Mrs. Mary Jane Creekpaum Johnson was born at Woodstock, Indiana December 24, 1852, moved to Wisconsin in 1860, received a fair education in the Wisconsin Schools during the Civil War and taught her husband how to read when he was 23 years old. She came with her parents to Missouri in 1867 when 15 years old, carried her father's money $1500.00 sewed up in a belt around her waist. They came on a Steamboat down the Mississippi river to St Louis, then traveled with an Ox team to near Safe, Missouri where they settled.

In 1867, she was converted and baptised in the Presbyterian faith at Double Chimney Church on Lanes Prairie. Son William died in 1928. Those living are Mrs. Octava Glenn, Safe, MO; Austin, Waldo and Tom of St Louis; Chas W. of near High Gate and Mrs. Ida Breuer of St James. She has 21 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Her husband preceded her in death December 26, 1913. She was a faithful wife, a loving mother, a kind neighbor and has a host of friends who will miss her. Her only other relatives in this state was a niece, MRS. JAMES GRONHOLT of St James and a nephew, DR. C.R. TERRILL of Mountain View, Missouri. The funeral services were held by Rev W.A. Thompson, a neighbor. Her granddaughters were flower girls, namely PEARL GLENN, Octava's girl; VIRGINIA JOHNSON, Will's girl; MRS. JAMES BOWLES, Austin's girl; BEULAH JOHNSON, Charles W.'s girl; RUTH JOHNSON, Tom's girl and TREAL BREUER, Ida's girl. Her grandsons were pall bearers, namely: EDGAR GLENN, Octava's boy; ELMER JOHNSON, Austin's boy; FLOYD JOHNSON, Charles W's boy; MAC & QUENTIN JOHNSON, Waldo's boy's and EUGENE BREUER, Ida's boy.

She departed this life September 20, 1932, age 79 years 8 mo, and 26 days. Was a patient suffering of cancer since last April. She was laid to rest beside her husband at High Gate under a blanket of flowers on Wednesday at 11 o'clock with a large crowd of sorrowing relatives and friends with Mr. and Mrs. Will Teneyck in charge of funeral. Among those furnishing flowers were Mrs. Fred Emmons, Owensville, MO; Mrs. J.B. Copeland, Mrs. James Gronholt, St James. MO; Willie Kinkeade of High Gate South Hampton Baptist Church, Mr. and Mrs.Lueckle, Mrs. Maggie and Miss Virginia Johnson, Webster Publishing Co employees, James Bowles, Board of Education of Webster Groves, Russell Sharp Paper Printing Co, J.E. Kinkeade, and the family wreath. (Mary Jane Creekpaum married California F. Johnson 19 Dec 1869 (probably in Maries Co, MO). Mary is is the daughter of John Hamilton and Almira Jane (Larue) Creekpaum. A variation of the spelling of Creekpaum is "Kriegbaum")