Hosea Johns

JOHNS, SLADE, SCARF, NICHOLS, RICHIE, MOHLER, HAYS, BLACK

Posted By: Charlene Nichols Hixon (email)
Date: 3/9/2009 at 14:08:46

HOSEA JOHNS

Hosea Johns, Jr. was born between 1800 and 22 June 1808 in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. His parents were Penelope Slade and Hosea Johns, Sr.

His father was a merchant and ran a dry goods store in Baltimore. It is believed that he was a sign painter when he came to Iowa.

Hosea was married, first, in Baltimore on 27 March 1833 to Eliza Scarf. She was a daughter of George and Mary Tarr Scarf of Baltimore.

Hosea and Eliza were parents of four children: Benjamin Scarf Johns was born 19 May 1837, and Lauretta Johns was born 2 April 1839, both probably in Baltimore. Two other children were probably born in Muscatine county, Iowa – Addaline Johns, born 8 September 1842 and Frances Ann Johns, born 17 April 1844.

We have no idea what happened to Eliza Scarf Johns. Did Eliza divorce? Die? Although the older children were with Hosea at the time of the 1850 census, the two younger girls were not there.

Frances Ann Johns married William S. Richie. The 1880 census showed them on Third Street in Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa. With them were children: Elwood J. Richie, age 15; George W. Richie, age 13; Grace E. Richie, age 12; Ada M. Richie, age 9; William A. Richie, age 6, and Clara Richie, age 1 year. She died 25 August 1904.

Addie B. Johns was married in Muscatine County, Iowa on 5 October 1875 to George J. Mohler, according to Brossart’s Muscatine County Iowa Marriage Records 1837-1879, page 85.

Hosea Johns married, second, Elizabeth Nichols, daughter of Samuel and Mary Rodgers Nichols, at his log cabin in Pike Township, Muscatine County, Iowa, on 30 December 1848. Their daughter, Mary Melissa Johns, was born 8 September 1850 at Samuel’s log cabin.

The 1850 census of Pike Township, Muscatine County, Iowa, shows that Hosea was 37 years old and Elizabeth was 22 years old. Also in the family were George S. Johns, age 14 years, born in Maryland; Loretta Johns, age 12 years, born in Maryland, and Malise M. Johns, age 1 year, born in Iowa.

The following year, 31 March 1851, Loretta Johns died. It is not known where she was buried.

Soon after that, Hosea determined that the family should move to Austin, Texas, so they left for that state in a covered wagon. His wife, Elizabeth Nichols Johns, never made it, for she died in St. Joseph, Buchanan county, Missouri. Daughter Melissa was returned to Iowa where she lived with her grandparents, Elizabeth’s parents, Samuel and Nancy Searl Nichols.

Hosea went on to Texas, and there he married for the third time Mary Ann Hays on 5 February 1860 at Travis County, Texas. Mary Ann was a daughter of Nicholas B. and Zula Crabtree Hays. She was born 18 January 1827 in Franklin County, Tennessee and died 12 January 1899 in Travis County, Texas.

Hosea and Mary Ann had four children: Anna E. or Elizabeth Ann Johns, born 18 December 1860; William Henry Johns, born 3 February 1863; George Washington Johns, born 15 February 1865, and Ida Mary Johns, born 21 September 1869, all born in Texas.

From his obituary, it appears that Hosea led an interesting life in Texas. He died 22 December 1877 in Georgetown, Williamson county, Texas, in his 78th year. His burial site is unknown.

On Friday, 4 February 1878, the Muscatine (Iowa) Weekly Journal ran the following obituary:

“Died, near Austin, Texas, in the 78th year of his age, Hosea Johns.

“Many of our old citizens will recognize in the above notice the name of an old citizen of Muscatine, one who lived here from 1843 to 1852. Three of his children are still living in or near the city – Mrs. W. S. Richie, Mrs. Chas. G. Hayes and Mrs. Robert Black. The deceased was a consistent and faithful member of the M. E. church and an exhorter. He was elected lay delegate from Texas to the General Conference held in Baltimore in 1876. He was also a sterling patriot, and all through the dark days of the rebellion held true allegiance to the Union, and for many months at a time was compelled to live in the mountains of Texas, only venturing home occasionally at night to get provisions for himself and comrades.”

Most of this information is based on data obtained from Ancestry.com, with no proof for the statements.

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