Father: James
M. (Mallard or Mallory) Johnson
Mother: Sarah Ann Thompson
Spouse: William Arthur (Bill) Gillett - b: 20/Feb/1864
- Warren Co., IL
d: 6/Sep/1936 Center Twp., St. Clair Co., MO
- bur: Concord Cem.
m: 28/Nov/1889 - Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., MO
Child-1: Chloe - b: 1/May/1892 - Gentry Co., MO
d: 22/Feb/1922 - Center Twp., St. Clair Co., MO
- bur: Concord Cem.
2: Clark
- b: 3/Jul/1894 - Gentry Co., MO
d: 14/May/1933 - State Hosp. No. 3, Nevada, Vernon
Co., MO - bur: Concord Cem., St. Clair Co.
3: Iva
- b: 17/Jun/1897 - Gentry Co., MO
d: 2/Oct/1980 - bur: Concord Cem., St.
Clair Co., MO
m: William R. Davis - 28/Oct/1933
4: Loyd
O. - b: 28/Feb/1902 - Gentry Co., MO
d: 8/May/1993 - bur: Sunset Ridge Memorial Park,
Kenosha Co., WI
m: Zula Marion Burrow - 6/Feb/1926
5: Lee
Ervin - b: 26/Dec/1905 - Osceola, St. Clair Co., MO
d: 14/Sep/1997 - Mt. Prospect, Cook Co., IL - bur:
Sunset Ridge Memorial Park, Kenosha Co., WI
6: Eva
Ruth - b: 21/May/1911 - Osceola, St. Clair Co., MO
d: 6/Mar/1997 - Chicago, Cook Co., IL - bur: Sunset
Ridge Memorial Park, Kenosha Co., WI
Biographical Details:
Almira Johnson, known familiarly as "Allie", was born in July of 1872 near Island City in Jackson Township in Gentry County, Missouri. She was the daughter of James M. and Sarah Ann Thompson Johnson and married William Arthur Gillett on November 28, 1889. They were the parents of six children and according to the population schedule of the 1900 US Census for Gentry County, the family was resident in the northern part of Jackson Township.1 They remained in Gentry County until at least 1902; however, before the end of 1905, Bill, Allie, and their older children had moved to St. Clair County, Missouri.2 Subsequently, census records for St. Clair County indicate that the household of William Gillett was resident in Center Township in April of 1910. Unfortunately, Almira Johnson Gillett died in St. Clair County on February 6, 1913, and was buried in the Concord Cemetery. At the time of her death she was only forty years old. Her oldest daughter, Chloe, followed her only nine years later.3 Even so, Nadine Johnson McCampbell has collected some anecdotes of the Johnson family that Almira reportedly told her daughter, Iva.4 In particular, these concern experiences with Native American people both as the family traveled in the West and after they settled in Gentry County. Of particular interest is Almira's statement that her father would travel to St. Joseph for supplies. This suggests that they were living in Gentry County before many villages and towns were established and is consistent with the speculation, stated elsewhere, that the Johnson family may have spent some time resident in Gentry County prior to traveling to Utah. This chronology is also consistent with the issue of land patents to James M. and John A. Johnson by preemption since this required the grantee actually to occupy the land prior to survey and sale by the government.Source Notes and Citations:
1. W. P. Bullock, Gentry County 1896, Press of L. Hardman, St. Joseph, MO, 1896.
Wm. Gillet: Twp. 62 N; Rng. 33 W; Sec. 24; NW¼ of NE¼ - 40 acres.
W. A. Gillet: Twp. 62 N; Rng. 33 W; Sec. 25; NE¼ of NE¼ - 40 acres.
back to bio.2. Anonymous, Plat Book of St. Clair County, Missouri, W. W. Hixson & Co., Rockford, IL, 1930. (Available electronically at digital.library.umsystem.edu/)
W. Gillette: 1) Twp. 38 N; Rng. 26 W; Sec. 4; S½ of NW¼ - 80 acres. 2) Twp. 38 N; Rng. 26 W; Sec. 4; S part of NW¼ of NW¼ - 25.05 acres more or less.
back to bio.3. "At Rest On Saturday night, February 25, 1922, at ten o'clock, Chloe Gillett, daughter of William D. Gillett, laid down the cross of life, and entered into the rest prepared for the faithful, from the foundation of the world. She died of flu-pneumonia in the twenty-ninth year of her life. Her illness was of short duration, was taken Friday afternoon, suffered acutely until ten o'clock Saturday night when her pains ceased, and her Savior called, 'Child of earth, come home'.
