Johnson History

He traded the store to G.P. Hanks, a Civil War captain and a minister of the gospel who lived to the age of 96 years. He followed John Vernon as the Johnson postmaster. Hanks sold the store to a man named Evans. In the meantime, Charley Mays and George Vermillion had built a store building where Combs' Store now stands and Captain Hanks moved the postoffice there. It has remained in that building since. Charley Thompson was postmaster for about two years between Captain Hanks and Hugh Lichlyter.

In 1906 Hugh Lichlyter began to work for John McClendon, who owned the store where the postoffice was located. By 1910, Hugh, along with Bill and Jack Bennett, had bought the store. By 1916, Hugh owned the store by himself and in that year became Johnson's postmaster. He served as such for 30 years, retiring in 1946. He died two years ago.

Mrs. Hoyt (Cliffie) Combs became postmaster when Hugh retired and after his death she and her husband purchased the store. She is the poresent postmaster (1954) and manager of the store.

During the early years of the century there was a mail route out of Johnson. Arthur Smith was the carrier. He used bicycle, buggy and finally motorcycle in traveling his route. Roads were rough and streams had to be forded. In crossing one stream after a rainstorm he lost his mail and nearly drowned.

Coming back to the stores -- The Ball brothers, Leery and Leo, operate a successful mercantile establishment in Johnson at the present time and have been there for some years.

John Boswell had a barber shop with chili stand and cold drinks on the west side of the railroad tracks 50 years ago. During the World War I period, he purchased the building built by Captain Mays on the east side of the tracks, the one-time Dudley Pierce store, and kept a mercantile establishment there till his death a decade ago. After his death. his widow kept the store for a while, then retired.

Other storekeepers at Johnson through the years have been: Clark & Co., Dave Spurlock, Harry Wilkerson, Son Meadors, Charley Rice, Lynn Boswell, Forrest Sweeton, Seville, Watkins and Beddenfield.

The Ozark White Lime Company was long associated with the economic life of Johnson. A man named Carter built the first lime kiln and was bought out by F.O. Gulley and Ed Gillett about 60 years ago. These two men organized the Ozark White Lime Company which continued to operate until running out of profitable rock a decade ago. Vine Blumenberg of Fayetteville was general manager for a number of years. Among the under-bosses were Charley Lockhart, Jim Claypool, Andy Cardwell and Ed "Posty" Bookout. When the Ozark White Lime Company discontinued business, the property was leased by Hayden Anderson, who put in a rock crushing plant. After five years this plant was leased by McClinton Brothers of Fayetteville, who still operate it.

Another business which has functioned for many years at Johnson is a canning plant. Built by w.L. Divens in 1919, it was sold after his death to George Appleby and Paul Young of Fayetteville. At the close of World War II, Appleby and Young sold the plant to the Harris Brothers, Jim ahd Joe, of Fayetteville, who sold it to its present owner, Ralph Goff of Fayetteville, in 1950. The present manager is Rufus Keese of Johnson.

Of importance to Johnson's economic life, also, is Simpson's Truck Body Shop, established in 1951 by Upton Simpson. It employs five or six men.

A mile west of Johnson in Clear Creek Valley is Johnson's Mill, now operated by M.F. "Frank" Johnson. First built in pioneer days, the mill was burned by bushwackers during the Civil War. Rebuilt when the war closed in 1865, the hand-hewn timbers of the frame, fastened in place with wooden pegs, are still in good condition. Operated till two decades ago by water power, it is now run by an internal combustion engine. Bill Williams ran a small mill in Johnson in the early 1930's.

The Johnson Fruitmen's Union was organized at Johnson a half century ago by Captain Mayes and his son Charley, the latter being manager for years. Billy Payne, Bill Hanks and Philip McGuire were later managers. The last several years of its existence the Fruitmen's Union was managed by O.A. "Ollie" Crum, a life-long resident of Johnson, and, incidentally, the one who gave me the major portion of the information for this article. I.R. Rothrock was a long-time president. The Fruitmen's Union passed into history when modern highways and trucks came into existence and took much of the porduce movement from the railroads. As many as 96 carloads of grapes had been shipped in one year and the annual shipment of strawberries ran from 50 to 90 carloads.

Dick Lichlyter had a blacksmith shop at Johnson for more than forty years. Others who operated blacksmith and repair shops or garages through the years were John Thompson, George Thompson, Jess Bloyd, Lee Witt, Walter Dobbs, Bud Boyles, Mack Stanfield and Joe George.

Johnson is well represented in the trucking industry. Those living there now engaged in this business are Ross Cox, Hoyt Combs, Everette Luper, Frank Luper, Bryan Divens, Diven Hendricks and Ward Graue. Burl Cardwell, a trucker with considerable business, formerly lived at Johnson. He is still in the same occupation and resides in North Little Rock.

