Veteran of the Texas War for Independence fought in the Victorious Battles of Bexar, 1835 and San Jacinto, 1836. He married Rachel Garner 1838 (1), she died in 1856. He married Matilda Myers in 1861. He was born in Louisiana, settled in Texas in 1832. He was a farmer, stockman, patriarch. Fought in Texas Army at Bexar. Dec. 1835, In Cap. James Gillaspie's Company, 2nd Regiment, Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. Esteemed and respected. Parents of Wesley, Bradley, John, Uriah, Joseph, Benjamin, Jacob, Isaac, Elizabeth and Rachel. Recorded 1972∼Benjamin Johnson was born on June 8, 1815, near Edgerly, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana with parents Moses Johnson and Nancy Ann Robert. He may have been an orphan at the time that he arrived in Jefferson Municipality, now Bridge City, in Orange County, Texas in 1832.
Benjamin Johnson first entered the Texas Army on Nov. 12, 1835, having enlisted in Capt. Willis Landrum's company as it crossed present-day Orange County. He was later discharged at the Alamo. He enlisted a second time in Capt. James Gillaspie's company, Col. Sherman's command, after which he participated in the Battle of San Jacinto on Apr. 21, 1836. Later Johnson served a third enlistment as second sergeant in Capt. J. G. Pierson's company on July 18, 1836. All muster rolls of Johnson's enlistments, as well his military bounty grants, can be found in Texas General Land Office.
On April 24, 1838, Johnson married Rachel Garner, daughter of Bradley Garner, Sr. and Sarah Rachel Harmon, and the newly-weds soon moved to Sabine Pass, where Johnson obtained a farm from his sister-in-law, Sarah Garner McGaffey. Rachel Garner was from a family of military heroes, her father having served at the Battle of New Orleans. Her brother-in-law, Claiborne West, was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and her three brothers, David, Isaac, and Jacob Garner, has also fought at the "Grass Fight" and the Battle of San Antonio.
Between 1838 and 1856, the year of Rachel's death, Benjamin and Rachel Johnson became the parents of 11 sons and 2 daughters. Tragedy also accompanied some of those births, for son Wesley Johnson died in a boating accident at age 18, and a 4-year-old son accidentally fell into a tub of boiling water while the family were killing hogs.
On Jan. 24, 1838, Johnson received a 1,440-acre headright grant from the Jefferson County Board of Land Commissioners. Following his marriage, he appeared again before the commissioners and was granted a married man's headright of 3,000 additional acres.
Also in 1838, Johnson was certified as one of the 57 jurors qualified to serve in the Jefferson County courts. On Dec. 2, 1852, he was elected as a county commissioner of Jefferson County. In 1839, Johnson paid taxes on one slave and 100 acres of land at Sabine Pass; these were the products of his own hands, for his one or two children were still infants, as well as his only slave, which was only 1½ years old. Also Benjamin Johnson was of the Baptist faith, and his family were charter members of the second Baptist congregation in Jefferson County.
In 1856 Rachel Johnson died a victim of the rigors of harsh frontier living and too frequent child birth. Johnson employed Matilda Myers as his housekeeper, and on July 4, 1861, she became Johnson's second wife.
On April 10, 1861, soon after the shelling of Fort Sumter, his sons Bradley and John Johnson helped organize a militia company—the "Sabine Pass Guard." On August 3, 1861, when that company was reorganized into infantry and cavalry units, Benjamin Johnson, the old warrior turned age 46, dusted off his musket again and joined his three sons as a member of the "Ben McCulloch Cavalry."
In 1906, Tom J. Russell, a Beaumont historian, recorded that as of that date, no descendent of Benjamin Johnson had ever been charged with a felony in Jefferson County. Among his children, Bradley Johnson served four years in the Confederate Army, and lived thereafter as a farmer and stockman at Sabine Pass. So did his sons Joseph and Jack Johnson, who also lived in the footsteps of their father. His son Uriah served as constable and street commissioner in Beaumont for 30 years. His namesake, Benjamin, Jr., served as county commissioner at Sabine Pass for about 30 years, and he was very narrowly defeated for county judge by Jeff Chaisson. Johnson's daughters became Mrs. Elizabeth Boals of Dallas, and Mrs. Frost Smith of St. Louis.
