Sunday, January 21, 1900, noted frontier mountain man John Jeremiah Garrison Johnson (1824-1900), better-known as Liver-Eatin’ Johnson, met his earthly demise at the age of 76 when he died from the effects of unspecified natural causes in a veterans home at the town of Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California.
During Johnson’s lifetime he was a sailor, scout, soldier, gold prospector, wood-hawk (cord-wood supplier), hunter, trapper, whiskey peddler, guide, deputy sheriff, constable, & log cabin builder.
In 1847, Johnson’s wife, a member of the Flathead American Indian tribe, was killed by a young Crow Indian brave & his fellow hunters, which prompted Johnson to embark on a vendetta against the Crow tribe. According to legend, he would cut out & eat the liver of each man killed. This was an insult to the Crow because they believed the liver to be vital if one were to go on to the afterlife. In any case, he eventually became known as Liver-Eatin’ Johnson.
Eventually, Liver Eatin’ Johnson made peace with the Crow, who became his “brothers,” & his personal vendetta against them finally ended after twenty-five years & after scores of Crow warriors had fallen.
In December 1899 when he was around the age of 75, Liver Eatin’ Johnson was admitted as an “inmate” of the Pacific Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers & Sailors at the town of Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California. Following his demise on January 21, 1900 his earthly remains were interred on the following day in the nearby Sawtell National Cemetery where he rested in peace until June, 1974, when, after a six-month campaign led by 25 seventh-grade students & their teacher, his body was relocated to Old Trail Town Cemetery at the town of Cody in Park County, Wyoming.
The undated photograph depicts the bearded visage of Liver-Eatin’ Johnson.
During Johnson’s lifetime he was a sailor, scout, soldier, gold prospector, wood-hawk (cord-wood supplier), hunter, trapper, whiskey peddler, guide, deputy sheriff, constable, & log cabin builder.
In 1847, Johnson’s wife, a member of the Flathead American Indian tribe, was killed by a young Crow Indian brave & his fellow hunters, which prompted Johnson to embark on a vendetta against the Crow tribe. According to legend, he would cut out & eat the liver of each man killed. This was an insult to the Crow because they believed the liver to be vital if one were to go on to the afterlife. In any case, he eventually became known as Liver-Eatin’ Johnson.
Eventually, Liver Eatin’ Johnson made peace with the Crow, who became his “brothers,” & his personal vendetta against them finally ended after twenty-five years & after scores of Crow warriors had fallen.
In December 1899 when he was around the age of 75, Liver Eatin’ Johnson was admitted as an “inmate” of the Pacific Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers & Sailors at the town of Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, California. Following his demise on January 21, 1900 his earthly remains were interred on the following day in the nearby Sawtell National Cemetery where he rested in peace until June, 1974, when, after a six-month campaign led by 25 seventh-grade students & their teacher, his body was relocated to Old Trail Town Cemetery at the town of Cody in Park County, Wyoming.
The undated photograph depicts the bearded visage of Liver-Eatin’ Johnson.
LOL!