Andrew J. johnson

1867-1902

MONUMENT INSCRIPTION
Andrew J. Johnson Born June 25, 1867 Died Dec. 22 1902 Aged 35 Yrs. 5M. & 27D. ______ How desolate our home bereft of thee

OBITUARY

A.J. JOHNSON 1867-1902 Andrew J. Johnson was born in Tennessee on June 25, 1867. He left Celina, Tenn., on July 1, 1891, for Texas and finally arrived in Oklahoma Territory on horseback in 1892. He homesteaded on some land which is now the southern section of Cordell. Some of the land is still owned and farmed by his descendants. His dugout with one large room was located in the block east of Linwood Street and south of Main Street. Johnson later added a structure that became the first house in Cordell. Johnson teamed up with J.C. Harrel in establishing Cordell as a town. He gave part of the courthouse site along with Harrel. When the railroad came to Cordell, he gave the railroad a right-of-way as well as other land. He gave many lots on the south side of the square to individuals to get them to open businesses. He opened a real estate office on the south side of the square which he shared with Dr. A.H. Bungardt, until the doctor could get his own office. In memory of his parents, Johnson donated the land for the location of the First Methodist Church. Johnson died on Dec. 22, 1902.

LIFE
– Arrived in Oklahoma Territory on horseback in 1892 and became one of the earliest settlers in the area that would become Cordell. – Helped shape the young community through land donations, real estate development, and civic contributions, including support for the courthouse, railroad, local businesses, and First Methodist Church.

ADDITIONAL STORIES

The following article is a transcription of a contemporary newspaper account published following the death of Andrew J. Johnson. Obvious scanning and OCR errors have been corrected for readability while preserving the original meaning and language of the article. SHOOTING AT CORDELL Editor White of the Beacon Kills A. J. Johnson Meeting on Street Monday Morning Ends with Five Shots from White’s Gun – He Gives Up. Word reached here from Cordell Monday that A. J. Johnson of that place had been shot and fatally wounded by Editor J. A. White of the Cordell Beacon. The shooting took place at about eight o’clock in the morning on the open street. Five shots were fired, only one of which took fatal effect. As near as the particulars have been learned, they seem to be about as follows: Johnson was a large real estate owner and very prominently connected with the townsite question in Cordell. Various articles which had appeared in the Beacon from time to time, lately concerning certain existing conditions pertaining to the welfare of Cordell in general, were supposed to refer more or less personally to Johnson, at least he seems to have so considered it, though his name was not mentioned in the articles referred to. Last week’s Herald-Sentinel contained a contributed article in answer to statements made in the Beacon, and in it some severe personal criticisms were directed at Editor White. It seems that the two men met Sunday evening, at which time many sharp words passed between them, but they separated without any attempt at violence. Upon meeting again Monday morning, the controversy was renewed, though reports differ as to the exact circumstances attending the shooting. It appears to be currently believed, however, that White’s gun was not drawn until he was forced to use it in self-defense. The scene of the tragedy was near a saloon, and Johnson fell at its door after walking several yards. He was carried inside and died within about an hour, surrounded by his wife and other friends who had been called to his side. Immediately after the shooting, White went to the courthouse and gave himself up to the officers. The verdict of the coroner’s jury at the inquest held Monday afternoon was that Johnson came to his death from the effects of a shot fired from a gun in the hands of J. A. White. The preliminary hearing was set for the following Monday and, in the absence of Justice Carruth from Cordell, was to be presided over by Justice I. W. Gray of Mountain View.

CAUSE OF DEATH
Gunshot wound sustained during an altercation in Cordell, Oklahoma Territory, December 1902. (See obituary and newspaper accounts.)

SSHC BLOG POSTS
Andrew J. Johnson and the Flowers that Remain

SOURCES AND FURTHER RESEARCH
Andrew J. Johnson Memorial, Find A Grave Andrew J. Johnson Article Photo, Find A Grave Contemporary newspaper accounts and obituary records Sod School House Cemetery Association Burial Records Sod School House Cemetery Research Files Sod School House Cemetery Website

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