Wiley Elijah Johnson

Pushmataha County, Oklahoma

Submitted by: Tom Johnson

WILEY ELIJAH JOHNSON, son of John Philip and Eliza Jane 'Reddick' Johnson, was born in Arkansas on May 10, 1862. On December 25, 1887 in Red River County, Texas he married Virginia Lee Smith, daughter of Coleman and Julia Malone 'Bankston' Smith.

Wiley and Virginia's first child, Homer Coleman, was born in Clarksville, Red River County, TX on December 20, 1888. Shortly thereafter Wiley, along with his brother Charlie, his father-in-law Coleman Smith, and 3 of Coleman's sons, all purchased land along the banks of the Red River, in Garretts Bluff, Lamar County, Texas where three more children were born; Malona Jane, on October 30, 1891, and sometime around 1895, twins, Viola Loretta and John P. were born. Both died very young. Around 1900 Wiley moved his family to the town of Antlers in Indian Territory (OK) where daughter Myrtle May, was born on March 16, 1901.

In 1901 Wiley and two of Virginia's brothers, W.C. and T.H. Smith, along with several other prominent men, founded the Antlers Bank and Trust Company. Following statehood in 1907, Wiley served two terms as Recorder of Deeds. He was also a carpenter and built several houses in Antlers, and he was an active worker in the Odd Fellows Lodge.

Wiley Elijah died on October 10, 1934 in Warren, Arkansas, while visiting his daughter Myrtle and her husband Clifton Watson. He is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Antlers, Pushmataha County Oklahoma.

SOURCES: Texas and Oklahoma census records. Land, probate, marriage, and death records located in the court houses of Red River and Lamar County, Texas, and Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. Death records in Little Rock, Arkansas, grave markers in the IOOF cemetery, Antlers, OK, and newspaper archives located at the Oklahoma State Historical Society. © Tom Johnson

PIONEER SUCCUMBS TO PNEUMONIA
ON VISIT TO ARKANSAS

Johnson Rites Set for 10 A.M. Friday at Methodist Church;
Was Early County Official

Last rites for Wiley E. Johnson, aged 72 years, whose death occurred Wednesday at the home of a daughter, Mrs. A. C. Watson, in Warren. Ark., while he was there on a visit, will be conducted at 10 o'clock Friday morning from the First Methodist Church, and interment will be made in the Odd Fellows Cemetery. Rev. W. E. Bowers, Methodist pastor, is to conduct the funeral ceremonies. His death was attributed to an attack of pneumonia.

He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Gates Carlisle of Finley, and Mrs. Watson of Warren, Ark., and a son, Homer Johnson of Oklahoma City. He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Mollie Whitmire of Red Springs, Texas, and Mrs. Betty Hudson of near El Paso, Texas; three brothers, Charley Johnson of Hugo; Pete Johnson of Dawson, Texas, and James Johnson of Petroleum, Texas.

Johnson served Pushmataha county for two terms as Registrar of Deeds following statehood. He moved here in 1902 and for more than 20 years he was active in civic and political life of Antlers. Besides his affiliation with the First Methodist Church, he also was a strong worker in the Odd Fellows Lodge.

Body of Mr. Johnson was returned to Antlers Thursday in a Woodruff-Jones ambulance.

Obituary for Wiley Elijah Johnson is reprinted from © "The Antlers American," Thursday, October 11, 1934, Antlers, Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. Death certificate is on file at the Arkansas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Little Rock, Arkansas.

© Tom Johnson

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