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| Located 8 miles south of
Atchison, Kansas on Little Walnut Creek, at the mouth of the Missouri
River in Walnut Township was a fertile farming community called Oak
Mills, Kansas. There existed in that community one of the first Black
Settlements in Kansas called Port William. Living in the Port William
Settlement, once occupied by the Kickapoo Indian Nation, were free
Black people who either escaped slavery or through emancipation
journeyed there to partake in the bounty and privileges previously
granted only to free whites. The earliest record of the African race in Atchison County was in 1855 in which the first territorial census listed slave owners and their slaves. In 1856, a $500 reward was posted for runaway slaves: Ned, an 18 year old and a bright 16 year old mulatto named Harrison. We don't know what became of Ned and Harrison but we do know what became of the area from which they escaped. There are several personal accounts of the history of Port William including stories handed down from generation to generation about: Early French traders, "Uncle" Frank Williams (believed to be the "father" of the colored settlement), Horace Herndon (who stationed a slave to hold his claim--the slave believed to be the first black man ever to live and die in Port William Colored Settlement) Kickapoo John and other Indians. Among the accounts regarding the naming of Port William is a story about a man named William Johnson who made a claim on said area after crossing the Missouri River. Later, several men attempted to take the claim and Mr. Johnson defended his claim for a week in his cabin. After Mr. Johnson successfully defended his claim, people begin calling his homestead "Fort William". A story passed from generation to generation relates a similar story of our family beginnings in Kansas. It was in this area that through hard menial work (there was no gift of 40 acres and a mule) black farmers prospered. The earliest documented evidence of the Johnson Family was in 1865 in the Kansas State Census. Records tell us that by whatever means and for whatever reasons the Johnsons and Kings traveled from Virginia and Kentucky as slaves, to Missouri as slaves, then to Kansas as free Blacks. Thus begins our family sojourn in Kansas. "For we'll understand it better by and by". |
| James Henry Johnson,
occupation--farmer, was described at the time of his death as mulatto
in color, 5'8" tall and 126 pounds in weight, a worn, frail man. Let's
trace his life and the life of our Johnson-King ancestors. James Henry was born in approximately 1838 at an unknown place in Kentucky. His mother was Katherine (Kitty) Johnson, a farmer and housekeeper, born sometime between 1811 and 1827 also in Kentucky. She, too, was described as mulatto. It is unknown as to when she died. His step-father was Walker William Johnson often referred to as W.W. Johnson, farmer, born in approximately 1812 in Kentucky. He died July 19, 1891 in the Port William Colored Settlement. Nothing is known about the birth father of James Henry though stories passed down in the family say that he was the son of his white slave owner. Little is known about the Johnson's prior to 1865, however, indications are that Walker Johnson left Kentucky and resided in Missouri sometime prior to 1840, Kitty left Kentucky sometime after 1838. Both Kitty and Walker resided in Missouri in 1855 (that is based upon the fact that their children are listed as being born in Missouri). The Johnsons came to Kansas from Platte County, Missouri. (Coincidentally, or not, there lived in Platte County a white slave owner named James Johnson who had slaves the ages of James Henry, his mother and step father. This slave owner died about the time that the Johnsons appeared in Kansas.) Walker and Kitty could neither read or write. Legal documents bear their "X" indicating this to be their mark. Though not literate themselves, Walker and Kitty were able to acquire a considerable amount of land and had the wherewithal to protect their holding by drawing up a will in 1880. Walker and Kitty, along with their mare named "Ned" and a sorrel named "Bill", prospered on their land raising wheat, corn and apples. James Henry Johnson had two half brothers; Joshua (John) Johnson, born between 1857 and 1860; and Josephus (Joseph) Johnson, born between 1855 and 1861. Both Kitty and her son, Joseph, were later thought to be insane. Joseph was admitted to the Topeka State Hospital in 1905 after a lengthy legal battle over land valued at $2,800 left to him by his father, Walker Johnson. Joseph lost the land and forever claimed the land was stolen from him. District Court documents entitled Joseph C. R. Johnson vs. Henry C. Buchanan explain the circumstances of that legal battle. Gladys Barnes recounts writing letters to Joseph while he was institutionalized. Joseph died in 1922 with no children. John, however, married, had children and remained in Kansas. Also listed in the 1870 Census was a girl named Ginnie, born in 1854. No further reference to Ginnie has been found. There was also a step-sister, Mary Ann Farris Holland who received $5 from Walker Johnson's will. James Henry Johnson was grown by the time he arrived at Port William Colored Settlement and was married to the first of three wives. His wife was Sarah (Jane) (Ann) King (Davis?) Johnson. They purchased land in 1865 next to that of Walker and Kitty. Sarah was listed as a mulatto, born in approximately 1840 in Kentucky. It was on this land that James Henry and Sarah farmed and raised their family. Having apparently a sense of community and a generous welcoming nature, several people lived with the Johnsons over the years. Also living with James Henry and Sarah in 1865 was an 18 year old mulatto male named Joseph King and Mary King, a 50 year old black woman born in Kentucky. Mary King was the mother of Sarah. Mary King was believed to be part Indian from the Cherokee Nation specifically called Cherokee Freedmen. Her name, as well as the names of Sarah's six children, appeared on the Kerns-Clifton Roll prepared in 1896 of the Cherokee Tribe. This roll was prepared for the sole purpose of distributing certain Cherokee funds. The United States Government signed a bill awarding 14 million dollars as payment for inadequate compensation for Oklahoma lands ceded to the U.S. by the Cherokee Nation. An attempt was made by Jesse Wilson to secure such funds for the King descendants but that claim was denied. Also on the roll was the name of Willie Richardson, a cousin of the Johnson children. Throughout the years, various other people resided with both the William Walker and James Henry Johnson families. Names such as Handy Johnson, 11 years old; Desury Richard, 15 years old; George Noland, 28 year old preacher; W.H. Johnson; a 1 year old; Thomas Davis, 18 years old; Fredrick Ward, 8 years old and Milton Letcher, 15 years old, appear on census records. Nothing is known as to the relationship of these people other than George Noland whose son John (appearing much later) was believed to be a cousin. |
To the marriage of James Henry
and Sarah Johnson were born six children:
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Upon the death of Sarah, James
Henry Johnson was left with six daughters to raise. He then married
Drucilla on September 7, 1878. Drucilla was previously married to James
Sain and brought three children to the union:
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James Henry Johnson then married
his third wife, Leah, on September 30, 1891. Leah also brought children
to the marriage:
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| In 1907, after about five years
of physical and mental decline, James Henry Johnson was judged insane.
This judgment was based upon the facts that he overpaid bills, wandered
aimlessly, put extra bridles on his horses, was forgetful and became
lost within sight of his home. He spent three months in Wells Private
Hospital (an asylum) but the $50 monthly fee was beyond his means, and
he was moved to the Topeka State Hospital where he died at the age of
68 on December 23, 1907. The cause of his death is listed as senile
dementia (by today's standard, not considered insane). Eugene Bell, a cousin and administrator of the estate, carried out the wished of James Henry Johnson and divided his estate as follows:
James Henry Johnson died a widower, having outlived three wives and two children, leaving 120 acres of land, a $500 mortgage, four adult daughters, 32 grandchildren, his brown mare "Puss", his sorrel, "Bird", his bay mare, "Shape", and a legacy of love, hope, history and a future for you and I. |
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