She was a young woman of many virtues which, with her pleasing disposition, endeared her to her friends and neighbors. She met and overcome the difficulties of life with a brave spirit, was the oldest daughter in the home and largely depended on by the family. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, and a constant attendant of the Sunday school at Chalk Level. Her death is keenly regretted by the community and their whole sympathy goes out to the bereaved family.
The devotional service was held at the home at three o'clock, conducted by H. A. Higgins. A number of neighbors and friends followed the remains to Concord cemetery, where loving hands had beautifully decorated the vault and in this we laid the body of Chloe to rest, beside her mother, who passed away many years ago.--- A Friend." (oboituary: The Lowry City Independent, Lowry City, MO, Thur., Mar. 2, 1922.)
back to bio.4. Nadine McCampell, Johnson Family History, The Printery, Albany, MO, 1982: pg. 229.
"Almira Johnson Gillett was the daughter of James Mallard and Sarah Ann Thompson Johnson. She evidently was nicknamed Allie as I found that name on the 1880 census record for her and also on the Island City Christian Church record where she became a member in 1888. Almira was born July 5, 1872 near Island City a few years after the adventurous years of her parents, sister, and brothers.
Although she missed out on the trip to California, she remembered a story her mother told her. Almira told this story to her daughter Iva Gillett Davis and Iva wrote down the story for me and I quote. 'They were on their way to California and they were going along a grove of trees and Grandpa (James Mallard) was walking by the side of the wagon. All at once an arrow came whizzing in and stuck in one of the spokes of the wagon wheel. He got his gun and shot in the direction from which the arrow came. That was the last of that as he saw no one else. The children on this trip would cry for bread for all they could get was 'hard tack' (a hard dry biscuit).'
Another story told from this same source and I quote Iva, 'My mother told me her folks came to Gentry County very early and there was no place close to buy needed things. Grandpa (James Mallard) would have to go once in awhile with the team and wagon to St. Joseph, Missouri. It would take two or three days and Grandma (Sarah Ann) and the children stayed alone. Some Indians were down along the Island City branch but did seem to be peaceful. Since there were no locks on the doors and Grandma was taking no chances, she pulled heavy furniture against the doors at night. She laid down but didn't think she slept any. The next morning there was an Indian Squaw in the room. Grandma never heard her get in. The Indians came after her but gave no trouble to Grandma. The Indians had been whipping the squaw.'
Almira's husband, William, had a nickname that had stuck with him from childhood. He was tagged 'Dig' Gillett because as a young boy he was always digging in the dirt.
Almira and William's children were all born at Island City except the last two, Lee and Ruth. Sometime between 1902 and 1905 they moved their family to Osceola, Missouri where Lee and Ruth were born and where Almira and William spent their remaining years. Both are buried in the Concord Cemetery in St. Clair County."
back to bio.
Additional Citations:
5. 1900 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 272B, (microfilm: roll T623_855; img. 552).6. 1910 US Census Population Schedule for St. Clair County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 196B, (microfilm: roll T624_801; img. 1038).
7. 1920 US Census Population Schedule for St. Clair County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 158B, (microfilm: roll T625_943; img. 911).
8. 1930 US Census Population Schedule for St. Clair County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 157B, (microfilm: roll T626_1221; img. 317).
9. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO: Bk. 2, pg. 381, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 37663; img. 217)).
10. Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 6595 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO & Death Certificate No. 35391 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO, , & ).
11. Concord Cemetery, St. Clair County, MO (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2257481&CScn=Concord&CScntry=4&CSst=26&CScnty=1489&, continuously updated).
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12. World War I Draft Registration Cards, National Personnel Records Center, National Archives-Southeast Region, Morrow, GA, (microfilm: roll MO-1683565; img. 349).
13. Death Certificates, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 6016 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO & Death Certificate No. 18724 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).
14. Sunset Ridge Memorial Park, Kenosha County, WI (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=89334&CScn=Sunset+Ridge+&CScntry=4&CSst=51&CScnty=3021&, continuously updated).
15. Death Master File, Social Security Administration, Washington, DC, continuously updated.