After 57 years of life on the harsh frontier, Benjamin Johnson died on Oct. 13, 1872, and he was buried in the Johnson family plot in Sabine Pass Cemetery. On Oct. 14, 1972, on the centennial anniversary of his funeral, a Texas State historical marker was mounted and dedicated on his grave.
Benjamin Johnson was a militiaman and farmer in the best American frontier tradition, shouldering his musket in time of war or emergency, and returning to his mule team and plow handles in time of peace. Thus, it is both fitting and proper that his memory be perpetuated in the history books and on a historical marker. By W. T. Block
Benjamin Johnson first entered the Texas Army on Nov. 12, 1835, having enlisted in Capt. Willis Landrum's company as it crossed present-day Orange County. He was later discharged at the Alamo. He enlisted a second time in Capt. James Gillaspie's company, Col. Sherman's command, after which he participated in the Battle of San Jacinto on Apr. 21, 1836. Later Johnson served a third enlistment as second sergeant in Capt. J. G. Pierson's company on July 18, 1836. All muster rolls of Johnson's enlistments, as well his military bounty grants, can be found in Texas General Land Office.
On April 24, 1838, Johnson married Rachel Garner, daughter of Bradley Garner, Sr. and Sarah Rachel Harmon, and the newly-weds soon moved to Sabine Pass, where Johnson obtained a farm from his sister-in-law, Sarah Garner McGaffey. Rachel Garner was from a family of military heroes, her father having served at the Battle of New Orleans. Her brother-in-law, Claiborne West, was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and her three brothers, David, Isaac, and Jacob Garner, has also fought at the "Grass Fight" and the Battle of San Antonio.
Between 1838 and 1856, the year of Rachel's death, Benjamin and Rachel Johnson became the parents of 11 sons and 2 daughters. Tragedy also accompanied some of those births, for son Wesley Johnson died in a boating accident at age 18, and a 4-year-old son accidentally fell into a tub of boiling water while the family were killing hogs.
On Jan. 24, 1838, Johnson received a 1,440-acre headright grant from the Jefferson County Board of Land Commissioners. Following his marriage, he appeared again before the commissioners and was granted a married man's headright of 3,000 additional acres.
Also in 1838, Johnson was certified as one of the 57 jurors qualified to serve in the Jefferson County courts. On Dec. 2, 1852, he was elected as a county commissioner of Jefferson County. In 1839, Johnson paid taxes on one slave and 100 acres of land at Sabine Pass; these were the products of his own hands, for his one or two children were still infants, as well as his only slave, which was only 1½ years old. Also Benjamin Johnson was of the Baptist faith, and his family were charter members of the second Baptist congregation in Jefferson County.
In 1856 Rachel Johnson died a victim of the rigors of harsh frontier living and too frequent child birth. Johnson employed Matilda Myers as his housekeeper, and on July 4, 1861, she became Johnson's second wife.
On April 10, 1861, soon after the shelling of Fort Sumter, his sons Bradley and John Johnson helped organize a militia company—the "Sabine Pass Guard." On August 3, 1861, when that company was reorganized into infantry and cavalry units, Benjamin Johnson, the old warrior turned age 46, dusted off his musket again and joined his three sons as a member of the "Ben McCulloch Cavalry."
In 1906, Tom J. Russell, a Beaumont historian, recorded that as of that date, no descendent of Benjamin Johnson had ever been charged with a felony in Jefferson County. Among his children, Bradley Johnson served four years in the Confederate Army, and lived thereafter as a farmer and stockman at Sabine Pass. So did his sons Joseph and Jack Johnson, who also lived in the footsteps of their father. His son Uriah served as constable and street commissioner in Beaumont for 30 years. His namesake, Benjamin, Jr., served as county commissioner at Sabine Pass for about 30 years, and he was very narrowly defeated for county judge by Jeff Chaisson. Johnson's daughters became Mrs. Elizabeth Boals of Dallas, and Mrs. Frost Smith of St. Louis.
After 57 years of life on the harsh frontier, Benjamin Johnson died on Oct. 13, 1872, and he was buried in the Johnson family plot in Sabine Pass Cemetery. On Oct. 14, 1972, on the centennial anniversary of his funeral, a Texas State historical marker was mounted and dedicated on his grave.
