Grand Forks, Sept. 23, -- Mysterious in the extreme was the disappearance at 6 o'clock yesterday morning of Mrs. C.C. Johnson, who for the past month has been rooming with her son, Harvey Johnson, and her little daughter Nellie on North Sixth street. Mrs. Johnson left this house leaving a short note on the table and has not been seen since, although the police searched for her yesterday afternoon. She did not leave the city on the morning or evening trains and this was evidently not her intention, for she took no money with her. The general opinion in police circles is that the woman must have committed suicide, probably by drowning herself in the river. She was partially insane on religion, and and although she was not violent, there seems no other conclusion under the circumstances but that she killed herself.

Before coming to Grand Forks about a month ago, Mrs. Johnson had been staying for about nine months with her brothers, John and James McDonald, living west of Forest River, and her half brother, John Calder, who also lives in that locality. She came to Grand Forks when her son Harvey Johnson, who until lately was employed in a local meat market, was arrested on a charge of petit larceny, and has been here since that time. Mrs. Johnson's home is in Midland, Michigan, where her husband now lives, and he was notified last night of her disappearance. Mrs. Johnson has been off on religion for over a year and this was the reason for her leaving the home in Michigan.

OFF ON RELIGION

Since she came to Grand Forks, Mrs. Johnson, who is a woman 50 years of age, has continually become more and more devoted to her religious studies. Her insanity has taken expression in various ways. She seemed to feel that she was called on to convert the negroes of the city to Christianity. Laboring under this idea, she spent much of her time in the negro settlement talking religin. During this time, however, she showed no evidence of contemplating suicide.

Yesterday morning about 6 o'clock she arose and left the house and when the son Harvey got up later he found a note on the table saying "Good-bye, Harvey and Nellie. Be good and obedient children and all will be well. Trust in God and we will meet again." The evidence shows that the woman left the house without any money, her pocketbood containing all the funds she had being left. She took no clothes with her except what she wore.

The police were notified about noon of the occurrence and soon afterward began a systematic search, but without avail. When seen last night, the son Harvey Johnson admitted that his mother was apparently insane on religious subjects, but did not believe that this affliction was such as would cause her to take her life. The facts in the case leave no other plausible solution, however, and it is expected that the body will eventually be found in the river.

The woman is described as follows: Five feet, two inches tall; weight, 120 pounds; age, 50 years; wore black plush cape, brown waist and black skirt with gray cloth shoes; had on black velvet hat with red rose in front.

There is absolutely no clue as to where the woman went after she left the house on North Sixth street.

Source: Crookston Times
Saturday September 25, 1909

Submitted by Brenda G. 2001
Updated: April 21, 2015, K. Kittleson