| ALEXANDER JOHNSON
(Pages 69-76) Cherokee Johnson and Betsy Douglas' son Alexander "Alex", born on May 7, 1850, married Leah E. Osteen in 1875. Leah was born on December 3, 1860, in Charlton,
County, Georgia, daughter of Zekiel Osteen and Hester Murhee Wainwright. Zekiel was born in Traders Hill, western Camden County (currently Charlton County), Georgia, in 1818. Hester was born in Georgia in 1816. Zekiel and Hester had developed a farm in Nassau County, Florida, but later moved to Charlton County, Georgia. Leah's brothers and sisters included Virginia, born in 1845; Mary, born in 1856; Hester, born in 1851; George F., born in 1852: Rose, born in 1852;
Stephen, born in 1854; and Emarintha, born in 1858. It is thought that there were other brothers and sisters who never grew to maturity. Father Zekiel had a large farm near Traders Hill in Charlton County, Georgia. Zekiel died during the 1870s and after his passage, his wife, Hester, made her home with her daughter, Virginia Rhoden and her family. Alex Johnson and Leah Osteen made their home in Bryceville, Florida, located in western Nassau County. They were parents to
seven children including Nellie, born in August 1876; Cora, born in 1878; Nora, born on August 11, 1880; John Fell, born October 11, 1882; Earnest Jefferson, born on February 11, 1885; J. Edward, born in September 1887; and Allie, born on January 3, 1890. Alex Johnson and Leah Osteen's son John Fell, born October 11, 1882, died on June 26, 1889, and is buried in the Deep Creek/Norton Cemetery, located in Bryceville in western Nassau County, Florida.
Alex Johnson and Leah Osteen's daughter Allie, born on January 3, 1890, died on November 18, 1891, and is buried in the Brandy Branch Cemetery in Nassau County. 
(Chart page 71)
THE GRAVES OF LEAH AND ALEX JOHNSON
(Photo page 72)
Leah E. Osteen Johnson died February 16, 1927, and is buried in the Deep Creek/Norton Cemetery. Alexander "Alex" R. Johnson passed away on July 2, 1934, and is buried with his wife Leah in the Deep Creek/Norton Cemetery. The following is a copy of Alex's obituary that appeared in the Wednesday, July 4, 1934, edition of TheFloridaTimes Union, a Jacksonville, Florida, newspaper. Alex R. Johnson
BRYCEVILLE July 3 - Alex R. Johnson died at his home here early today after a brief illness. Mr. Johnson was a native of Nassau County, having made his home in Bryceville all his life. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Nellie Fouraker and Mrs. 0. L. Thomas of Jacksonville, and Mrs. J. G. Sutton of Vinton, La; two sons, E. J. Johnson, of Callahan, and J. E. Johnson, Refugio, Texas; one sister, Mrs. Liza Thompson, and one brother, A. J. Johnson of Fernandina. Funeral
services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock, from the residence. Interment will be in Deep Creek Cemetery under the direction of Howard & Sons Funeral Home. Jacksonville.
Alex Johnson and Leah Osteen's daughter Cora, born in 1878, married Joel Grant Sutton. Cora and Joel made their home in Vinton, Louisiana. Cora Johnson died prior to September 1943. Joel Grant Sutton died in Dade City, Florida, in November 1956.
Alex Johnson and Leah Osteen's son J. Edward, born in September 1887, for years made his home in western Nassau County. In 1934 he was living in Refugio, Texas, and in 1943 in Childersburg, Alabama. Alex Johnson and Leah Osteen's daughter Nellie Mae, born in August 1876, married William L. Fouraker on March 15, 1891, in Nassau County. William was born in March 1869 in Florida. Nellie and William made their home in Baldwin, Duval County, and in
1919 moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Nellie Mae and William were parents to three children including William, Jr., born in 1911; Robert, born in 1913; and Charles, born in 1917. Father William operated a store selling general merchandise, dry goods and groceries. William L. Fouraker, Sr. died in 1927 and is buried in West Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida. William and Nellie's son Robert L. Fouraker died
prior to 1943. Nellie Mae Johnson Fouraker died on September 7, 1943, in Jacksonville and is buried with her husband William in the West Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville. The following is a copy of Nellie's obituary that appeared in the Wednesday, September 8, 1943, edition of TheFloridaTimesUnion, a Jacksonville, Florida Newspaper. FOURAKER — Funeral services for Mrs. Nellie Mae Fouraker, 67, widow of W.
