Mary Rebecca Johnson, eldest child of Millard S. and Margaret Johnson, was born in Pennsylvania on March 10, 1878, and passed away in North Platte, Nebraska on April 17, 1964.

The family moved to Missouri when she was a baby. They moved to a farm in Frontier County when she was about ten years old. Before her marriage she taught school in what was known as the Max school.

On March 25, 1896, she was married to Harry Messersmith. To this union were born four children: Emry O., Midland, Texas, Orvis A., Farnam, Lauren H., Lake Villa, Ill. and Josie D. North Platte.

She was preceded in death by her husband in February, 1955, and a brother, George in 1945.

Survivors include her children, three sisters: Susanna V. Lydic, Peoria, Arizona, Rosie Burton, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Pearl Harrison, Grand Island, Nebraska; two brothers: Charles, Indio, California, and Philip, Farnam, Nebraska, four grandsons, five great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.