In 1924 while serving on the county police force in Pierce Co. O.K. Johns shot and killed Lige Howell in a raid on a liquor still seven miles east of Blacksear; Howell had raised his gun and opened fire on Johns and Charles Branch, County Guard. Source: Pierce Co. News, dtd 25 Nov 1924.
Owen died on 24 Aug 1929 at the age of 48. Records show that he had been in Florida and crossed the ferry at Burnt Fort. He had come home in a rage and tried to kill his son Royal, but Royal beat him to the draw and killed his father. Afterward, Royal turned himself in and was then released (justifiable homicide, it seems).
Sarah never remarried. She had a hard life and saw much sorrow. She died in 1978 at age 92. She was much loved by her family.
An added tragedy struck this family on 7 Nov 1972 when four members of Owen's son Oscar's family died when the Sidney Lanier Bridge collapsed in Brunswick, Ga. This was Oscar's wife Delia, their son Kelly L Sr. and his sons, Kelly Jr and Arthur L. Owen, Sarah and their children are buried in the High Bluff Cemetery in Brantley Co. GA.
Submitted by Dorothy Johns Thomas of Brunswick, GA.
Nahunta, Ga., 29 Aug 1929 - Owen K. Johns was killed by his son Royal Johns late Sat. afternoon. The young man came to Nahunta immediately,surrendered to Sheriff E.B. Newton and was locked in jail. At commitment held 10a.m. Monday before Judges W.H. Rogers, Robert Depratter and Wiley Woodard, the three justices found him not guilty and found the killing to be justifiable homicide and he was released.
A gruesome touch was given the hearing as the body was brought in to Nahunta and the truck stopped just outside the court room while the trial was going on.
Witnesses including the widow and son Gordon Johns testified that O.K. Johns came to the house and told his wife that he was going to kill Royal and asked his wife to come and see it well done. They testified that O.K. Johns came on to Royal with a pistol and the boy fired twice hitting him probably fatally the first shot in the chest. As he fell after the first shot, he tried to level his pistol on the son. A single barrel shot gun was used by the son.
Johns was wanted by Sheriff Newton when killed. He came in from Florida and crossed the ferry at Burnt Fort and soon afterwards the trouble tookplace. The affair was closed by the judgment of the court composed of three justices at a commmittal hearing.
(There is no explanation of what caused the rife, why O.K. was wantedby the sheriff, or how the son fired twice with a single barrel shotgun, butit is a bizarre event in our Johns family history.)
Cliff Johns 2 Feb 1998
Have picture of David Wingate in WWI uniform. Need more info. Married
Clara Johns abt 1918, probably Hamilton, Fl.
Clara died at 19 years of age of malaria after her marriage in an attempt to homestead with her husband , Dave Wingate, in the Fl woods, probably in Suwanee Cty. Lucille says that he took her out there to look at horses to buy, and that the mesquitoes were terrbile. She was badly bitten and got very sick. We found her picture - she is a good looking young woman with the Johns nose, beautiful, long black hair, and a confident, determined look about her. She died asking for watermelon which the local medical "experts" determined she could not have. She is not listed in the death index under Johns; will check Wingate. We do not now know where she is buried.
I, Clifford Murdock Johns, personally performed these ordinances for my paternal grandfather. The Spirit of Elijah was with me. Requested death certificate from Fl state bureau of vital statistics 20 Dec 94. Learned by phone 12 Jan 95 that parents listed as unknown...what now? Got birthday and Johnny's brother William's initial "R". Will check sister Lucille Tattersall of Jax, Fl. Death record rec'd - lived at 722 East Church Street, Jacksonville, Fl for 20 years before death. Buried Evergreen Cemetary. Retired farmer, he operated a fruit stand in Jax for years. Died of possible overdose of aspirin to relieve a nervous disorder and migrain headaches, under stress coming home from visiting wife in hospital. Both Judy and Lucille recall climbing into bed with him to warm him up. Judy said that he took a small silver box full of aspirin that night and that it was real cold. Fathered 7 children in all: one infant death, twins who died early on plus those listed. Estes-Kraus Funeral Home, Jax, FL may have more records. Hamilton Cty court record shows marriage liscense issued 11 Sep 1897 to R.L. Johns and Julia V. King (17 years old).
1900 census (7 Jun 1900) shows:
Robert L. Johns and Julia V. Johns, 3-1-43(?),
child Mattie C. (0/12), meaning less than 1 month old.
Rob't born Sep 1876 was 25 years old, and Julia born Mar 1880 as 20 years olds-need to resolve this.
Roberts's mother and father shown as born in Fl.He was a RR property watchman, lived in a rented house in the 5th election district of Hamilton Cty.
Owen's mother bore seven children in all. One infant death and two twins did not make it to maturity. Clara died at 19 of malaria after her marriage. Lucille, Owen, and William were the rest. Julia was diabetic and went blind from glaucoma in her later years. Judith says that the pain got so bad that she had to have her eye balls surgically removed six months apart in her last years. She had brother Nathan, sister Lillian and others from Live Oak area. One brother left her $5,000 in his will. Hamilton City court records show marriage license issued 11 Sep 1897. 1900 census shows infant child Mattie C. (0/12), meaning less than one month old at time of census - this is Clara.
Has daughter Judith (Johns) Riggins, 2372 Flo Drive West, Jax FL32216.
(904) 721-2699. This is Johnny's brother.
Known affectionately as "The Chief" by his two loving and admiring sons, Johnny (as he was called by his peers) was an unusual individual in that he was an extremely hard-working, no nonsense type man who would not compromise his standards for anyone or anything. He taught the virtues of hard work and patience, and understood nature, animals and the environment. He claimed to be part Indian, was probably not, but he did have their inherent feel for the world in which he lived. He was a mystery man in many ways, never revealing his inner most thoughts or emotions, nor telling anything of his past or family. I never knew that he had a brother (William) until he showed up on our front doorstep in West Palm Beach one day. I never knew that he had a sister (Lucille Tattersall) until he died. I never met my paternal grandparents.
Johnny was a devoted father. He was a good golfer, raised greyhounds for racing as a hobby; he had a gambling streak but was cautious with it (he never bet the farm). He was a very moderate drinker, understood dietary laws and practiced them, exercised daily and insisted on doing any job the right way. He was an electrician, brick mason, carpenter, gardener, animal husbandry practitioner, and could fix most anything. He is missed.
Footnote: the last thing he said to me before he died was "I neverjoined any church, but if I had I would have joined your church, the Mormons."
ERNEST PAGE
SSN 256-03-7027
Residence: 31502 Waycross, Ware, GA
Born 25 Feb 1907
Died 8 Dec 1994 Issued: GA