The Johns Family

Andrew Johns was born in 1861 in Wendron Cornwall. Andrew’s father was a copper miner and he died in 1868 when Andrew was just seven years old. 

Andrew married Elizabeth Moss on February 28, 1885 in Lander County Nevada. Elizabeth had just turned 17 and Andrew was 23. 

Elizabeth was born on March 1, 1868. Her parents both immigrated to America from England. They settled in Austin Nevada where Elizabeth was born. Austin was one of the most famous mining camps in the West, boasting a population of nearly 10,000 at the peak of its silver mining heyday in 1863. It is now considered a living ghost town with about 160 inhabitants. 

Andrew and Elizabeth had three children, Myrtle born on July 8, 1886, Thomas or Tommy as he was known in his youth, born in 1888 and Mabel, born in 1895. It appears that all three were born in Austin, NV and the Johns family moved to Owyhee County by 1898 as Andrew is listed in the Owyhee County Blue Book as the shift boss at the Blaine Mine. That same year, tragedy struck the family. The death of Myrtle, their beloved daughter on September 12 was a loss to the whole community. "From her earliest childhood, she was thoughtful and industrious and was always a favorite of all she came in contact. Her whole life was pure and wholly devoted to the comfort of others. Her future was so promising that all her friends and family entertained for her the highest hopes that have since been dashed to pieces by her untimely deeath."

Just four weeks after the death of Mrytle, Elizabeth met the same fate, “After a lingering illness and intense suffering, Mrs. Andrew Johns departed this life at age 30 years, seven months, three days. During her residence in Silver City, Mrs. Johns endeared heerself to all as a kind neighbor and friend and as a devoted mother and wife. Just four weeks prior to her death she suffered the loss of her oldest daughter Myrtle and the terrible blow hastened her own demise.”

It appears that Andrew took Tommy and Mable back to Cornwall England aboard the Campania, arriving in Liverpool on August 26, 1899. 

Just eight months after arriving in England, Andrew married Edith Moyle on April 23, 1900. Edith was daughter of a copper miner. To this union, four children were born in Wendron: William James Andrew Johns in June 1901; Percy Gordon Johns in 1903; and Nevada and Mrytle Johns -- likely twin girls -- in 1904. 

It appears that Andrew went back to Nevada to pursue the mining trade after the birth of the two girls. His obituary appeared in the Reno Evening Gazette on February 15, 1908. 

Andrew Johns Dies

Andrew Johns, a native of England, aged about forty-eight years, died in this city this afternoon after a short illness. 

The deceased was a member of the Odd Fellows and the funeral will be held under the auspices of Reno Lodge No 14 100F and will take place Monday afternoon.

The 1911 England Census lists Edith Johns, age 36, as a widow with the occupation as “charwoman,” the name used at that era for a woman who cleaned houses or offices, but not as a live-in cleaner or maid. Her four children are also listed on the Census records as living with her, but there’s no mention of Mabel. We do know that Tommy made it back to the United States at some point. His 1942 World War II draft card shows his residency in Modesto, CA and states he was self-employed at age 54.