Hoboes were ubiquitous characters in the American landscape of the late 19th and early-mid 20th centuries. They were often depicted as bums and were the bane of the railroad police at various times, but many were simply vagabonds who had fallen on hard times and ostensibly began their journeys in search of work. Local legend holds that one such hobo, Campbell Johnston (24 January 1874-15 December 1905), fell from a train one night and died at this site. Local officials took care of his burial and his headstone was donated by the Woodmen of the World. It seems odd that such a character would have been afforded this memorial, and therefore, his story would be fascinating to track down.
The gravesite is located within the Satilla River Waterfront Park.
A history of how I discovered this grave.
My friends and I (all around 10yrs old) lived in Woodbine in the 70’s. We loved to walk the tracks (which were active at that time) and do things like put a penny on the track so the train could smash it. We also loved to walk through the woods that were next to the tracks. One day, not far off the tracks, we found this grave. It was alone, there was no fence around it, and no path to it, like it had been forgotten. I remember the headstone well because I had never seen one made to resemble a tree stump. Being young, and not knowing what to do, I took the information to the police department. I told them the name on the headstone and told them where it was located. They took my information and that was it.
A few weeks later, my friends and I found that the grave had been removed. The ground had been dug up and no evidence remained that it had ever been there.
Many years later, when I returned to Woodbine to visit, I found that the grave had been moved and made into a historical marker. There was no mention of where it had been found, or who had found it. Fortunately, I know the exact location where it was discovered; the exact place he was originally buried.
I wanted to let everyone know that I am grateful that me, and my friends, found Mr. Johnston, making it possible so that he wouldn’t be forgotten.
I am glad to see that Campbell Johnston, who had been lost for nearly 70 years, has found a home and that people know of him.
The only Campbell Johnson I find in the 1880 census who was born in 1874 is listed in the home of his grandparents in Lindley, Missouri. He is white and apparently the illegitimate son of Mary Johnson, age 27, born in Tennessee. The grandfather is Joshua Johnson, age 70, and Mary is obviously a daughter from his first marriage.
I found Mary’s FindAGrave memorial in Pea Ridge Cemetery, Doolittle, Missouri; she died in 1886 at the age of 31. A notation on the memorial actually reads: “Mother of Campbell Johnson”; therefore, the surname on his monument is incorrect. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82463174/mary-jane-johnson
Interesting information. Perhaps you should contact Camden County about changing it. I only photographed it.