Stetira (Gilchrist) Johnson (1845 - 1926)

Born 16 May 1845 in Grant, Allen, Louisiana

Ancestors

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Nelda Spires [send private message]

Biography

Stetira Gilchrist was born 16 May 1845 in Louisiana. She was the daughter of Thomas Gilcrease and Nancy Wilder.

She was enumerated as "Hettie" Gilchrist on the 1850 United States Census. She was five years old. Her gender was incorrectly recorded as male. She was living in the household of Thos (probably the shortened form of Thomas) Gilchrist and is believed to be his daughter. Other members of the household were Nancy Gilchrist, who is presumed to be her mother, and these others who are all presumed to be her siblings: Stintson Gilchrist, Harriet Gilchrist, Richard Gilchrist, Calvin Gilchrist, Thos (probably the shortened form of Thomas) Gilchrist, G W Gilchrist, Jas (probably the shorted form of James) Gilchrist. They were living in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.^[1]

She was married to Franklin Johnson on 15 April 1860 in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.^[2] She was his second wife. (See Research Notes.) They were the parents of a minimum of eleven children, but possibly twelve or fourteen.

She was not enumerated with her husband, Franklin Johnson and children on the 1870 United States Census. There are also children on that record which were not children by her with Franklin Johnson. Her children on that record were Eliza Johnson, Riley Johnson, Adolphe Johnson, and Abraham Johnson. The other children, Sarah Johnson, Robert Johnson, Jane Johnson, Mary Johnson, Julia Johnson, and Lavinia Johnson are probably Franklin Johnson's children from his first marriage.^[3]

Stetira Johnson was enumerated on the 1880 United States Census as the wife of Franklin Johnson. She was thirty-seven years old. Their children in the household were Abraham L. Johnson, Wm O. Johnson, Marion R. Johnson, Eliza J. Johnson, Thomas Johnson, Lenora Johnson, Martha Johnson, and Leo Johnson. The family was living in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.^[4]

According to his tombstone, Franklin Johnson, husband of Stetira Johnson, died in 1898.^[5]

She was enumerated as "Gilchrist Johnson" on the 1900 United States Census. She was a fifty-two year old widow living in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana with three of her children, Zoa Johnson, Louther Johnson, and Ida Johnson. This record said she was the mother of fourteen children, ten of whom were still living. Her occupation was recorded as farmer.^[6]

She was enumerated on the 1910 United States Census as "Stira" Johnson in the household of her son-in-law, James M. Sigler who was married to her daughter Martha. Seven of their children completed the household which was located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. Stira Johnson was sixty-three years old and a widow. According to this record she had given birth to twelve children, nine of whom were still alive.(Note: FamiySearch has her indexed incorrectly as "Stein" Johnson with no way to edit.)^[7]

On the 1920 United States Census Stetira Johnson, age seventy-three, was enumerated living in the household of her son-in-law, James M. Sigler. James was married to Stetira's daughter Martha. There were also twelve children of James and Martha Sigler living in the household which was residing in Allen County, Louisiana.^[8]

Stetira (Gilchrist) Johnson passed away on 14 February 1926. She was buried in Hamilton Cemetery, Grant, Allen Parish, Louisiana. Her dates of birth and death were inscribed on her grave stone, a photograph of which may be seen on her Find A Grave memorial.^[9]

Known Children:

1. Abraham L. Johnson^[10]
2. William Dolphas Johnson
3. Marion R. Johnson
4. Eliza J. Johnson
5. Thomas M. Johnson^[11][12][13]
6. Lenora Johnson
7. Martha C. Johnson m. Sigler^[14]
8. Leo Johnson
9. Zora Johnson m. Smith^[15]
10. Luther Johnson^[16]
11. Ida Johnson m. O'Banion^[17]

Research Notes

Stetira's husband Franklin Johnson was born James Clark. He was accused of the murder of his brother-in-law (brother of his first wife), John Trimmier, which took place in 1854. After his indictment in Bell County, Texas, in 1855, he was jailed without bail until his trial. He escaped from the jail on 29 Jun 1855.^[18][19] There was subsequently a trial and the transcription of the trial is available from Bell County, Texas. One Ancestry.com subscriber has obtained the transcription, but has not published the file online. I do not know when the trial took place nor the verdict. However, he changed his name to Franklin Johnson sometime between 1855 and 1860 when he and Stetira were married.