Benjamin Johnson was a militiaman and farmer in the best American frontier tradition, shouldering his musket in time of war or emergency, and returning to his mule team and plow handles in time of peace. Thus, it is both fitting and proper that his memory be perpetuated in the history books and on a historical marker. By W. T. Block
Veteran of the Texas War for Independence fought in the Victorious Battles of Bexar, 1835 and San Jacinto, 1836. He married Rachel Garner 1838 (1), she died in 1856. He married Matilda Myers in 1861. He was born in Louisiana, settled in Texas in 1832. He was a farmer, stockman, patriarch. Fought in Texas Army at Bexar. Dec. 1835, In Cap. James Gillaspie's Company, 2nd Regiment, Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. Esteemed and respected. Parents of Wesley, Bradley, John, Uriah, Joseph, Benjamin, Jacob, Isaac, Elizabeth and Rachel. Recorded 1972∼Benjamin Johnson was born on June 8, 1815, near Edgerly, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana with parents Moses Johnson and Nancy Ann Robert. He may have been an orphan at the time that he arrived in Jefferson Municipality, now Bridge City, in Orange County, Texas in 1832.
Benjamin Johnson first entered the Texas Army on Nov. 12, 1835, having enlisted in Capt. Willis Landrum's company as it crossed present-day Orange County. He was later discharged at the Alamo. He enlisted a second time in Capt. James Gillaspie's company, Col. Sherman's command, after which he participated in the Battle of San Jacinto on Apr. 21, 1836. Later Johnson served a third enlistment as second sergeant in Capt. J. G. Pierson's company on July 18, 1836. All muster rolls of Johnson's enlistments, as well his military bounty grants, can be found in Texas General Land Office.
On April 24, 1838, Johnson married Rachel Garner, daughter of Bradley Garner, Sr. and Sarah Rachel Harmon, and the newly-weds soon moved to Sabine Pass, where Johnson obtained a farm from his sister-in-law, Sarah Garner McGaffey. Rachel Garner was from a family of military heroes, her father having served at the Battle of New Orleans. Her brother-in-law, Claiborne West, was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and her three brothers, David, Isaac, and Jacob Garner, has also fought at the "Grass Fight" and the Battle of San Antonio.
Between 1838 and 1856, the year of Rachel's death, Benjamin and Rachel Johnson became the parents of 11 sons and 2 daughters. Tragedy also accompanied some of those births, for son Wesley Johnson died in a boating accident at age 18, and a 4-year-old son accidentally fell into a tub of boiling water while the family were killing hogs.
On Jan. 24, 1838, Johnson received a 1,440-acre headright grant from the Jefferson County Board of Land Commissioners. Following his marriage, he appeared again before the commissioners and was granted a married man's headright of 3,000 additional acres.
Also in 1838, Johnson was certified as one of the 57 jurors qualified to serve in the Jefferson County courts. On Dec. 2, 1852, he was elected as a county commissioner of Jefferson County. In 1839, Johnson paid taxes on one slave and 100 acres of land at Sabine Pass; these were the products of his own hands, for his one or two children were still infants, as well as his only slave, which was only 1½ years old. Also Benjamin Johnson was of the Baptist faith, and his family were charter members of the second Baptist congregation in Jefferson County.
In 1856 Rachel Johnson died a victim of the rigors of harsh frontier living and too frequent child birth. Johnson employed Matilda Myers as his housekeeper, and on July 4, 1861, she became Johnson's second wife.
On April 10, 1861, soon after the shelling of Fort Sumter, his sons Bradley and John Johnson helped organize a militia company—the "Sabine Pass Guard." On August 3, 1861, when that company was reorganized into infantry and cavalry units, Benjamin Johnson, the old warrior turned age 46, dusted off his musket again and joined his three sons as a member of the "Ben McCulloch Cavalry."
In 1906, Tom J. Russell, a Beaumont historian, recorded that as of that date, no descendent of Benjamin Johnson had ever been charged with a felony in Jefferson County. Among his children, Bradley Johnson served four years in the Confederate Army, and lived thereafter as a farmer and stockman at Sabine Pass. So did his sons Joseph and Jack Johnson, who also lived in the footsteps of their father. His son Uriah served as constable and street commissioner in Beaumont for 30 years. His namesake, Benjamin, Jr., served as county commissioner at Sabine Pass for about 30 years, and he was very narrowly defeated for county judge by Jeff Chaisson. Johnson's daughters became Mrs. Elizabeth Boals of Dallas, and Mrs. Frost Smith of St. Louis.
