A Square Deal: the Story of William “Bill” Johnson
Published in the October 2024 edition of the Cowboy Chronicle: For Love of Country with a special dedication to Chief Warrant Officer 2, Shane Barnes
Update: On April 26, 2025, Bill Johnson’s name was added to the memorial wall
at the Veteran’s Park in Watford City.
“A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Rural cemeteries dot the North Dakota prairies. Many of the towns they belong to have long since vanished; succumbing to the elements and dissolving in to the prairie. Along the outskirts of what little is left of Charbonneau, North Dakota, lies one of these cemeteries. In the corner of one side, a simple cross stands marking the grave of William Johnson, a Spanish- American War veteran. In the weathered wood you can still see the hand carved epitaph: “William Johnson 1879-1931 Negro Vet Spa-Am.”
Black soldiers like William Johnson, were an integral part of the Spanish- American War. In 1866 Congress passed the Army Organization Act, after which six all Black cavalry and infantry regiments were created. When the U.S. declared war on Spain, all the existing Black units were called up to fight. It was the judgment of the War Department that black soldiers would be immune to the diseases associated with the tropics, and that they would be better able to withstand the humidity. They became known as “The Immune Regiments.”
The Spanish- American War is rarely thought of or discussed today. It might get a paragraph in a student’s history book, but it is in many ways a forgotten war. The Spanish- American War was short; the fighting lasted less than three months. However, this war had significant effects; it ended all Spanish Colonial rule in the Americas, resulted in Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines becoming U.S. Territories, and propelled the United States to a position of world leadership and power. This war also provided the opportunity for the former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, to establish himself with the general public as a war hero and legend, and put him on the path to become President of the United States.
The Spanish- American War began with the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain starting in February, 1885. Spain’s brutal and repressive measures to halt the revolt were chronicled by journalists in great detail which aroused the sympathy of the American people. Many wanted the U.S. to intervene, and after the sinking of the USS Maine in the Havana Harbor killing 250 U.S. sailors, intervention was increasingly demanded. Amid this chorus Spain declared war on the United States on April 24, 1898. This was immediately followed by the U.S. declaration of war. The war was virtually one-sided because Spain was woefully unprepared to fight against the supremacy of the United States. The Spanish surrendered on July 17 and the Treaty of Paris officially ending the war was signed on December 10, 1898.
During the first expeditionary force into Cuba, 3,000 of the 17,000 soldiers were Black Americans. Black Soldiers participated in the decisive Battle of San Juan Hill led courageously by Theodore Roosevelt. Many historians give credit to Black troops as also being true heroes of this brief war, and hope to have their efforts recognized. U.S. Defense Department historian Frank Schubert wrote in 1998, “Regulars and volunteers, blacks and whites, fought side by side, endured the blistering heat and driving rain, and shared food and drink as well as peril and discomfort. They forged a victory that did not primarily belong to TR, nor did it belong mainly to the Buffalo Soldiers. It belonged to all of them.” Five Black soldiers and one sailor earned the Medal of Honor for their actions during this conflict.
After the war, William Johnson can be found on the 1900 United States Federal Census living in Manzanillo, Cuba with the Military and Naval Forces. By the 1915 North Dakota State and Territorial Census, he is established in North Dakota. In the 1920 Federal Census, Bill is in Alexander and lists his occupation as farmer. There was a small community of African Americans living in the Moline Township south of Alexander in the early part of the last century. By the 1930 Federal Census, Bill is now found in Charbonneau as a boarder and laborer for Charles Martell. Charles Martell (NDCHF 2019 Pre-1940’s Ranching Inductee) was a successful pioneer rancher with a ranch along Charbonneau Creek, about six miles from the town of Charbonneau. In his autobiography he noted that, “Bill worked for me until his death in 1931.”
Bill became established as dependable, trustworthy and a hard worker. Much of Bill’s reputation revolved around how well he worked with horses, prompting speculation that he had been a member of an Army Calvary unit. Bill was a good carpenter. He was described as being very kind. He made friends and became part of the Charbonneau community. Even all these years’ later people relay stories they heard from their parents and grandparents about Bill. One of Bill’s good friends was Floyd “Baldy” Monson who worked with him on the Martell place. “Baldy’s” daughter Carla remembers her father’s high regard for Bill.
Apparently Bill did not like being inside much. Cierra Aamodt’s Great Grandmother, Anna Rod Aamodt, talked about Bill and how when he came out to the Aamodt Ranch to help with branding, he never really wanted to come in the house. With persistence he would come in and eat with all the men after working. As soon as he was done though, he would go right back outside!
Bill lived in an old homestead cabin on Martell’s land. On January 21, 1931 Martell sent a hired hand to Charbonneau to pick up the mail and for some reason wanted him to stop by Bill’s place and check on him. Bill was found dead lying on the floor by his stove. A recently found death certificate lists the cause of death as apoplexy. William Johnson was laid to rest in the Charbonneau Cemetery overlooking what was then a vibrant community. Bill died thirty- three years after he fought and survived the Spanish American War, and only sixty- six years after the end of the Civil War.