L. Fouraker of 1108 Cherry Street will be held at 10:30 A.M. Friday in the Hardage and Williams Chapel, 517 Park Street with the Rev. Arthur Depew, associate pastor of the Riverside Avenue Christian Church officiating. Mrs. Fouraker died at her home yesterday afternoon following an illness of several months. She was a native of Nassau County and had lived in Nassau and Duval Counties all her life, coming here 24 years ago from Baldwin. Survivors are two
sons, William L. Fouraker of this city, Charles E. Fouraker, U. S. Army Air Corps; a sister, Mrs. 0. L. Thomas, Jacksonville; and two brothers, E. J. Johnson, Portmouth, Virginia and J. E. Johnson of Childersburg, Alabama. Interment will be in the West Evergreen Cemetery.
Alex Johnson and Leah Osteen's daughter Nora Agnes, born on August 11, 1880, married Orrin "Oscar" L. Thomas, born in Georgia on February 12, 1879. Nora and
Oscar made their home first in Nassau County, Florida, later in Charlton County, Georgia, and still later in Jacksonville, Florida. Nora Johnson and Oscar Thomas were parents to John Felder, born on August 11, 1900; Harold, born on November 28, 1902; Essie, born in 1904; and James, born in 1908. The first three children were born in Georgia and the last child in Florida. Nora and Oscar's sons, John Felder and Harold,
died on June 21, 1912, and November 1, 1935, respectively. Both are buried in the Brandy Branch Cemetery in Nassau County. Oscar worked as a special agent with the SAL Company of Jacksonville andlater was a merchant. Orrin "Oscar" L. Thomas died on September 30, 1939, and is buried in the Brandy Branch Cemetery. Nora Agnes Johnson died on January 24, 1952, and is buried with her husband Oscar in the Brandy
Branch Cemetery. The following is a copy of Oscar's obituary that appeared in the Monday, October 2, 1939, edition of TheFloridaTimes Union, a Jacksonville, Florida Newspaper. THOMAS — Funeral services for Oscar L. Thomas, 60, retired merchant, who died at his home, 376 Crystal Street, Saturday night will be held in the Brandy Branch Baptist Church near Baldwin, at 2:30 P.M. today, with the Rev. J. R.
Wilson and the Rev. George Hodges officiating. The funeral cortege will leave the Key-McCabe chapel at 1 P.M. Pallbearers will be: Active W. E. Braddock, J. Q. Whittemore, Roy Osteen, J. H. Thomas, R. H. Harrell and E. E. Royal; honorary, J. D. Mouton, W. K. Derr, F. M. Kimbrell, Perry Hodges and W. M. Jenkins.
Alex Johnson and Leah Osteen's son Earnest Jefferson, born February 11, 1885,
married Verdie Surrency in 1904. Verdie was born in February 1884, in Georgia to James H. and Sarah Surrency. Verdie had five brothers and sisters including James S., born in January 1886; Roy P., born in November 1889; Hampton, born in October 1891; Mary, born in February 1896; and Gussie M., born in September 1897. Earnest Johnson and Verdie Surrency made their home in Nassau County, Florida, where they
became parents to five children. Only two of their children lived including two daughters, Frankie L., born in April 1910, and Leah Belle, born on October 27, 1905. Several years later Earnest and Verdie moved to Portsmouth, Virginia. Earnest Jefferson Johnson died on November 18, 1944, and is buried in the Jones Cemetery in Callahan, Florida. Verdie Surrency died some years later and is buried with Earnest.
Earnest Johnson and Verdie Surrency's daughter Leah, born on October 27, 1905, married Harley W. Johnson, born in Florida on September 18, 1901. Leah and Harley had the same family name but were not related. Harley Johnson was the son of Walter and Jamie Johnson of Nassau County, Florida. Walter Johnson was born in Florida in 1868. Harley's mother Jamie was born in Georgia in 1876. Harley's siblings included Quentin, born 1898; Harry, born in 1904; Eddie, born in 1906; Pearl, born in 1909;
Edna, born in 1915; and Violet, born in 1919. Harley Johnson and Leah Johnson made their home in Nassau County. They were parents to at least one child, Claude E., born January 25, 1927. Harley Johnson passed away on February 28, 1959, and is buried in the Conner/Green Cemetery in western Nassau County. Leah Johnson followed Harley in death on August 13, 1987, and is interred with him. Harley and Leah Johnson's son
Claude E. Johnson married Doris R., born March 13, 1928. Claude E. Johnson died on May 16, 1997, and is buried in the Conner/Green Cemetery with his mother and father. This Chapter: |
