Charlie Johnson,
was a man born at the last of the old open range days of Texas. He was wild as the country that he grew up in. He was a member of the Farmers Alliance. This was a secret group whose aim it was to keep Texas open range. He was present at the shoot out with The Texas Rangers. On November 9, 1886 several members of the alliance were cutting fence. They had been told that a big rancher had fenced one of the farmers cattle from water They were unaware that the Texas Rangers had an informer with them. The Rangers were waiting and came out shooting. One man was killed another died later. This action broke the back of the alliance William Purcell hid them in the woods and hills of his place north of Grosvenor Texas for some time. Charlie was In hiding for a number of years. Hhe left Texas until the statue of limitations ran out then came back to Texas. I remember him being a crack shot. Even after he vas very old. I knew him until the time of his death. He always had some kind of weapon with him. He never trusted any branch of government or any banks.
His son Lonnie was murdered many years later. No one was ever charged with the crime. Some thought that it was related to the old outlaw days.By Jack Brown
Lonnie was shot and killed at rhe age of fifteen, he was on his way to visit his girl friend and was
opening a gate when he was shot. The killer was never found. Some of the family always felt that this was related to the old outlaw days..