Grant Johnson

The son of a Black Chickasaw, and Black Creek, mother, Johnson was known to be a quiet reserved man who served as a Federal Marshall out of Ft. Smith for at least 14 years. He began working for Judge Parker about 1887, and received his last commission from Parker in 1896, the year of Parker’s death. Being a Black Indian, he knew the customs and language of the Muskogee Creek nation and was effective in Indian Territory. He often would go on assignments with Bass Reeves. His record included the capture of Abner Brasfield, a white outlaw who was notorious in Indian Territory. The book, “Black Red, & Deadly” by Art T. Burton describes the capture of Brasfield by Johnson and Reeves in full detail. Many of the captures made by Johnson occurred in and around Eufaula, in the Choctaw Nation. Parker considered Johnson one of his most effective deputies. Besides Brasfield, Johnson is known for having captured Jake Stanley, the noted counterfeiter Amos Hill, Choctaw outlaw Chahenegee, the murderers John Pierce, Bill Davis, Cherokee outlaw, Columbus Rose. Other characters such as train robber Wade Chamberlee and bootlegger Elijah Congar were among his captives.