Andrew Tives Johnson and Myrtle Gracie Coates were married July 11, 1906, at her parents home in Myrtle Springs, Van Zandt Co, Texas. Claude was born July 1, 1907 at his grandparents home in Myrtle Springs. Andrew Tives Johnson, was also known as A.T., Andy and Tip in later years. Tip, was the name I knew him as and will refer to him here. Tip moved his new family to Dallas, Texas. This picture was taken in 1908 at 54 Birch Street, in Dallas, Texas, (Post Office, Station 'A')
Claude was a healthy baby weighing almost 12 pounds at birth.
Three Years
Sarah and Claude in wagon
Finus Bigham 2 years
Claude Eron 3 years
Claude is almost three years old and Gracie (Coates) Johnson is with child once again. She is a small woman. In our time a size 3.
Myrtle Gracie Coates Johnson
(Mertie)
Claude's Mother
The family is happy and doing well. Tip is working for Portland Cement. But Gracie is about to give birth and wants to be with her mother, so they move to Hiram Texas in Kaufman county, Texas where her parents are now living. The child is very large. My father related to me it was almost 13 pounds from what his grandmother told him. In those days, complications were met with "God's will". Gracie and her child died on September 22, 1910. Claude was without a mother. Tip took it all very hard. He started running with hard living men and traveling, leaving Claude to be raised by his grand parents, J.D. and Sarah Coates. Sarah has learned that her brother Ambrose has died on May 1912 in Oklahoma, and. J.D went there and returned with the oldest daughter and the youngest child, Ethel and Finus Bigham. I am assuming my brother was named after him as Finus and Claude were raised together.
1917
1919 Standing
Church GroupThe the Great War of 1914 to 1918 was being fought. Dad told me his friend was the one to be around because he had the only 'for real' Army uniform. Church was the center of social life and times were hard for everyone. A severe recession had began. Claude worked with his grandfather as a janitor at the school he attended until fourth grade. Grandmother Sarah was well educated and taught him at home from then on. The Child Labor Act was not passed until 1916. Most adult men, if working, brought home from $5 up to $20 a week in pay. Clothing was home made and gardens supplemented the table. Cotton and other small crops also added a few dollars per harvest. If eighth grade was like this, what did it take to get to Fourth grade?
1924
1929 Age 21 with first wife in Oregon
1931
From seventeen to twenty five, Claude sewed his wild oats. He hunted and fished, owned some good horses, drove a fast car and ran a few loads of moonshine. He learned how to fly a plane and on a dare rode a motorcycle on 'The Wall of Death' at a carnival. He and his cousins worked hard and played hard. In 1929 he met and married his first wife. Her parents did not approve of Claude. He had gained quite a reputation. The marriage ended within months.
1934 Family 1934 1935 1935
1944Dad worked as a telephone lineman in Dallas City, Texas, where he met and became friends with my mother's oldest brother Ed Rose. Ed introduced dad to mom .She had graduated from high school and was living with the Speights family in 1930, a fairly well to do Cotton Gin manager his wife and two children, who lived in Wood county, Texas. They kept a watchful eye that dad courted mom properly. They were married in the Speights' parlor November 27, 1932. Their eldest child was born in March 1934. Five more children followed.
HOME DIRECTORY JOHNSON COATES ROSE
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