Walter S. Johnson1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 10342, (1870 - 1911)
FatherAlvah Johnson4,5,6 (1825 - 1921)
MotherJane Parrett4,5 (1832 - 1906)

Key Events:

Birth: Aug 1870, Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana7,8,9
Marriage: 4 Dec 1894, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, Laura B. Saunders (12 Sep 1873 - 22 May 1967)10,11
Divorce: about 1902, Laura B. Saunders (12 Sep 1873 - 22 May 1967)12
Marriage: 15 Jun 1910, Salt Lake Co., Utah, Mary Elizabeth McDermott (20 Jul 1879 - 12 Nov 1967)13
Death: 23 Jun 1911, Saranac Lake, New York14,15
Burial: Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana16

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Walter S. Johnson was born in Aug 1870 in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.7,8,9
     He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, in the household of his parents, Alvah Johnson and Jane Parrett.17
     He was a clerk by 1890, working for a firm at 322 Upper St., Evansville.18 About 1892 Walter and his brother Alvah Jr. formed the firm of Johnson Brothers, located at 304 & 306 Upper Water St.. They identified their business as commission merchants, one who sells the goods of others for a commission. Given their location on the Ohio River they were no doubt dealing in goods shipped on the river. The business was short-lived, as it appears in the city directory only in 1892.19
     Walter began his career as a traveling salesman about 1893, which apparently continued for many years. By 1896, if not before, he was working for Babcock Co., coffee roasters, spice grinders, and manufacturers of sorghum and syrups.20,21
     Walter was living at his parents' home, at 915 Upper 1st St., until his marriage.22
     Walter married first Laura B. Saunders, daughter of John Bartlett Saunders and Bobella Cobb, on 4 Dec 1894 in Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, with Rev. W. Northey Jones officating.10,11
     Walter and Laura lived at 14 Chandler Ave., Evansville, for several years after their marriage.23 They moved to Kentucky about 1898.24 They appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, at 106 Jefferson St., enumerated 7 Jun 1900, listed as guests in a hotel. Their daughter Nell was listed as living with them.25
     Walter and Laura were divorced about 1902 apparently, as she remarried in Apr 1904.12
     Little has been found about the occupation and whereabouts of Walter after 1900. He has not been found in the 1910 census. He likely continued to work as a traveling salesman for at least part of that time, and may have been seeking relief for his health issues.
     He may have been the Walter S. Johnson who was listed in the 1907 city directory of Salt Lake City as an exchange agent for Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Company. This seems likely given his relationship with former Evansville resident Phillip H. Hopkins, then a manager and later an executive of that company. If so he didn't remain in that city then, as he is recorded as visiting Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins in Dec 1908, shown as "of Evansville" at that time.26,27
     Walter married second Mary Elizabeth McDermott, daughter of Edward J. McDermott and Mary A. Lacey, on 15 Jun 1910 in Salt Lake Co., Utah, with Rev. W M Paden officaiting.13
     Walter and Mary settled in Salt Lake City after their marriage.28 In early Jun 1911 Walter and Mary visited his father in Evansville before traveling on to Saranac, New York.29
     Walter died on 23 Jun 1911 in Saranac Lake, New York, at age 40, where he had gone three weeks before to treat his tuberculosis.14,15 He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana.16

Children:
     Child with Laura B. Saunders:

  • Nell Saunders Johnson30 (Jan 1896 - 11 Mar 1926)

Children:
     There were no children with Mary Elizabeth McDermott

Citations

  1. [S8284] Alva Johnson household, 1880 U.S. Census, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, shows name as Walter Johnson.
  2. [S1105] "Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941," Ancestry.com, record for Walter S Johnson and Laura B Saunders, citing bk 17, pg 548.
  3. [S8282] Charles Reed household, 1900 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows name as Walter S. Johnson.
  4. [S8284] Alva Johnson household, 1880 U.S. Census, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  5. [S1105] "Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941," Ancestry.com, record for Walter S Johnson, citing Index to Supplemental Record Marriage Transcript and bk 3, pg 109.
  6. [S8283] Walter S. Johnson obituary, The Evansville Press.
  7. [S8284] Alva Johnson household, 1880 U.S. Census, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, shows age 9 and state, as Indiana.
  8. [S8282] Charles Reed household, 1900 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows month, year, as 1864, age 35, and state, as Kentucky.
  9. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 96241848, Walter S Johnson, shows year, as 1870, and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  10. [S8335] Marriages Record, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana, 17: 548, Walter S. Johnson and Laura B. Saunders, shows date and officiant.
  11. [S8282] Charles Reed household, 1900 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows them as boarders in the hotel, but listed as though married, and each married 5 years.
  12. [S8306] "Wed in New York," The Paducah Sun, 18 Apr 1904, shows married Saturday, she had been a widow two years. [but her first husband actually died in 1911]
  13. [S8336] Original Marriage Certificates, Salt Lake Co., Utah, vol 11, No. 10452, Walter S. Johnson and Mary Elizabeth McDermott.
  14. [S8283] Walter S. Johnson obituary, The Evansville Press, shows died Friday, city, state, and reason he was there.
  15. [S890] "Indiana WPA Death Index, 1882-1920," Ancestry.com, record for Walter S. Johnson, citing WPA book CH-4E pg 25 and city health office, Evansville, shows date, and place as Sa??anace N. Y.$.
  16. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 96241848, Walter S Johnson, includes tombstone photo.
  17. [S8284] Alva Johnson household, 1880 U.S. Census, Vanderburgh Co., Indiana.
  18. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1890, pg 254.
  19. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1892, pp 319, 321.
  20. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1893, pg 325; 1896, pp 89, 351.
  21. [S8282] Charles Reed household, 1900 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as traveling salesman.
  22. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1890, pg 254; 1895, pg 337.
  23. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, 1896, pg 351; 1897 pg 353, show him as Mrs. Laura and address.
  24. [S8310] Bennett & Co.'s Evansville City Directory, they do not appear after the 1897 directory.
  25. [S8282] Charles Reed household, 1900 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky.
  26. [S8338] "Society," The Salt Lake Herald, 24 Dec 1908.
  27. [S4710] R. L. Polk & Co's Salt Lake City Directory, 1907, pg 584.
  28. [S8337] "Personal," Evansville Press, 10 Jun 1911, shows them as "of Salt Lake City."
  29. [S8337] "Personal," Evansville Press, 10 Jun 1911.
  30. [S8282] Charles Reed household, 1900 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows them as boarders in the hotel, but listed as though parent and child.