52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (2020) – Week 26: Middle—Life of Olevia Jane (Jones) Johnston

This is my third year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow. I will write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or at My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

Olevia Jane Jones, my fourth great-grandmother, was born 22 February 1859.[1] Her parents were Benjamin W. Jones and Amanda A. Haley.[2] She was the fifth and middle child of nine.

There is no census that lists all of the children together. In 1860, she was the youngest of five.[3]

  B.W. Jones, 38, male, farmer, VA, $2842, $8323

  AA Jones, 31, F, MS 

  MF Jones, 13 F, MS

  WA Jones, 11, male, MS

  TW Jones, 9, male, MS

  EB Jones, 5, F, MS

  OJ Jones, 1, F, MS

  David Gillman, 20, male, dressier, MS

By 1870, her father is gone, having died sometime and someplace during the Civil War, and only eight children are enumerated, as the eldest, Mary, having married in 1868.[4]

   Amanda Jones, 43, F, W, keeping house, $200 personal, MS

   Walter A, 21, M, W, farm laborer, MS

   Thomas W, 19, M, W, farm laborer, MS

   Bettie E 13, F, W, at home, MS

   Oliva J, 11, F, W, at home, MS

   Columbus 9, M, W, MS

   Laura C, 7, F, W, MS

   Ellen S, 7, F, W, MS

   Mattie M, 5, F, W, MS 

The story from a Johnston grandson was about his maternal grandmother making the trek to Texas. 

“Her husband was a physician with the Confederate Army. He was stricken with an illness and died during the siege. His widow and six small children, five girls and one boy, left Tennessee by wagon, headed for Central Texas. One of the horses died enroute, leaving them stranded. Grandmother Jones cooked up provisions for the children, gave them a stern warning to stay together until she returned. She rode away on the remaining animal, hoping to find help somewhere in the country-side in order that the journey might be resumed. She met a stranger, told him her story and was cheered by his answer. He told her to go back to her children and help would be on the way. The next morning she awoke to find a horse tied to the wagon that would replace the dead animal.”[5]

It is unknown at this time when Benjamin died, but the last child was born in November 1865, making his death between nine months before the birth and the end of the war. Olevia would have been about six years old, and Amanda clearly had very young children with her on her trek to Texas.

This brings up the question of what brought her to Texas? She must have known someone who was already there. She had two older brothers, William and Thomas Jefferson Haley, one younger brother, John Haley, and one sister Mary Ann, who married John B. Thomas. Perhaps one of them had moved to Texas. The Haley family has not been researched forward yet. Something to add to the Research-To-Do list.

By 1880, Amanda and family were living in Comanche County, Texas, and Amanda was living with her son-in-law and daughter, George W. and Bettie E. Knox. Her two youngest daughters were living with her. Her other children were neighbors.[6] See this post on the 1880 census here.

Olevia married Ruben Mack Johnston on 23 December 1879.[7] She lived with him and his children from a previous marriage. They were enumerated two households from her mother, Amanda.[8]

Johnston, M. Reubin, w, m, self, 39 yrs, mar, farmer, Alabama, SC SC
J. Olevia, wife, mar, 21, keeping house, MS, VA MS
E.M. Martha, dau, female, 8, s, at home, TX, AL, TX
D Lola, dau, 6, s, at home, TX, AL, TX
C Ocia, dau, 2, s, at home, TX, AL, TX

Ruben and Olevia had thirteen children together. Here is the household from the 1900 census.[9]

Two more sons were born in 1902 and 1904.

