This mighty chunk of granite adorned with a sheaf of wheat, located in Oxford Cemetery a couple of miles northeast of Chariton, marks the graves of Gustus and Christina Johnson, both of whom were natives of Sweden --- as many Lucas Countyans were.
Wheat is a familiar symbol on tombstones, generally symbolizing a long life well lived, although it can be interpreted, too, as a signpost to resurrection. The reference here probably was to Gustus, about 78 when he died, rather than to Christina, only 66. Another point of interest --- his birth year seems to have been changed at some point.
Gustus, whose given name apparently was Gustaf, arrived in the United States during 1849 and married Christina Jonasdatter, abbreviated Jones, during June of 1854 in Henry County, Illinois. Gustus was in his mid-30s at the time; Christina, only 15.
They farmed in Illinois for nearly 30 years, not arriving in Lucas County until 1880-1885 with their seven children. The new home, encompassing some 500 acres, was in Pleasant Township, near Belinda.
Gustus died at home on July 12, 1895, of "catarrh of the stomach." Christina continued to live in Lucas County until about 1900, when she moved west to Holdrege, Nebraska, where some of her children had resettled. She died there on Dec. 1, 1905, and her remains were brought back to Oxford for burial beside Gustus.
By 1907, the Johnson estates had been divided into shares and allocated to the seven surviving children. It was then that one Johanna Carlson appeared, claiming to be a long-lost sibling left behind by Gustus in Sweden, and demanding that she be given the equivalent of a one-eighth share of the total.
The Johnson heirs, apparently surprised by this and with neither parent on hand to ask, declined. As a result, Johanna filed suit in Lucas County District Court. Her lawsuit came to trial during January of 1908 and was reported upon as follows in The Chariton Leader of Jan. 30:
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The case of Johanna Carlson vs. E. G. (Elmer Gustus) Johnson et. al. was tried last week, and resulted in a verdict for the defendants. This was a case wherein Johanna Carlson claimed to be an illegitimate child of Gustus Johnson and sued for an eighth interest in his estate.
It was alleged that Gustus Johnson came to America many years ago, leaving his daughter in the old country. He married in America and raised a large family of boys and girls, accumulating a large estate, and at his death a few years since this was divided among his heirs --- they never hearing of Johanna.
After many years she comes on the scene and sues for what she claims is her rights. Depositions from Sweden were read and witnesses introduced to prove that Johnson had acknowledged the kinship of Johanna, and also the verbal evidence that he had written letters to that effect, but the court held that these were not sufficient to establish a claim --- too removed to show an identity, therefore he could not unsettle land titles on what might be termed a mere shadow of evidence.
Therefore, the known and lawful heirs will remain in undisputed possession of their inheritance.
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I've not been able to track this Johanna Carlson down, but did wonder while looking what her descendants, if any, would discover if someone had gifted them with DNA testing kits for Christmas.
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