Gilchrist-1197 01:41, 22 November 2020 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCJ4-2N3 : 4 April 2020), Hettie Gilchrist in household of Thos Gilchrist, Natchitoches parish, Natchitoches, Louisiana, United States; citing family 116, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

   Name	Age	Sex	Birthplace	Occupation
   Thos Gilchrist	52	Male	Kentucky	Farmer
   Nancy Gilchrist	38	Female	Georgia
   Stintson Gilchrist	19	Male	Georgia	Labourer
   Harriet Gilchrist	14	Female	Louisiana
   Richard Gilchrist	10	Male	Louisiana
   Calvin Gilchrist	8	Male	Louisiana
   Thos Gilchrist	6	Male	Louisiana
   Hettie Gilchrist	5	Male	Louisiana
   G W Gilchrist	3	Male	Louisiana
   Jas Gilchrist	1	Male	Louisiana

2. ↑ Ancestry.com, "Louisiana, U.S., Compiled Marriage Index, 1718-1925" [database on-line]. Ancestry Record 7837 #268835 (Record only, no image)
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8QT-KV3 : 19 March 2020), Franklin Johnson, 1870.

   Name	Age	Sex	Birthplace	Occupation
   Franklin Johnson	45	Male	Texas	Farmer
   Sarah Johnson	18	Female	Louisiana	Keeping House
   Robert Johnson	21	Male	Texas	Farm Laborer
   Jane Johnson	18	Female	Texas	Keeping House
   Mary Johnson	14	Female	Louisiana	Keeping House
   Eliza Johnson	1	Female	Louisiana
   Julia Johnson	10	Female	Louisiana
   Lavinia Johnson	12	Female	Louisiana	Keeping House
   Riley Johnson	4	Male	Louisiana
   Adolphe Johnson	6	Male	Louisiana
   Abraham Johnson	8	Male	Louisiana

4. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD6V-V2D : 7 September 2017), Sletiva Johnsen in household of Franklin Johnsen, Sugar Town, Calcasieu, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 12, sheet 564D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,450.

   Name	Role	Age	Sex	Birthplace	Occupation
   Franklin Johnson	Self	53	Male	Texas	Farmer
   Stetira Johnson	Wife	37	Female	Louisiana	Keeping House
   Abraham L Johnson	Son	17	Male	Louisiana	Laborer
   Wm O Johnson	Son	15	Male	Louisiana	Laborer
   Marion R Johnson	Son	13	Male	Louisiana	Laborer
   Eliza J Johnson	Daughter	11	Female	Louisiana	At Home
   Thomas Johnson	Son	9	Male	Louisiana
   Lenora Johnson	Daughter	5	Female	Louisiana
   Martha Johnson	Daughter	4	Female	Louisiana
   Leo Johnson	Son	0	Male	Louisiana

5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 21 November 2020), memorial page for Franklin Johnson (11 Nov 1825–28 Oct 1898), Find A Grave: Memorial #63209483, citing Hamilton Cemetery, Grant, Allen Parish, Louisiana, USA ; Maintained by Homesick4la (contributor 47393053).
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSPT-5S9 : accessed 21 November 2020), Gilchrist Johnson, Ward 7 Sugar town (north part), Calcasieu, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 20, sheet 17B, family 284, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,561.

   Name	Role	Age	Sex	Mon/Yr of Birth	Birthplace	Occupation
   Gilchrist Johnson	Head	May 1848	52	Female	Louisiana	Farmer
   Zoa Johnson	Daughter	Aug 1882	17	Female	Louisiana	Farm Laborer
   Luther Johnson	Son	Feb 1885	15	Male	Louisiana	Farm Laborer
   Ida Johnson	Daughter	Oct 1888	11	Female	Louisiana	Farm Laborer

7. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPTG-L8Y : accessed 21 November 2020), Stein Johnson in household of James M Sigler, Police Jury Ward 7, Calcasieu, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 46, sheet 13B, family 223, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 511; FHL microfilm 1,374,524.

