The Life of Me | Page 3

Back At Royston. Worked At Gin And For Neighbors 19.
Tour Pike's Peak, Moved To Arkansas, Went To College

PREFACE
This writing grew out of a request from my daughter, Anita, that I write
to her concerning me, my family, my parents and their families; how
we lived, how we grew up; our ideals, our customs, and our social life.
The original writings were in the form of letters written to Anita during
the last few years. When my sons, Dennis and Larry, learned of the
letters, they also asked for copies.
As I began writing, I soon realized that I knew very little about the
details of the lives of my parents and grandparents.
So I set out to tell my children a few things about myself and to leave
unmentioned some things which I do not want them to know about me.
I also included some things about a few kinfolks and neighbors who
had a part in molding the character whom my children now refer to as
"Dad."
It was hoped that the letters would aid in their better understanding of
how certain teachings and ideals had been handed down through
generations, and that they might better understand why they grew up
under those rules and customs.
Others also may be interested in the way one family lived in the
Southwest around the turn of the century and later.
Clarence Edgar Johnson
(Drawing) The house where I was born
(Photo) Smokehouse at the Flint farm. Clarence, Earl, Joel, Albert, and
Susie.

(Photo) Our Exum home
(Photo) The lake by our front yard
(Photo) Sunday morning, going to church
(Photo) At the Exum farm. Joel, Clarence, Earl, Albert
(Photo) Our merry-go-round
(Photo) At our home on the plains. Mama, William Robert, Ollie Mae,
Clarence, Albert, Joel, Earl

CHAPTER 1
PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, OUR FIRST FARM
My Johnson grandparents reared nine children. Andrew was the oldest
and was a half brother to the other eight. Joe was Grandma's first born,
second was my father, William Franklin. All but one of them lived and
thrived and raised children. That's why I have dozens of cousins.
When my father was born, the family lived in Bosque County, Texas,
somewhere about Meridian. They were ranchers and owned a bunch of
cattle. Some 20 years later we find the family in Concho County
somewhere near Paint Rock or in between Paint Rock and where the
little town of Melvin now stands.
At least two of the boys, Joe and Will, worked for the Melvin brothers
on their ranch. I have heard Papa tell of breaking saddle horses for the
brothers as well as trail driving near San Angelo.
In the meantime the weather turned dry, grass became scarce, and the
Johnsons drove their cattle to Indian Territory, (Oklahoma) looking for
grass in about the year of 1894--that is, all but Joe. He stayed with his
job in Texas.
About a year after the family moved to Oklahoma, Will Johnson got a
neighbor boy to go with him back to their place in Texas to bring
another wagon load of household goods. They were gone about two
weeks.

While the family was in Oklahoma, Will--who was about 20--taught
school two terms at Nubbin Ridge, somewhere near Duncan. Simpson,
being about 17 at the time, was not about to go to school to a teacher
who was his older brother, so he saddled his horse and slipped away
back to Melvin's ranch, to be with his brother Joe. He said he got tired
of riding but not nearly as tired as his horse. The journey was about 300
miles. He was on the trail three days and nights and had to stop at times
to let his horse rest. When he got to the ranch, Joe wrote to the family
saying that Simpson was with him and for them not to worry. They had
suspected where he had gone but were not sure.
My Gaddie grandparents reared five children, three boys and two girls.
Emma, my mother, was next to the youngest. Hugh was her younger
brother. When my mother was born the family lived in Larue County,
Kentucky, near Hodgensville. Their farm joined the Lincoln farm. She
and Abraham Lincoln drew water from the same well but not at the
same time. The Lincoln family had moved away some years before the
Gaddies moved there. The well was on the fence row between the two
farms.
When Emma was four years old her family moved to Dallas County,
Texas. Then they moved to Grayson County, where Emma started to
school at age seven. When she was nine they moved back to their old
home place in Kentucky. Again, when she was 13, they moved to
Dallas County, and at age 16 the family moved to