A Methodist church was organized in Johnson in 1903 which became inactive in 1906. Those connected with the organization were: Mr. and Mrs. Jessie Horne, Mr. and Mrs. Charley Mayes, Rilla Mane, and a pastor named House from Springdale. The latter cam down once a month and held services. The church later had a pastor named Borrough, and still later one named Roberts. Jessie Horne was the Sunday School superintendent. Meetings were held in the schoolhouse.

About 1912 a Baptist Church (Southern) was organized at Johnson which was, in reality, a mission of Fayetteville's First Bapitst Church. Meetings were held in the schoolhouse. The Fayetteville pastor conducted services on Sunday afternoon. Pstors Moffett, Hunt and Holt held revival meetings there. Hugh Lichlyter and Ben Johnson were two of the first deacons. After two or three years the church became inactive but was re-activated about the time of America's entry into World War I. Some of those closely connected with the church during this second phase of its existence were: H.O. Davis, Mrs. Bill (Ella) Hanks, Hugh Lichlyter, and Mrs. Emma Lichlyter, and Pastors H.P. Haley, G.E. Holt and Keene. Five years later the church again expired.

Through a rather devious route the Baptist later returned toa place in Johnson's religious life. In the early 1920s, a Union Sunday School was organized which also met in the schoolhouse. Dr. John Ried had much to do with the establishment of this Union Sunday School. In July 1944 this Union group, the majority of whom were Bapitst, became the foundation for the re-activation of the old Southern Bapitst Church. During 1946 a churchhouse was built on the hill above the schoolhouse and this building was dedicated in September 1946. The present pastor is Oakley Long of Springdale. Ewell Logue of Fayetteville was pastor for several years. Jack Taylor of Fayetteville was pastor for a time. Other pastors who served dring Union and Baptist days were: Ed Freyschlag, Ernest Miller, Gus Bogan and C.B. Glaize, all of Fayetteville, and Graham of Springdale. Scott Blystone of Springdale, at the time Washington-Madison Association missionary, had much to do with both the re-activation of the Baptist Church and the building of the house. Ward Graue is the present Sunday School superintendent. Other superintendents were Esau Begley and Tom Rothrock.

The Johnson Church of Christ was organized in June 1924, with Sherman Gabbard as its first pastor. Will Fritts followed Gabbard. Guy Couch was the next pastor; then Bill Smith; then Charley Hodge. The present pastor (1954) is Jim Ramey. Leery Ball conducted services at times but has never been the Church's regular pastor. During the first year of its existence the Johnson Chuch of Christ met in the schoolhouse. Then a churchouse was built, which in 1940 was re-modeled into the present attractive stone structure. Present Elders are: Leo Ball, Clyde Neal and Albert Ball; present Deacons, Loy Scheumac, Wayne Harriman and Charles Staggs.

The first room of the schoolhouse which has served the community so well for both educational and religious purposes was built in 1899. The land for building and grounds was purchased from W.L. "Bill" Stuckey and his wife, Josie, by the three directors: E.A. Gillet, Dudley Pierce and W.P. Langford. The district was 109. A second room was added to the schoolhouse in 1902; a third in 1924. The first teacher was Mack Davis; the second Simon Davis; the third Leigh.

Other teachers who have taught at Johnson through the years are: Jim Holcomb, Mary Craig, Addie Lynch, H.O. Davis, Jeff Banks, Virginia Banks, Winnie Banks, H.L. Harris, Sophie Walker, A.H. Hermance, Molly Deane, J.P. G. Roulache, Mrs. Roy Carnes, John Anderson, Ora Joe Hanks, Fred Qualls, Joe Woods, Sophie Sue Harper, Mary Eva Gay, Clara Lily, F.A. Wohlford, Rosa Aaron, Georgia McCandless, Martha McKinnon, Frankie Cardwell Reed, Pearl Cardwell, Lucille Brooks, Bess Hanks, Mrs. Hanry Seay, Pearl Robinson, Betty DeJarett, W.S. Oakes and Steele. Johnsohn is now consolidated with the Fayetteville school district but the first siz grades are still taught at Johnson. The Johnson teachers for the 1954-55 school year are Mr. and Mrs. George Ledbetter of Fayetteville.

In May 1907, Johnson was the scene of a train wreck. On a Saturday night came a rain that weakened a section of track barely a quarter mile north of the depot. The Sunday morning train from St. Louis was derailed at this point -- that is, all but the engine, which pounded on to Fayetteville to get help. The inhabitants of Johnson gathered about the wrecked train to aid with the rescue work. No one was killed but many were injured, some seriously. The injured were taken to Fayetteville ina railroad coach brought back by the engine.