks was Ed Johnson's farm.

Long Ago And Oh So Far Away...

I had been "out to the farm" several years ago. I attended the 2005 Cooley Johnson Family Reunion with Tony and we decided to make a quick stop on our way home. Traveling north on Interstate 35 we exited on Oralabor Road. As we made a left and headed west this place, this area felt familiar. I told Tony, "This is it, this is where Grandpaw Johnson's farm was located." Tony asked, "How do you know this is it?" I said, "I just KNOW it is - this is the land." Over the years I've heard conflicting reports of the location of Ed Johnson's farm. I knew one person to ask was his daughter Ethyl's daughter, Maxine. Aunt Mac had spent a lot of time on the farm when she was a little girl. She gave me instructions to locate the farm and stated if it was as "clear as mud", she'd try to make it easier for me to understand. Her instructions were on point. I found the area without any problems. I pulled the car into a parking lot of one of the businesses on the land and parked. I wanted to take a few pictures of the land. I found myself walking to the beginning of the property line. "Gramp's Farm was bordered by the railroad tracks on the West, Oralabor Road on the South..." is what she wrote in an email. I repeated the words to myself as I took each step. I thought about all the people that had taken those same steps, had walked in the same place. People like Great-Great Grandpaw Edward Johnson and his wife Orpha; Frank Johnson, Edward's brother and Frank's wife, Anna; Edward and Pinky's children: Ethyl, Helen and Rex; Edward and Orpha's children: Henry, Beatrice, Edward Jr and Hardin; Ethyl's children: Veltirea "Punkin", Marvin "Dideo", Eugene "Eckie Bud" and Doris "Mac". All of these people, our family had/have traveled that route. When I stood on the land it was easy to imagine what used to be. To know about one hundred years ago it was all farmland. "This IS it." I was standing on Ed Johnson's land. I know it's no longer in our family, but I'm proud. Proud that once upon a time, a little less than long ago, a Black Man owned all that land in Iowa. I am the Great-Great Grandson of that man and I am proud of his accomplishments.

Johnson Farm

Great news to share. Aunt Mac gave me the location to Grampaw Johnson's farm! Man, I can hardly wait to check it out. Years ago Tony and I stopped at Oralabor on the way back to the Twin Cities. I remember telling him, "This is it. This is the place that was the farm." I had NO WAY of knowing if what I was saying, what I was feeling was accurate. I strongly suspect I was correct. I think it's a Walmart now. I will take pics of the site and post them here.

Edward Johnson

Sometimes I will teach myself a lesson. I was checking the blog, because I like to do that from time to time. In "DATES TO REMEMBER..." I noticed today is Edward Johnson's birthday! I would have been pissed if I missed acknowledging his day. Edward was the first child born to John and Sarah (nee Crowden) Johnson. The family lived in Jasper Township or Vandalia at that time. Edward would marry Pinkie J Doolen in 1899. They would have three children; Ethyl, Helen and Rex. After Pinkie's death, Edward married Orpha King in 1908. Together they had four children; Henry, Beatrice, Edward Jr and Hardin. Edward moved his family from Vandalia, Missouri to Enterprise, Iowa in 1914. Edward's children would marry and have families of their own. Of course those children married and had families of there own. The descendants of this man are spread all throughout the United States and parts of Europe as well. Wow -- it all started in 1872 with his birth! I am the great-great grandson of this man, born one hundred thirty-eight years ago. Let us honor Edward on his day.

Helen Johnson

Edward and Pinkie (nee Doolen) Johnson had three children; Ethyl, Helen and Rex. This is Helen Johnson's Iowa Census card from 1915. What we learn from this card is Helen's age; 13, place of birth; Missouri, number of years in school; 9, residence; Enterprise, Iowa and number of years in Iowa; 1. Helen has been described as having an outgoing personality, long blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Unfortunately there are no pictures of her. Helen's life was a brief one. She was injured while playing with her classmates in Enterprise. Feeling better care could be given to her in town, she moved to Des Moines, with her newly married sister, Ethyl. It was there that she died. Helen Johnson is buried in Elmhurst Cemetery.

The Brothers

Every generation of this family has those special brother bonds. Thru the good and bad times, the brothers stick together. Pinkie Doolen Johnson can be credited with instilling a sense of togetherness, forgiveness and above all else, LOVE in her children. Those three very important "keys" have been passed down to each generation. All of these brothers (Johnson, Cooley and Thompson) have togetherness not witnessed in many families. This family has been BLESSED many times over. Like any family, we don't always see eye to eye.





Hell, we'll even fuss about it. Given a little time and cooler heads, it all seems to work itself out. To all the brothers of this fam, let's continue to love one another and others. Don't let hard feelings prevent us from being the "kool kats" we're destined to be.


The Brothers from top to bottom; Frank and Edward Johnson, Eugene and Marvin Cooley, Rev Earnest and Dr J.Walter Thompson, Bobby and Larry, Tim and Tony, Justin and Terry