The Johnson's of Schenectady County Genealogy Website
by Kathy Jost-Shouse
This
page is dedicated to my grandmother, Inez
Catharine Johnson who worked for 35 years at the
W.T. Grant store to support her family. My mother and I
occasionally took the ferry from NJ to NY to visit her in
Massapequa. Grandma always had some treasure tucked away
in her vanity drawer that she would give me before my
visit was over. Mom inherited her wonderful giving nature
and did the same with her grandchildren. I have always
believed that the Lord takes special people to heaven at
Christmas time. Grandma passed away on December 25th and
my mom on December 17th. I miss you both terribly!
The stories about my great great grandfather James Johnson are still quite mysterious. Family history records that after his parents' death he was sent to live with some unkind relatives. Being very unhappy, he ran away from home, stowed away on a barge on the Erie Canal and was discovered by the boats owner, Arent Stevens. The Stevens family took him in and years later, he married one of the Stevens daughters, Gertrude. Gertrude was the widow of Adam Van Vorst and had 5 daughters,Elizabeth, Sarah, Hester, Mary Eliza and Gertrude.
The records of the First Reformed Church of Scotia records the marriage of William Henry Johnson of Glenville to Mrs Gertrude Ann Van Vorst on January 4, 1855. The 1855 NY State Census, Schenectady County lists "Gitty Ann" Johnson living with her husband "William" Johnson, born in Seneca County. Gertrude and James/William had one son, James H. who was born in March of 1855.
Family history says that James/William told his wife that he was going to town and if he did not return, he had joined the Union Army to fight in the Civil War. After not hearing from him for years, Gertrude assumed that he had died in the war. City directories list Gertrude as the widow of James Johnson.
Gertrude's tombstone notes that she is the
widow of JH Johnson. The confusion over whether his name
was James or William only adds to the difficulty of
finding the correct Johnson Civil War documents.
The story continues that 20 plus years later, Gertrude was contacted by her husband who was remorseful over deserting his family. He had moved to Kansas City and had opened a printing business with a partner. When his partner found that James/William was going home, they argued and he shot him.
Gertrude
lived with her son, James
and his wife Frances Davis in Schenectady until her
death in 1900. James was printer for the Morning Gazette,
an upholsterer and also worked for the Union Star
newspaper in Schenectady. Frances and James had 5
children, Inez
Catherine, James Henry (Harry),Clarence, George
Washington and Ralph Vincent.
Carla Johnson, a descendent of George Johnson, and I are working together to uncover the truth behind all the family stories. If you think you might have some information about our Johnson family, please contact us! We would love to hear from you!!
Visit my other family sites
Jost website / Holton website/ Stevens website/Petry website