After 57 years of life on the harsh frontier, Benjamin Johnson died on Oct. 13, 1872, and he was buried in the Johnson family plot in Sabine Pass Cemetery. On Oct. 14, 1972, on the centennial anniversary of his funeral, a Texas State historical marker was mounted and dedicated on his grave.
Benjamin Johnson was a militiaman and farmer in the best American frontier tradition, shouldering his musket in time of war or emergency, and returning to his mule team and plow handles in time of peace. Thus, it is both fitting and proper that his memory be perpetuated in the history books and on a historical marker. By W. T. Block
Benjamin Johnson first entered the Texas Army on Nov. 12, 1835, having enlisted in Capt. Willis Landrum's company as it crossed present-day Orange County. He was later discharged at the Alamo. He enlisted a second time in Capt. James Gillaspie's company, Col. Sherman's command, after which he participated in the Battle of San Jacinto on Apr. 21, 1836. Later Johnson served a third enlistment as second sergeant in Capt. J. G. Pierson's company on July 18, 1836. All muster rolls of Johnson's enlistments, as well his military bounty grants, can be found in Texas General Land Office.
On April 24, 1838, Johnson married Rachel Garner, daughter of Bradley Garner, Sr. and Sarah Rachel Harmon, and the newly-weds soon moved to Sabine Pass, where Johnson obtained a farm from his sister-in-law, Sarah Garner McGaffey. Rachel Garner was from a family of military heroes, her father having served at the Battle of New Orleans. Her brother-in-law, Claiborne West, was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and her three brothers, David, Isaac, and Jacob Garner, has also fought at the "Grass Fight" and the Battle of San Antonio.
Between 1838 and 1856, the year of Rachel's death, Benjamin and Rachel Johnson became the parents of 11 sons and 2 daughters. Tragedy also accompanied some of those births, for son Wesley Johnson died in a boating accident at age 18, and a 4-year-old son accidentally fell into a tub of boiling water while the family were killing hogs.
On Jan. 24, 1838, Johnson received a 1,440-acre headright grant from the Jefferson County Board of Land Commissioners. Following his marriage, he appeared again before the commissioners and was granted a married man's headright of 3,000 additional acres.
Also in 1838, Johnson was certified as one of the 57 jurors qualified to serve in the Jefferson County courts. On Dec. 2, 1852, he was elected as a county commissioner of Jefferson County. In 1839, Johnson paid taxes on one slave and 100 acres of land at Sabine Pass; these were the products of his own hands, for his one or two children were still infants, as well as his only slave, which was only 1½ years old. Also Benjamin Johnson was of the Baptist faith, and his family were charter members of the second Baptist congregation in Jefferson County.
In 1856 Rachel Johnson died a victim of the rigors of harsh frontier living and too frequent child birth. Johnson employed Matilda Myers as his housekeeper, and on July 4, 1861, she became Johnson's second wife.
On April 10, 1861, soon after the shelling of Fort Sumter, his sons Bradley and John Johnson helped organize a militia company—the "Sabine Pass Guard." On August 3, 1861, when that company was reorganized into infantry and cavalry units, Benjamin Johnson, the old warrior turned age 46, dusted off his musket again and joined his three sons as a member of the "Ben McCulloch Cavalry."
In 1906, Tom J. Russell, a Beaumont historian, recorded that as of that date, no descendent of Benjamin Johnson had ever been charged with a felony in Jefferson County. Among his children, Bradley Johnson served four years in the Confederate Army, and lived thereafter as a farmer and stockman at Sabine Pass. So did his sons Joseph and Jack Johnson, who also lived in the footsteps of their father. His son Uriah served as constable and street commissioner in Beaumont for 30 years. His namesake, Benjamin, Jr., served as county commissioner at Sabine Pass for about 30 years, and he was very narrowly defeated for county judge by Jeff Chaisson. Johnson's daughters became Mrs. Elizabeth Boals of Dallas, and Mrs. Frost Smith of St. Louis.
After 57 years of life on the harsh frontier, Benjamin Johnson died on Oct. 13, 1872, and he was buried in the Johnson family plot in Sabine Pass Cemetery. On Oct. 14, 1972, on the centennial anniversary of his funeral, a Texas State historical marker was mounted and dedicated on his grave.
Benjamin Johnson was a militiaman and farmer in the best American frontier tradition, shouldering his musket in time of war or emergency, and returning to his mule team and plow handles in time of peace. Thus, it is both fitting and proper that his memory be perpetuated in the history books and on a historical marker. By W. T. Block
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