JOHNSON, Reubin M.  H, w, m, Apr 1841, 59, mar 32 yr, TX, AR/TN, farmer, rent

                   Jane, wife, w, f, Feb 1859, 40, mar 32, 11/11, TX, TX/TX

                   Rufus A., son, w, m, Oct 1880, 19, sing, Al, SC/SC, day school,

                   Mellisa P., dau, w, f, Jul 1882, 17, sing, MS, VA/MS

                   Robert L., son, w, m, Feb 1884, 16, TX, AL/MS, day laborer,

                   Thomas M, son, w, m, Jul 1885, sing, 14, TX, AL/MS, at school,

                   Florence E., dau, w, f, Mar 1887, 13, sing, TX, AL/MS, at school,

                   Reubin H., son, w, m, Aug 1888, 11, sing, TX, AL/MS, at school,

                   Edna M., dau, w, f, Oct 1890, 9, sing, TX, AL/MS

                   Woody A., son, w, m, Oct 1892, 8, sing, TX, AL/MS

                   Lila E., dau, w, f, Dec 1894, 6, sing, TX, AL/MS

                   Annie B., dau, w, f, Jul 1896, 4, sing, TX, AL/MS

                   Orial, dau, w, f, Dec 1898, 1, TX, AL/MS

Olevia died at 55 years of age on 11 December 1914.[10] She died of apoplexy, which according to online sources, is the sudden death that began with a sudden loss of consciousness, possibly due to a stroke.[11]

No obituary was found in the Comanche Chief.[12]

She was buried at Hazel Dell cemetery.[13] Her stone reads “Olevia, wife of R. M. Johnston, born Feb. 22, 1859, died Dec. 11, 1914, Resting in hopes of a glorious resurrection.”

A photo of the family from about 1900 was printed in a later issue of the Comanche Chief.

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[1] For birthdate, see Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com), Olevia Jane Jones Johnston (22 Feb 1859–11 Dec 1914), memorial no. 67319213, citing Hazeldell Cemetery, Hazeldell, Comanche Co., Texas, USA ; Maintained by Lisa Gorrell (contributor 47484703).

[2] 1860 U.S. census, Rankin Co, Mississippi, pop. sched., Brandon, p 74, household 482, fam 501, BW Jones, digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); citing NARA M653, roll 590. For mother’s maiden name, see Rankin Co, Mississippi, Marriage Records, v. 1, p. 285, 1845, Jones-Haley; FHL film 879737.

[3] 1860 U.S. census, Rankin Co, MS, BW Jones.

[4] 1870 U.S. census, Hays Co, Texas, pop. sched., Precinct No. 2, San Marcos P.O., p. 215, dwelling 40, family 23, Amanda Jones, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com): citing NARA M593, roll 1590. For Mary’s marriage, see Hays County, Texas, Marriage Records, v. A, p. 205, 1868, Henry F Wright to Mary Frances Jones; FHL film 956,633.

[5] Jewell Dukes Huddleston, “Wagon Wheels keep on turnin’,” Comanche Chief, 29 Nov 1979, “O.D. (Pig) Johnston of Gustine,” clipping, Johnston Family Archives; privately held by Lisa Gorrell.

[6] 1880 U.S. census, Comanche Co, Texas, pop. sched., ED 30, p 95a, fam 170, W. George Knox, digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com); NARA T9, roll 1297.

[7] "Texas, Comanche County Records, 1858-1955,” > Vital Records > Marriage records, vol. B-1, 1876-1880 > image 301 > RM Johnston to Miss Olevia Jones; digital images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org); citing FHL dig film 4478754.

[8] 1880 U.S. census, Comanche Co, Texas, pop. sched., ED 30, p 95a, fam 172, M. Ruben Johnston, digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com); NARA T9, roll 1297.

[9] 1900 U.S. census, Comanche, Texas, Justice Prec 3, ED 30, sht 1b, household 12, fam 12, Reubin M Johnson, digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com); citing NARA T623, roll 1622.

[10] Comanche County, Texas, Death Records, Comanche County Clerk, digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org), vol. 2 (1909-1917), p. 130, 1914, Mrs. Olivia Johnston.

[11] “Aplopexy,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apoplexy).

[12] The weekly issue of The Comanche Chief & Pioneer Exponent were checked for the date of December 11. December 18 issue is missing from The Portal to Texas History website, and a letter from the Comanche Public Library said the newspaper was missing from their site.

[13] Find A Grave, database with images (http://www.findagrave.com), memorial# 67319213, Hazel Dell Cemetery, Comanche Co Texas, Olevia J Johnston.

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