Crystal’s Genealogy

Cousin Gilbert Dietz stopped by my house yesterday for a visit.  Dad and I love having him over, telling stories, talking about the old days, etc.  He’s such a wonderful spirit.

I asked him if he knew of a picture of Anton Reisberg because someone thought he may have inherited one, but he doesn’t remember one.  He did let me know though that Anton Reisberg was a short stocky man, built like a bull.  I find this funny considering how many tall people are in the family.

Anyhow, he said that there was a story of Anton Reisberg becoming angry at a cat for something, so he picked it up by its neck, and even while the cat was scratching his arm to pieces he just squeezed its neck and snapped it with his hand.  That’s how powerful and strong the man was.

Aunt Maureen Groves also seemed to recollect that Grosspop (Anton Reisberg) would sit out at the front door with a stick and swat the kids as they came out the door.  She remembers getting swatted and usually trying to sneak out the back door.

I still hope I can find a picture of him somewhere.  If any family finds this on the Reisberg side, please let me know.  I am looking for all pictures, I’d like to take pictures of the family bible that I am told Aunt Millie Reisberg has.  Something to preserve it digitally (I don’t want to to take these things, I’m more than willing to come to your house and photograph them so they are not ever out of your possession) so they are not lost to the wind.  This is very meaningful to me, I want more than anything to know my history.

This is the article that was printed in the Carroll County Times on August 29th 1998, the day after Jonathan Barrows was murdered.  I will be scanning a copy of it to display here, but here is a transcript as well.

Former resident killed in Alabama

“A former Carroll resident was shot and killed early Friday in northern Alabama after an apparent argument with two men.

Jonathan Barrows, 19, formerly of Old Washington Road (Westminster), was shot in the head after an argument with the men in a shopping center parking lot in a small town north of Huntsville, Lt. Blake Dorning of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department said Friday evening.

Thomas David Rozell, 45, and Eric Brandon Rozell, 18, were arrested and were charged with capital murder Friday afternoon, Dorning said.

Barrows was set to testify against Thomas Rozell in an upcoming court case for reckless endangerment, Dorning said. Rozell had fired a weapon at Barrows several months ago after some type of dispute, Dorning said, adding that he did not know the details of that incident.

In Alabama the state can seek the death penalty if a person is killed when he or she is about to be a witness in a court case against slaying suspects, he said.

Barrows is the son of Shirley Barrows, who was outspoken in Carroll about drug users in her community.

The Barrows’ Old Washington Road barn was burned down and a baby pig being kept inside was mutilated in 1996. Shirley Barrows said at the time the burning was carried out as a retaliation after she turned several youths in to the police for drug use, she said. Three men were later sentenced to six years in prison for the crime.

Shirley Barrows was said at the time that her family was going to leave Carroll County because of all the problems they had had with drug users. She said she was planning to write a book about her family’s ordeal.

- Laura Beck”

Greetings family,

I just wanted to give note to the family from the Johnson Family Tree and Wright Family Tree, that Jonathan Barrows murderer, Thomas Rozelle, was denied parole today for the maximum amount of years allowed (5 years). His son Eric Rozelle is up for parole in March, so start thinking about your victim impact statements now.

If you need contact information for your statements, feel free to email me or leave a comment here.

Also, I was able to visit Michael Wright and Maria Wright on Friday, and I have many more pictures to put up of the family. Some that I had never seen before. Look for those soon. There are a few that were not labeled, so I will need help figuring out who they are. I believe they are all on the Johnson Family Tree.

Sorry I was not able to update the site sooner.  Not long after I posted that last update, my dad and I were thrown off our farm by the estate since our landlord died without a Will.  I recently bought a house for dad and I in Gettysburg at the beginning of October so I am still getting settled in to where I can focus on things other than packing or working on the house.

A lot of family members have already found the site, which I think is awesome.  I really hope this is a portal for all of the information on both sides of my family.  Other family members input is very much welcomed, even just memories you have of family members.  Feel free to post any thoughts you want about family members in the comments for their pages as I make them (but this site is not to be used for bashing, I will not approve those comments).

Recent updates on the Johnson/Wright side of the family include Stephanie Tworek giving me a lot of pictures of Alma Johnson and some family members I don’t recognize (hopefully someone will be able to help with these), and also getting back in touch with Aunt Frances from Alabama who may hopefully be able to help with some things for the Johnson side.

Also, for family members unaware, Jonathan Barrows murderers are up for parole in November.  Shirley Wright is asking anyone who wants to write a victim inpact statement to do so.  Stephanie Tworek and I are working on ours ASAP.  Leave a comment if interested as there isn’t much time left.

Mom gave me a whole crapload of information on Nichols and Merryman and all sorts of names.  It will take me a while to sift through everything and organize it, but I will be sure to credit all the hard work she did.  I still have much to add from Cousin Gail as well, being sure to credit her for her hard work as well.

Full Name: Ruth Anne Matilda Green
Birth:
Death:
Parents:
Siblings:
Married: Hugo Reisberg
Children: Eleanor Reisberg, Leonard Reisberg, John Reisberg, Bertie Reisberg, Roland Reisberg, Rosetta Reisberg, Marvin Reisberg, Archie Reisberg, Clarabelle Reisberg, James Reisberg, Marion Reisberg, Betty Lou Reisberg
Occupation:

- My father, Edward Groves, remembers Johnny Cash playing at the Liberty Road Carnival one year, and grandmom requesting that he sing “Don’t take your guns to town” for her grandson William (Bill Groves), and then another song for her grandson Edward Groves.

Full Name: Norman Groves
Birth:
Death:
Parents:
Siblings: Ashby Groves
Married: Mary Humphrey
Children: William Groves, Stanley Groves
Occupation: Worked in a Donut Shop. Maureen Groves remembers grandfather always being dressed in a 3-piece suit and coming to get all of the children on Sunday mornings for church. He’d always bring donuts, but the children couldn’t eat them until after church.

Lucious Johnson (click for larger image)

Full Name: Lucious Joshua Johnson
Birth: November 17, 1860 in Marion or Schley County, Georgia
Death: July 3, 1929 in Batesville, Alabama (Barbour County) in the Old Springhill Cemetery.
Parents:
Siblings:
Married: Sarah McNeal in 1882 in Webster County, Georgia.
Children: Homer Johnson, C Johnson, Louis Johnson, Ollie Johnson, Lillie Johnson, Kate Johnson, Rebecca Johnson
Occupation: Carpenter

Notations:

- (Supplied by Gail) Obituary about July 5, 1929 read as follows: “Johnson Funeral at spring Hill Today-Funeral services for Lucius J Johnson, who died in a local hospital (Salter) here yesterday, will be held at Macedonia Baptist Church this after at 4 o’clock, with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Mr. Lowry, pastor, will be in church services. Mr. Johnson was 69 years of age and had spent most of his life in Batesville and Eufaula (Alabama). He was a carpenter, one of the best in this section. He is survived by four sons, three daughters and two brothers, besides a lot of other relatives. Pruden Undertaking Company had charge.”

Top row: Margaret Nichols, Thomas Wright Sr.
Bottom Row: Charles Nichols, Joan Wright, Jennifer Hoff
5 Generations – (click for larger image)

Full Name: Charles A Nichols
Birth: March 31, 1881
Death: October 1, 1970
Parents:
Siblings:
Married: Myrtle Merryman
Children: Margaret Nichols
Occupation:

Notations:

Full Name: Myrtle Rebecca Merryman
Birth: January 29, 1887
Death: October 23, 1953
Parents:
Siblings:
Married: Charles Nichols
Children: Margaret Nichols

Notations: