As part of the North Carolina news section of the Chicago Defender in their November 26, 1838 issue this brief news item appeared:
Williamston, NC. – Earl Johnson, four-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Johnston, was fatally burned Monday when he upset a pot of hot water. He was rushed to the hospital where efforts to save him were in vain.
I checked the NC Death Certficates database at Ancestry and it seems that young Earl died in Washington, Beaufort County, NC. His death certificate shows that both parents were born in Williamston though and he was buried in Martin County.
I have some relatives with Martin County connections that are Johnsons; I wonder if Earl is in any way related to them. Something to investigate in the future….