The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-03-29

than build a monument to Col. Frank
johnson, upon the very spot where
Fort Anahuac stood; other states
and countries and nations have,
wherever civilization has gone, thus hon
ored their dead.
No country of ancient or modern times
ever had holder or better race of men
to lay the foundations of her government
than rhose who planted liberty in Texas.
Their lofty actions, amid peril and diff
Guilty, marked them as superior men.
They did not love money. They courted
no mans wealth. Their fervld love of
liberty sustained them in their greatest
peril, and made them bold IN their resist
auce to oppression, injury and insult.
They longed to lay the foundation of
great republic upon these principles
alone which lie at the foundation of all
true liberiy. They desired no wealth, ex-
cept The wealth Of glorious achievement
They conquered an empire, and gave it TO
posterity for an inheritance. They died,
me st of them, in poverty, their grand
deeds will live in history, and shall not
We cherish their memory?
Hop. A. NJ. jackson and Gen. N. G,
Shelley then followed in five minutes
address each, eulogizing the honored dead,
and calling attention to the patriotic
services he and his associates had rendered
their country aud the mighty results
which had flowed from them.
Alter the ceremonies the remains we're
conveyed to the state cemetery, followed
by the governor and 9th er state officials,
the Austin Greys and a large cortege of
citizens.
The following gentlemen acted as pail
bearers:
Judge Joe Lee, I. c. Thomson, John
Colonel Stephen A. Dardeu, Rev. Jack
Atkinson and Thomas Freeman.
At the grave the ceremonies were sim,
pie, al d the remains of the old hero and
patriot were laid away to mingle with the
dust of the lard for which he had toiled,
fought, suffered, and loved so we'll.
COLONEL FRANK W. JOHNSON.
Colonel Frank w. Johnson was born
il Virginia in the year 1888
When 26 years of age he moved to Texas
Ard shortly after was appointed alcalde
at San Filipe. In 1882 he was elected
commander of the forces at Anahuac 10
resist the arbitrary measures of Braiburn,
and to release Jack Edwards, and other
prisoners. III 1888 he vas adjutant, first
; to Austin and then to Burleson. He
commanded one of the storming parties
that entered San Ant Jnio, and when the
! Gallant Milan fell became first in com
mand, and with great bravery and skill
carried on the assault until the pace sur
l rendered.
: Ia the epring nf 1886 he, in compan,
Q with Grant and Norris, was preparing TO
descent on Matamoras when his sma
. party was surprised at San Patrici'
i by the command of General Urerf
) The Mexicaa citizens of the place ha
t been warned of the approach of Urer'
d and told to keep their lights burning tina
S their friends might know their where
8 abouts. Colonel johnson happened to b
!, writ ng until late hour, and, b. fore h
;, extinguished hislight he learned that Tn
place was 10 possession of the Mexloani
G Under the cover of the darkness he an
e four companions managed to effect an ef
e cape, the remainder of his party bein
taken prisoners.
: Colonel Johnson's whole life was one G
d activity. He was we'll educated
g. and was cons antly adding to h
n fund of information. His memor
10 was something very wonderful. When
n had reached the advanced age of MOI
ID than four score, his mind and memol
J. would have done credit to man in I'll
q ripe beauty of mgnhood-tIeasures to
E coveted and preserved. His body su
e fered with disease, but his mind new
dimmed or wavered till the en-
If He was man OF great nerve. Durlr
N the last year of his life, cancer havir
ar mede the amputatOn of a part of b
n. right hand necessary, he submitted wit
n out groan or movement of the muscl
er to tell of what he suffered. He was {
m early rissr-promp', niethodicai and o
I'd derby.
or He was a smooth, correct aud gracef
d. writer. and he spent the last twenty yea
an OF his life in preparing history of Text
90 which, it is due to his valor and GENT
of that the state should have published al
he distributed as the text book of, Tex
ST history, the first correct history given
II, the public.
lie Colonel Johnson's only survivor is
m daughter, Mrs. Mary Jane Teal, who
eel sides in some part of the state, the exc
-, | pIoce I1nkpOWD.