Grant Johnson- The Real "Tonto"

Photo taken from article written by Art T. Burton, The “Tonto” of Indian Territory. https://www.historynet.com/the-tonto-of-indian-territory.htm

Grant Johnson or to many, better known as “Tonto” was born into slavery in April 1854 in Northern Texas to a Black Creek mother and a Black Chickasaw father. He was fluent in Muskogee and was given a good education in English. His penmanship was excellent and unlike many black and native Marshalls, he was able to use his skills to sign court documents[1] Johnson’s father, Alex Johnson was a Chickasaw freedman from Missouri and his mother, Miley Johnson was a Creek freedwoman from Mississippi. He was often described as a quiet and reserved individual. Johnson was a United States Deputy Marshall stationed out of Fort Smith for roughly fourteen years. Johnson began working for the infamous Judge Parker, known also as the “Hanging Judge”, in 1887. Grant Johnson received his last commission from Judge Parker in 1896. As a Native American, he was familiar with the customs and the language of the Muskogee Creek nation and was often successful in assignments in the Indian Territory. He would often accompany Bass Reeves, also known as “The Lone Ranger”, on assignments. One of his more notable captures was of the notorious white outlaw that terrorized the Indian Territory, Abner Brasfield.[2] Johnson also helped to capture other outlaws such as Amos Hill, Choctaw outlaw Chahenegee, murderers John Pierce and Bill Davis, Cherokee Outlaw Columbus Rose, train robber Wade Chamberlee and numerous others. He was considered one of the most significant and effective deputies of his time by Judge Isaac Parker.[3]

Johnson was seen as one of the most notable US Deputy Marshalls in the history of Indian Territory and became a legend for his work alongside United States Marshall Bass Reeves. He was transferred to the Northern District in 1898 and worked there for many patrolling around the town of Eufala, Oklahoma. During his time as a Deputy US Marshall, he developed one of the most notable arrest records. In the year 1902, he helped subdue and arrest a group of malcontent Creeks and freedmen who were led by Chitto Harjo, who were creating disorder in the Creek Nation. Harjo felt that old treaties were being broken, treaties which had previously allotted land to Indians and freedmen. Johnson and a group of other lawmen rounded up and arrested Harjo and his posse, putting them in the federal jail in Muskogee. In 1906, Deputy Marshall Johnson became a policeman in Eufaula and largely patrolled the African American sector of the town. Residents of Eufaula, John H. Hubble, C.E. Foley, and Lizzie Gibson, interviewed in the 1930s, all testified that Deputy U.S Marshall Johnson was the only policeman in the immediate area during Eufaula’s formative years. James M. Calhoun, another prominent citizen [4] of the town said, “Grant Johnson, a mulatto, of Eufaula, was the best marshal they ever had.”[5] He passed away on April 9, 1929, in Eufaula, Oklahoma.[6]

Upon his death the following words were spoken about Deputy Marshall Johnson:

The death of Grant Johnson brings my mind back 40 years ago when Grant was on the force. Grant was a Negro but being a marshal did not give him the big head. He was brave, yet he was kind to his prisoners. He was on the force in the day of Belle Starr. When Younger Bend was the suburbs of hell, Grant would go in the Bend and hunt for outlaws. Without a doubt, he was the best Negro that was ever on the force. Bass Reeves did a lot of service for the country and his community, but after all this, many claim he was cruel to his men. Grant Johnson ranks first of the old U.S Marshals of the Negro race. Oklahoma Negros should study his record as an officer and citizen.[7]

It is important to note that this quote is primarily based on the opinion of whether Grant Johnson could be rated better than Bass Reeves.

Stay tuned for part two of my blog post on “Tonto” where I talk all about Jay Silverheels who stared as “Tonto” in the popular series and movie, “The Lone Ranger”.

[1] Burton, A. T. (n.d). The “Tonto” of Indian Territory. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.historynet.com/the-tonto-of-indian-territory.htm

[2] Grant Johnson (n.d.). Retrieved November 24, 2020, from http:// www.african-native American.com/johnson.html.s 

[3] Weiser-Alexander, K. (2020, February). Old West Lawmen List. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.legendsofamerica.com/lawmen-list-j/

[4] Burton, 2020

[5] Burton, 2020

[6] Burton, A.T. (n.d.). Johnson, Grant: The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https:..www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry/php?entry=JO007

[7] Burton, 2020