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Francis Marion "Coot" Johnson Reported to be quite a "character", Francis Marion (evidently named after the Revolutionary War hero "The Swamp Fox")was born Aug. 24th, 1846, the second brother of the Johnson family to survive the Civil War (having served in the 57th Inf.). Like his older brother James C., he went on to have a large family, eventually fathering at least 12 children and raising 2 step-children. According to one family story, a few months after the death of his second wife Frances Virginia and faced with several young children at home, Old "Coot" one day suddenly blurted out in frustration that he was going to marry "the next woman who came walking down the road" in front of their home in Ozark, Al. The next woman who ventured down that road that particular afternoon was a widow, Theoducia "Dusie" (Geruise)Gilmore) who did just that! Living in Florala with his brother James, Old "Coot" worked as a policeman and a farmer until his death at the age of 73 on April 20th, 1920. He is buried in Clear Springs, Fl. alongside his third wife and several other family members just a few miles down the road from Florala. |
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Francis M. "Coot" Johnson's families: Married MATTIE R.(DUNSON) b. Jan. 17, 1856 and d. Sept. 1, 1885 (buried in City Cemetary, Ozark, AL). Sister to older brother's wife.
CHILDREN w/ Mattie: 1. George Dunson b. Oct. 27, 1871 d. Nov. 24, 1871 (buried in Ozark) 2. Ollie (McLeod) b. circa 1872. married a McLeod. No other info. 3. Joseph Edward b. Oct. 11, 1878 d. Oct. 30, 1965 Lived in Donalsonville, GA and married Stella GOFF 4. Young Sydney b. March 5, 1879 d. Feb. 18, 1890 (buried in Ozark) 5. Curt (or Curtis) b. circa 1882 Reported to be "a very religious, strict man" who eventually moved to North Carolina. No other info. 6. Alto V. b. Feb. 12, 1884 d. Aug. 10, 1885 After Mattie's passing, less than three weeks after the death of her youngest son, F. M. "Coot" Johnson married FRANCIS VIRGINIA MARTIN (McLEOD)b. Sept. 12, 1854 and d. Aug. 6, 1906. They were married on April 5, 1886. Francis Virginia brought two children to the marriage, having been previously married to a MR. JAMES ELISHA MARTIN (see notes below). Children with Francis Virginia: 1. Francis Marion, Jr. b. Aug. 20, 1890 d. Jan. 4, 1974. Known to everyone as "Boss", he married Gertruide "Gertie" Baker. 2. Jessie (a daughter) b. Oct. 1, 1889 d. June 17, 1969. She married William Hathaway who died circa 1920 and then married Danile L. Cottingham from North Carolina. Jessie lived her last years in Savannah GA and is buried there. 3. Grover Cleveland b. Oct. 15, 1894 d. Jan. 6, 1974. He married Mary Alma (Roberts). 4. Frances Clifford (a daughter) b. Aug. 28, 1895 d. Jan. 15, 1975. She married Ollie Lamar Cox, Sr. 5. Myrtie Lou b. April 1, 1897 d. Nov. 1, 1976 She married Warren L. Cason and, after his death in 1922, married Howard C. Legge. F.M. married THEODUCIA ("DUSIE") GERUISE (GILMORE) who was b. Sept. 27, 1877 and d. May 7, 1954. They were married April 7, 1907. Children w/Dusie: 1. Houston Oates b. Jan. 15, 1908 d. April 13, 1969 married Nellie Lee (Quinn) currently living in Florala, AL. 2. Sabie Elizabeth b. Feb. 8, 1914 d. Sept. 9, 1915 buried in Clear Springs, Fl. Note: F.M. had two step-children with his second wife Frances, from her first marriage with James E. Martin. They are: 1. Homer Elisha Martin b. Oct. 12, 1882 d. April 29, 1929 married Dovie Corell (Baker) b. April 19, 1889 d. Jan. 11, 1945. They had 5 children (Malcomb, Clara, Sadie, James & Julius) 2. Clara Martin b. Nov. 29, 1878 d. circa 1965 married John Lee Goff on 7/23/1897 in Ozark, AL. b. April 19, 1872 (?) d. Oct. 5, 1936 Mr. Goff is buried in Cottonwood, Al. He and Clara had 2 known children, Shelly and Beatrice. |
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