Last week I wrote about a research trip to Texas and the many cemeteries I visited in Comanche County. One such cemetery, Union Cemetery, has the tombstone of my great-grandmother, Nell L. (Hutson) Johnston. It is an unusual tombstone. It is shaped like a tree trunk and has these words around a symbol: In Memoriam Woodmen Circle.”
Nell L. Johnston was born on 8 February 1888 to Sarah H Selman and Peter H Hutson.[1] She married Thomas N. Johnston on 6 June 1907 in Comanche County, Texas.[2] They had six known children. She died after a sudden illness on 14 July 1919.[3] She was only thirty-one years old and left two children under five and three children six to ten years old. My grandfather was only 6. Tom would not remarry until twelve years later.
Her obituary says very little. She died on a Monday at home
and was buried on Tuesday in Union Cemetery. “The many friends of the family
will learn with keen regret of Mrs. Johnson’s untimely death, passing away as
she did in the prime of life when so much of her life was yet in the future.”[4]
I was surprised when I found the tombstone in Union Cemetery. I had found no record of Tom Johnston being a member of any fraternal organization. What were the Woodmen Circle? A bit of research reveals this was a women’s auxiliary of the Woodmen of the World.[6]
Searching the newspapers, this time using “Johnson” instead of “Johnston” I found a lengthy article entitled “Resolutions of Respect for Mrs. Tom Johnson.” The officers and members of Comanche Grove 1210 extended their sympathy to Mr. Tom Johnson and children. One portion of the resolution stated:
“Be it further resolved; it is a melancholy pleasure for us to dwell upon the active service your late beloved wife rendered the Woodmen Circle, but in the confidence that she is enjoying everlasting happiness, we hope that you will support your spirits both for you and your children’s sake and look forward to that brighter and happier world, in which we shall go to those who cannot return to us.”[7]
So, a clue to membership. Her husband may have been a member and she was in the auxiliary Woodmen Circle where she provided some service to the organization. Another source gave the membership fee of $5 in 1913 and that a $100 benefit was given for a tombstone or burial services.[8]
I did not locate any information confirming Tom Johnston’s membership. I can try contacting the location historical society to see if they have any information. Perhaps the local organization is still present in Comanche County.
#52Ancestors-Week 38: Symbol
This is my seventh year working on this
year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) at Generations Cafe.
I write each week in one of my two blogs,
either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or My Trails into
the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s
ancestors in new and exciting ways.
[1] Nell
L Johnston, tombstone, Union Cemetery, Gustine, Comanche County, Texas, photo
taken by Lisa S. Gorrell, 3 May 2024. For parents, see 1900 U.S. census,
Comanche, Texas, Justice Prec No. 2, ED 29, sht 4A & B, pg 133 (stamped)
65/65, Peter H. Hutson household. Mr. PH Hutson married SH Selman 11 Sep 1879.
See Hood Co, Texas, marriages, Bk B, p 42, Hudson-Selman, 1879; FamilySearch
(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP38-9RBD),
IGN 004820349, image 436 of 736.
[2] "Texas,
Comanche County, marriage records, 1856-1951," FamilySearch
(http://familysearch.org), v. 5, p. 563, Johnston-Hutson marriage, 1907, image
577 of 668.
[3] “Mrs.
Tom Johnson Dead,” Comanche Chief and Pioneer Exponent, 18 Jul 1919, p. 5, col.
3; The Portal to Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu).
[4] Ibid.
[5] “Texas
Vital Records,” FamilySearch Wiki (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Texas_Vital_Records).
For negative searches, see “Texas Deaths, 1890-1976,” (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1983324),
search for Nell Johnston, Nell Johnson, Mrs. Johnson. Also browsed, Comanche
Death Record, vol 2-A, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YSX8-M3,
images 70-75.
[6] “Woodmen
Life,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WoodmenLife#Mergers).
[7] “Resolutions
of Respect for Mrs. Tom Johnson,” The Comanche Chief and Pioneer Exponent,
25 Jul 1919, p. 9, col. 3; The Portal to Texas History
(https://texashistory.unt.edu).
[8] Statistics,
Fraternal Societies, 1912, Fraternal Monitor, Rochester, New York, p.
195-96.
Quite an interesting and poignant tombstone. A truncated tree can also symbolize a life cut short, which was certainly the case with this young mother. Hope you can learn more about the organization!
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