Surname Saturday–No Paper Trail, No Leads

Joseph Henry Johns is my 2nd  Great Grandfather. Of all the extended families I have research, this family has been the most problematic; especially for what is almost modern day family.

The first problem I encounter was  - Who was Joseph Henry Johns wife? And to tell the truth, I still am not fully convinced that I know the correct answer. In 1880 census, Marlboro County, SC, Joseph Henry is with his father, unmarried, age 31.[1]

   

In 1900, Joseph Henry is a widower with 6 children.[2] His wife most likely died during childbirth in July 1898. A young daughter, Mamie, is in the household in 1900 born,  July 1898. 

By 1910, Mamie is missing from the household and is presumed to have passed away. Remaining in the household are  Ida, Fanny and Walter.

Julius, Annie Bell and Nellie have moved out of the household and have married or are about to be married.  Samuel, born 1890, is a total mystery until he shows up in 1920 census and then disappears again.

Joseph Henry Johns was born in Apr 1849 in Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.[3][4] He appeared in the census in 1900 in Bennettsville, Marlboro, South Carolina, United States.[5] He appeared in the census in 1910 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States.[6] Joseph appeared in the census in 1920 in Cheraw, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States.[7] He died on 8 Apr 1929 at the age of 80 in McFarlan, Anson County, North Carolina.[8–9] He was buried on 10 Apr 1929 at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States.

Joseph Henry Johns and Laura Driggers were married about 1882. Laura Driggers was born about 1869 in Marlboro, South Carolina, United States. She died about 1898 at the age of 29.

Joseph Henry Johns and Laura Driggers had the following children:

i. Walter Joseph Johns Sr., born 2 Aug 1883, Bennettsville, Marlboro, South Carolina; married Arletha Quick, abt 1913; married Blanche Scott, 10 Aug 1927, Bennettsville, Marlboro, South Carolina; married Ellen Grooms, 22 Aug 1933, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 31 Jan 1964, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

ii. Julius Johns, born 4 Mar 1887, Bennettsville, Marlboro, South Carolina; married Mary Catherine Brock, 16 Jun 1912, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States; died 16 May 1937, Monroe, Union, North Carolina.

iii. Annie Bell Johns, born May 1888, Marlboro, South Carolina; married Robert Roller, abt 1914; married Will Ellis Boan, abt 1919; died 22 Jul 1923, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

iv. Samuel Johns was born about 1890 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He appeared in the census in 1920.[10] 

v. Nellie Johns, born Jul 1891, ,Marlboro Co.,South Carolina; married George Washington Heustess, Oct 1909; died 18 Jan 1928, Columbia, Richland, South Carolina.

vi. Fanny Belle Johns, born Jul 1892, Marlboro Co.,South Carolina; married John T. Jones.

vii. Ida B. John was born about 1893 in ,Marlboro Co.,South Carolina.[11]

viii. Mamie John was born in Jul 1898 in ,Marlboro Co.,South Carolina.[12]

Now, let's look at data found for Joseph and his children:

Joseph Henry Johns, My Great Grandfather. He was said to have been paralyzed in his old age; yet, his obit & NC Death Certificate says he killed himself with a shotgun. Died April 8, 1929 in Anson County, North Carolina. His NC Death Certificate has "not known" listed for both parents. NC Death Certificate shows he was buried at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Cheraw, SC. No tombstone.

Laura Driggers, my Great Grandmother?,  listed as a 10 year in 1880 with her Grandfather Jeremiah Polson or Polston.

Walter Joseph Johns, my great Uncle, married 3 times.  I knew him vaguely, most of that time he was crippled and bed-ridden. Died 31 Jan 1964, SC will not released death record until 2016. Buried at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Cheraw, South Carolina.

Julius Johns, My Grandfather, died 16 May 1937, 5 years before I was born. His NC Death Certificate lists his Father as Joe Johns, Mother "not known". Buried at Zoar United Church Cemetery, Chesterfield, South Carolina  

Annie Bell Johns Boan, my Great Aunt, died 22 Jul 1923; SC death certificate shows father as Joseph Johns, No mother listed.

Samuel Johns, b. about 1890, only record is 1930 census listed as son; living with Joseph Johns. Never knew nor met him. Was Samuel really a son of Joseph Johns and Laura Driggers???

Nellie Johns, my Great Aunt, married George Washington Heustess, died 18 Jan 1928. Buried at Bethesda cemetery. Her SC death certificate says her Father was Joe Johns and Mother was Laura Driggers.

Fanny Belle Johns, my Great Aunt, married  John T. Jones. Unable to find after 1920 census. Eight known children, no record for them found.

Ida Belle Johns, my Great Aunt, born 1893; no further info found.

Mamie Johns, my Great Aunt, born, July 1898, presumed to have died at a young age before 1910.

This family is a real puzzle.  There just does not seem to be any paper trail for these people, not even a crumb of a lead.

Any suggestions would be greatly welcomed. 

<sup>______________________
1.  1880 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Marlboro County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #108, page 460A, Line 22, Dwelling # 43, Family #43, Household of Shade JOHN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T9_1235.
2. 1900 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Bennettsville, Marlboro County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 87, page 55A, dwelling 365, family 383, Household of Joseph John; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_1536.</sup>
3. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, page 109A, Line 11, Dwelling 161, Family/161, Household of Shadrach JOHN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
4. 1860 U. S. Census, Russell County, Alabama, population schedule, Seals Station, Russell County, Alabama, enumeration district (ED) No ED, page 893, Line 7, dwelling 238, family 227, Household of Shadrick Johns; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_22.
5. 1900 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Bennettsville, Marlboro County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 87, page 55A, dwelling 365, family 383, Household of Joseph John; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm  T623_1536.
6. 1910 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Courthouse, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #0037, page 149, dwelling 400, family 400, Household of Joe John; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm  T624_1455.
7. 1920 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #36, page 95B, Line 99, dwelling 735, Household 736, Household of Joseph Johns; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T625_1690.
8. Joseph Johns, death certificate #1929 (1929), Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
9. CONFEDERATE VETERAN COMMITS SUICIDE, The Messenger and Intelligence, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, 11 April 1929, Front page. Joseph Henry Johns
10. 1920 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED #36, page 95B, Line 99, dwelling 735, Household 736, Household of Joseph Johns.
11. 1910 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Courthouse, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED #0037, page 149, dwelling 400, family 400, Household of Joe John.
12. 1900 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Bennettsville, Marlboro County, South Carolina.