James “Butch” Kuykendall grew up on a neighboring ranch and also heard about Bill. He remembers as a kid going into Bill’s old cabin and checking around. It looked like no one had actually left. There was a jacket hanging on a hook, shoes by the edge of the bed and a shaving mug and razor on a shelf.
Butch went into the military and returned home in the 1970’s. He and a group of other veterans got together to take care of the veterans graves that are scattered among surrounding cemeteries. He and Monty Pesek took on a couple of cemeteries including Charbonneau’s. Before Butch and Monty took on the role of caretakers, the graves had gone unattended for quite a while. When Butch and Monty started caring for Bill’s grave, the original marker with his name or any information was gone. There was however an American Legion medallion with an American flag. A half century later “Baldy” Monson still remembered his friend. When “Baldy” found out there was no marker, he decided to make one himself. He told his daughter, “Bill deserved it.”
Eventually, Monty and Butch each took their own cemetery to oversee. Monty became Charbonneau’s caretaker. The town of Charbonneau’s heyday was in the 1920’s and by the 1960’s not much was left. It had already been “de-listed” from the census for a number of years. The cemetery that Monty went out to care for sits at the top of a hill overlooking grain elevators that defy the elements and remain standing along with a few other remnants of long ago lives.
The cemetery was rarely visited. Monty was used to the solitude. One day in the early 1980’s when Monty was mowing; he was startled by a tap on his shoulder. Three African Americans had come looking for a long lost relative, and Monty knew which grave to point them to. They chatted a bit with Monty and then they were gone. Every few years’ artificial flowers show up on Bill’s grave, but no one has seen it done or knows who puts them there.
Almost a hundred years have passed since William Johnson was buried in that tiny ghost town cemetery. The people that knew him like “Baldy” Monson are also long gone. Yet, his story lives on.
In 2022 I made a Facebook post with a North Dakota history group asking about Bill. This post prompted a group discussion, and inquiries to Mark Honstein who is in charge of the McKenzie County Veteran’s Service. The lack of a proper veteran’s headstone was troubling to the group. Mark began his own research and he and I ended up in contact with each other.
Mark’s assistant, Ben San Juan has also become interested in the story. Their mission to get Bill a proper veteran’s headstone had begun. Mark explained, “As a veteran’s service officer, a veteran myself and a patriotic American, I wanted to get this soldier a proper headstone with proper recognition.” The McKenzie County Veteran’s Service will start by putting in an application with the U.S. Veteran’s Administration (VA) for a government issued headstone. If that is not successful, they will work with the local American Legion Post to purchase a marker. Mark also mentioned the Veteran’s Administration motto, “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors. Mark’s feeling is that ensuring that a veteran’s grave, no matter how long ago they served or where they are buried, is properly recognized, is a part of that promise of care.
I have always wondered about Bill. It seemed so sad to me as a child that he was buried by himself in the corner. He never would have been amongst a crowd. The Charbonneau Cemetery is small and far from full. The last person was buried there in 1965, and the last before that in1947. The town died and so did its cemetery. It can be difficult to get information on someone almost a hundred years after they last walked the earth. I had no idea where my post would lead. I am not even sure what I was looking for. There are still a few angles to follow on Bill’s life, but what is important we already know. William Johnson was a veteran. He made his way to North Dakota after his service. It seems Bill was well liked and had at least a couple of true friends. I am sure as a Black man, there were many things in Bill’s life that reflected the times he lived in, but Charbonneau clearly was a positive place for him. It seems providential that I was led to Mark and that as Veteran’s Day approaches, William Johnson, Spanish-American War veteran, has not been forgotten.
A special thank you to: Mark Honstein, Carla Monson Stomley, Monty Pesek, and Butch Kuykendall.
This article is not only dedicated to all those who have served and protected our country over its history, but is especially dedicated is to Shane Michael Barnes and his family. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane Barns was killed November 10, 2023 during an in-flight training exercise over the Mediterranean Sea. He was deployed October 14, 2023 after the terror attacks on Israel of October 7. Shane’s grandparent are from Dickinson, North Dakota. Shane was called to dedicate his life in military service from a young age. “I signed up to keep the evils that plague our world out of my country as best I can. The legacy I choose to leave is that I defended those I love”
References:
Thank you to:
Mark Holstein, McKenzie County Veteran’s Affairs
Ben San Juan, McKenzie County Veteran’s Affairs
Becca Monson, Cartwright, North Dakota (2024)
James “Butch” Kuykundal, Cartwright, North Dakota (2022)
Jan Dodge, Watford City, North Dakota (2024)
Carla Monson Stromley, Alexander, North Dakota (2024)
Monty Pesek, Alexander, North Dakota (2024)
George and August Lindecker, Cartwright, North Dakota (2022)
The Final Resting Place, McKenzie County Cemetery Book
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