Crystal’s Genealogy

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:

William Groves and Eleanor Reisberg (click for larger image)

Full Name: William Martin Groves
Nickname: Pop Pop, Martin
Born: March 17, 1920
Died: August 29, 1992 in Marriottesville Maryland
Parents: Norman Groves and Mary Humphrey
Siblings: Stanley Groves, Hilda Groves, Adlade Groves, Austin Groves
Married: Eleanor Reisberg
Children: Martin Groves, Maureen Groves, Edward Groves, Gary Groves, Ronald Groves, Susan Groves, Patty Ann Groves
Occupation: Farmer

Notations:

- Was in the U.S. Army from October 10th, 1943 to

- Received the Purple Heart for being shot in the ear and still carrying his commanding officer 21 miles to safety. Ronald Groves is in possession of all of his medals. I have listed him on the WWII Memorial Registry. He received a letter from the president which may be in possession by his daughter Susan Groves. I am going to try and see if she’ll let me scan a copy of it.

- Was a pitcher for the Orioles in the Minors (may eventually be listed on the site dedicated to the Forgotten Birds Documentary). He was also a pitcher for the SpringGrove baseball team in Catonsville, Maryland. I’m told he also was in a few magazines for playing baseball for the Army in Texas, because he was that good. Ronald Groves may also be in possession of these magazines, but I will try to convince him to let me scan them. (Note for me to research my uncle Lenny Reisberg also trying out for the Orioles at this time).

- Grew up in Front Royal, Virginia according to Maureen Groves

Crystal’s Notations:

- I remember Pop Pop pitching when we played baseball at our regular holiday cook-outs on the old farm on Wards Chapel Road in Marriottesville, Maryland.

A letter I received from the historian/writer of the Forgotten Birds Documentary:

Crystal Groves,

My name is Jimmy Keenan and I am the writer/historian for the Forgotten Birds documentary. Your recent Email was directed to me by the Director of the Forgotten Birds, Paul Sekulich.
A few years ago, a woman named Cindy Evans contacted the Forgotten Birds website in regard to Mr. Groves. I sent her what information I had on Mr. Groves at that time.

William Groves apparently went by his middle name of Martin. My records show Martin Groves went to spring training with the Baltimore Orioles in 1940. The Birds trained in Aiken, South Carolina that year. Mr. Groves is also listed on the roster of the 1940 Dover, Delaware team of the Eastern Shore League (Oriole farm club). He may have been in camp with the Orioles at other times and may have played with Dover prior to 1940.

According to my records, Mr. Groves did not play in any regular season games with the International League Baltimore Orioles. However, he more then likely appeared in spring training games with them in 1940 and possibly other years. Most minor league record books do not list any player who appeared in five games or less for that particular season. It is possible he may have played for other minor league teams as well.

There were a large number of amateur, independent, college, high school, American Legion and semi pro teams in Maryland and the surrounding areas at this time. Mr.Groves would had to have been a truly outstanding ballplayer in order to have stood out among all of those players. In 1940, Tommy Thomas was the Oriole manager as well as the team’s general manger and vice president. Mr. Thomas is the person who more than likely signed Mr. Groves. His signing may have been the result of a recommendation from Fritz Maisel who was a former Oriole player and a native of Catonsville. Mr. Groves was evidently signed by the Orioles and then farmed out to the Dover club. The Oriole farm team at Dover was full of talented young players who were awaiting their shot a the higher minors. It appears that World War II cut short Mr. Groves very promising professional baseball career.

I hope this information has been helpful,
Respectfully,
Jimmy Keenan

- Another email I received in correspondence with Jimmy Keenan:

Some baseball fans do not realize how talented a ballplayer has to be in order to be signed to a professional contract. As I stated in the Email I sent to you, Mr. Groves would had to have been an outstanding ballplayer just to be scouted and eventually, signed by the International League Orioles.

My granddad, Jimmy Lyston, was signed by the Orioles at age 18 and he too, was from Baltimore. Some do not fully grasp that the International League Orioles were a professional team. Some people do not equate professional baseball with the minor leagues. I’m sure we are both very proud of our grandfathers baseball talent.

- I am told that much of Pop Pops family is Dutch.