   Name	Role	Age	Sex	Birthplace	Occupation
   James M Sigler	Head	36	Male	Louisiana	Farmer - Own Farm
   Martha Sigler	Wife	34	Female	Louisiana	None
   Ollie Sigler	Daughter	12	Female	Louisiana	None
   James Sigler	Son	11	Male	Louisiana	None
   Bell Sigler	Daughter	8	Female	Louisiana	None
   Desmond Sigler	Son	6	Male	Louisiana	None
   Lucy Sigler	Daughter	4	Female	Louisiana	None
   Annie Sigler	Daughter	2	Female	Louisiana	None
   Eva Sigler	Daughter	6/12	Female	Louisiana	None
   Stira Johnson	Mother-in-law	63	Female	Louisiana	None

8. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVQQ-TCZ : accessed 21 November 2020), Stetira Johnson in household of James M Sigler, Police Jury Ward 4, Allen, Louisiana, United States; citing ED 20, sheet 1A, line 35, family 4, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 603; FHL microfilm 1,820,603.

   Name	Role	Age	Sex	Birthplace	Occupation
   James M Sigler	Head	45	Male	Louisiana	Farmer - General Farm
   Martha Sigler	Wife	43	Female	Louisiana	None
   Ollie Sigler	Daughter	21	Female	Louisiana	None
   James D Sigler	Son	20	Male	Louisiana	Teacher - Public School
   Belle Sigler	Daughter	17	Female	Louisiana	None
   Desmond Sigler	Son	16	Male	Louisiana	Janitor - Public School
   Versie Sigler	Daughter	13	Female	Louisiana	None
   Annie Sigler	Daughter	11	Female	Louisiana	None
   Eva Sigler	Daughter	10	Female	Louisiana	None
   Howard Sigler	Son	8	Male	Louisiana	None
   Herman Sigler	Son	6	Male	Louisiana	None
   Minnie Sigler	Daughter	4	Female	Louisiana	None
   Georgia Sigler	Daughter	2	Female	Louisiana	None
   Willard Sigler	Son	4/12	Male	Louisiana	None
   Stetira Johnson	Mother-in-law	73	Female	Louisiana	None

9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 21 November 2020), memorial page for Stetira Gilchrist Johnson (16 May 1845–14 Feb 1926), Find A Grave: Memorial #63209927, citing Hamilton Cemetery, Grant, Allen Parish, Louisiana, USA ; Maintained by Homesick4la (contributor 47393053).
10. ↑ "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSBD-P42 : 2 April 2020), Stitira Gilcreas in entry for O L Johnson, 03 Sep 1945; citing Grant, Allen, Louisiana, certificate number 869, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FHL microfilm 1,221,058.
11. ↑ "Louisiana Parish Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJ4-VHKM : 8 November 2020), Mrs Stelina Johnson in entry for Thomas M Johnson and Mrs Thelma Knowles, 03 Mar 1928; citing Allen, Louisiana, United States, various parish courthouses, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 1,378,138.
12. ↑ "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSBM-23P : 2 April 2020), Stetirah Gilchrist in entry for T M Johnson, 27 Sep 1943; citing Fair View, Allen, Louisiana, certificate number 1692, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FHL microfilm 1,183,973.
13. ↑ Ancestry.com, "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007" [database on-line]. Ancestry Record
14. ↑ "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSBM-7SF : 2 April 2020), Stetria Gilcress in entry for Martha Johnson Sigler, 09 Jul 1943; citing Grant, Allen, Louisiana, certificate number 268, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FHL microfilm 1,183,972.
15. ↑ "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSYP-L32 : 2 April 2020), S Gilchrist in entry for Zora Smith, 20 Nov 1941; citing Grant, Allen, Louisiana, certificate number 14950, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FHL microfilm 1,183,302.
16. ↑ "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLH8-SX2G : 2 April 2020), Stedarie in entry for Luther Johnson, 6 Jun 1955; citing Grant, Allen, Louisiana, United States, certificate number 6758, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FamilySearch digital folder 005051935.
17. ↑ "Louisiana, Orleans Parish Vital Records, 1900-1964," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7Q3H-8Q3Z : 25 August 2019), Stetira Gilcrease in entry for Ida O'Banion, 18 Oct 1964; citing Death 18 Oct 1964, Oakdale, Allen, Louisiana, United States, certificate 16 001; Louisiana State Archives, Baton Rouge.
18. ↑ "Arrest for Murder and Escape of Prisoners," The Texas States Times (Austin, Texas), 7 Jul 1855, p. 2, col. 2; image copy, ‘’Newspapers.com’’ (The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu/ : accessed 21 Nov 2020).
19. ↑ "Stop the Murderer," The Texas States Times (Austin, Texas), 7 Jul 1855, p. 3, col. 2; image copy, ‘’Newspapers.com’’ (The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu/ : accessed 21 Nov 2020).

• FamilySearch Family Tree ID: MMPC-388