In 1901, Errett left his home in Bluefield, W.VA., for Rugby, Pierce Co., ND, where he met his future wife Amy. They were engaged in farming and raised her son Vivian Dwight Coon and her daughter Ruth E. Coon Morris, and Errett and Amy's daughter Bessie.
Amy, (born 19 Dec 1881, Prescott, Adams Co., IA, died 15 Jan 1945, Kalispell, Flathead Co., Mt, buried Conrad Memorial Cemetery, Kalispell) was the daughter of Orville Edmondson and Ruth Brockett. She married Marcus A. Coon, Errett Johnson, and Louis Edward Clayton.]
A monumental family tragedy occured in 1919, when Errett, by now a seasonal employee of the railroad round house in Wolf Point, Montana, returned to his estranged wife, and when rebuffed, shot her, their daughter, and himself in a fit of rage. All survived, and he spent five years in the Montana State Prison, Deer Lodge, Montana.
After serving his sentence, he returned to Sanish, ND to farm, living in a shack with a dirt floor and a bed pulled up to the ceiling by ropes when not in use. Eventually, in 1952, the government bought him out when a dam was built in McKenzie County. Errett returned home to Princeton, WV, and spent the rest of his life fishing and enjoying a happy existence with his friends and relatives.
In 1959, he wrote his will:
"This is my whish. When i die i want to be berried in the Calfee Cemetery in South Bluefield. Please omit flowers. And the cheapest coffen you can git - if thear is any thing left give it to crippled children white and collerd. Errett A. Johnson"
In 1901, Errett left his home in Bluefield, W.VA., for Rugby, Pierce Co., ND, where he met his future wife Amy. They were engaged in farming and raised her son Vivian Dwight Coon and her daughter Ruth E. Coon Morris, and Errett and Amy's daughter Bessie.
Amy, (born 19 Dec 1881, Prescott, Adams Co., IA, died 15 Jan 1945, Kalispell, Flathead Co., Mt, buried Conrad Memorial Cemetery, Kalispell) was the daughter of Orville Edmondson and Ruth Brockett. She married Marcus A. Coon, Errett Johnson, and Louis Edward Clayton.]
A monumental family tragedy occured in 1919, when Errett, by now a seasonal employee of the railroad round house in Wolf Point, Montana, returned to his estranged wife, and when rebuffed, shot her, their daughter, and himself in a fit of rage. All survived, and he spent five years in the Montana State Prison, Deer Lodge, Montana.
After serving his sentence, he returned to Sanish, ND to farm, living in a shack with a dirt floor and a bed pulled up to the ceiling by ropes when not in use. Eventually, in 1952, the government bought him out when a dam was built in McKenzie County. Errett returned home to Princeton, WV, and spent the rest of his life fishing and enjoying a happy existence with his friends and relatives.
In 1959, he wrote his will:
"This is my whish. When i die i want to be berried in the Calfee Cemetery in South Bluefield. Please omit flowers. And the cheapest coffen you can git - if thear is any thing left give it to crippled children white and collerd. Errett A. Johnson"
Gravesite Details
Grave has no marker. Buried in the same plot with brother Stanley and sister Erie.
Family Members
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Elizabeth Jane "Lizzie" Johnson Walters
1881–1935
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Ora Kathrine Johnson Compton
1885–1961
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Georgia Calfee W. Johnson Hambrick
1888–1943
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Milton James "Micky" Johnson
1890–1968
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John William Johnson Sr
1890–1976
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Benjamin H Johnson
1893–1894
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Lake Erie Johnson
1896–1978
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Stanley Thompson Johnson
1898–1958
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Sallom Forest "Peo" Johnson
1900–1972
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