The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-01
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

A citizen of Bufnet county, possesses In an en-
inent degree all the Characteristic attributes
that combine in making him distinguished
citizen. His gallant and devoted services in
the Confederate cause has achieved for him a
brilliant record in the annals of history. Gen.
johnson J,l ms was born MI in Henderson, Ky on the
moved to Texas and settled in Burnet, then
known as Hamilton's Valley, adopting the
profession OF surveyor. In this field of active
operations, in a country infested with hostile
Indians and wild beasts, he found theatre
adapted for the development of his enterpris-
ing spirit and military genius. In the prose
with the compass in one hand and the rifle i'll
the other, numerous were the conflicts in
which he engaged in defence of the homes and
tiresides of the frontier settlements, as wei as
hand-to-hand encounters in protecti 1g his own
life. On one occasion, near the head of Concho
river, river, in 1859. while travelling to and from the
Plain Station with his brother and three
others, they were surrounded by large num-
Der OF hostile Indians thirsting for their blood.
How they escaped can only be accounted for
spirit of Gen. johnson and his comrades.
In such school of practical enterprise, his
life daily exposed to the tomahawk and skalp-
was this youth educated and fitted for the
more trying scenes and upon a broader field of
operations eliminating in the gigantic struggle
OF the late civil war. in 1860, when this
mighty Union was cOnvulsed from Maine to
Texas, his ardent spirit fired with true South
ern sentiment, he ileit the state of his adop
ortune, and at once reported himself for duty
to Gen. Forest, then at Hopkinsville, KY, who
assigned him to the dangerous, position
of scout. With one man he entered the enc
my's lines, and obtaining valuable Information
returned with twelve splendid cavalry horS IS
captur ed. At Fort Donaldson he was honora-
efficient service with whom he acted until the
evacuation OF Corinth. After that he was sent
into Kentucky, where he raised, armed and
equipped over 2200 men, with whom as their
commander he actively and effectdally held
western Kentucky. against the irroads OF
many prisoners, and destroying $1,000 900
worth of public property claimed by the
enemy. This territory he successfully held
of the citizens, and terror to the enemy until
in the last battle in which he commanded, was
terribly wounded and captured, thus ending
gallant officer, whose deeds of daring and
noble acts of kindness are still green in the
memory of thousands OF his cOuntrymen, and
fills bright page in the history Of the mighI-
est war OF ancient or modern times. After the
Struggle for Confederate independence, re-
turning to BurneJ, the home of his choice, Gen.
Johnson, with spirit unconquered, and energy
unabated, though afflicted with total blindness,
he yet looked out on the world of Uses with a
clearer vision than most men whose orbs of
vision are undimmed or unobsclred. See him in
daily intercourse with the world, engaged in
transactions Of the greatest magnitude, di-
rectipg his land office affairs in systematic,
and voices with remarkable eXactneSS, and
is a living example of what blind man caR do
who has nerve. pluck and tenacity of purpose
to assist his manhood, and to depend upon
himself for the means of support. He is wise
and discreet in his decisions eminently prac-
tical and judiciOus iu taking care of great in
prisi1g and conciliatory in his spirit. The
writer awards to Gen. johnson strong iDdivid-
uality Of character, fidelity TO all trusts, gn-
bending devotion to truth and honor. of a chiy
alric spirit, steadfast in his friendships, With
soul for the beautiful and tender sense of
appreciation and love for all the ties which
bind uSitOgether in one common brotherhood.
BRILLIANT WEDDING OF GEN. JoHNsoN's
DAUGHTER.
There is grand pathos, a heart full of happy
expectations, with an Astounding Joy welling up
in the bosOms of two souls as they plight their
altar. The parental feeling is awakened d 10 a
sense of the grave responsibility which is to
rest on the lives OF children reared in the home
of love- duty and affection, and who have been
rocked in the cradle of tender, watchtul care;
yet there springs up the all-pervading emotion
of delight which none but mother can feel for
her offspring when anchored in the bosom of
Hope. The young and The fair are always the
objects OF the greatest Solfc1tude when the
vine cleayes to the family roof; but when it is
to grow in another vineyard, under other
sheltering arms, in new embrace, in an I'M
discovered country, and in a world OF Uses to
the young yet unexplored, the gravity OF the
matrimonial situation becomes an Interesting
and profitable source Of reflection. Inestinl-
able above all human treasures in this life is
the home where Love is the handmade, Hope
the inspiring link, Faith the sheet anchor, and
where the sunlight of a woman bursts upon the
life of man as his dearest sweetheart in the
divine attribute of wife,. Wealth and fame are
womans love. The prison wall does not shut
out her fidelity nor lessen her hold upon the
object of her affection. In the shock of battle
her spirit rises equal to the occasion, and she
surrender S no vital principle involved in lost
cause. True to her instinct and the finer feel
ing inherent in her nature, the
is upheld, consecrated, and has It's hoiiest prop
in the affections, uDmixed with cowardice or
submission. This IS the character of true
woman, as exemplifed by Mary in the heroic
past, who was last at the Crucifxtion and ap-
peared first at the Resurrection. According TO
the Arabian tradition, God first made man,
the flowers. Symbolical with the queen of Love
id beauty and fragrance are the roses which
cluster IN our pathway and show their bright
and happy faces In the sunshine of home
sweetened by the presence of beautiful sur
roundings, recalling to mind that "a thing of
beauty Is Joy 5ofsevesFE' sN sE. The The eql9gy PRO;
on the mindssOf all who enter the estate of ma.
trimony, may prove to be an inspiration and a
lesson, calculated to produce the best thoughts
on subject so near and dear to the human
heart. f
mony, which is the most sacred relation on
earth existing between the sexes, may be men
toned the brilliant marriage on the evening of
the 10th of October, 1888, at the residence of
Gen. A. X. johnson, one of the most distin-
guished citizens and early settlers of Burnet
| On that occasion the hero OF many hard fought
| battles parted with lovely daughter, and gave
| her hand in marriage to young and inexper-
| fenced voyager ON hfes uncertain sea, whose
heart is to be tried in the crucibe of sickness or
adversely, as well as the temptations of world
| full Of contradictions when applied to the hu-
man family. Wealth is often changed to abiect
poverty, sickness and disease blast the hopes,
/ Impair the happiness, and cast shadows of
| deepest gloom in the homes of those in the en-
/ joyment of the most robust health, but Love-
| firmly planted in the human breast, based on
/ the principles of true manhood and lovely
/ womanhOod, when two souls are blended into
| one on the divine altar of the affections,
| no calamity in life can make them poor nor
/ lessen their fidelity. In the morning of life
| Mr.. Walter Fl. Badger and Miss Bette johnson
have plighted their faith and started out as
| companions in the fond embrace of Love.
| They have youth and health as their strong al
lies, coupled with circumstances denotfng a
comfortable competence, in the beginning Of a
career which has been blessed by parental as
sistance. But the wealth of a ROthschild
| would be insufficient where the more Splendid
and enduring wealth of Love had not its abid-
ing place in the homes and affections of the
human race. The wedding of Mr.. Badger and
Miss johnson was attended by large number
of invited friends who extended cordial con
NaA~a~