The Hartford republican., 1922-06-02
BLIND KENTUCkIAN
BUILDS TEXAS CITY
Famed Fighter Refuses To
Have Progress Halted
Thru Handicap

Burnet, Tex, May 27.-"Kentuc-
kians, sub, and Texans never let the
handicap of blindness retard the pro-
gress Of their achievements.
"Kentuckians and Texans follow
destiny. When it becomes ordained,
sub. that they shall build they
shall build"
Modesty forbids Gen. A. r. John
son to speak thus, but the tradition
of the quoted words holds true in
his case.
A Civil War veteran, minus his
sight, General johnson builded the
city of Marble Falls, Tex, and con-
structed therein a water and power
plant, a shoe factory, cotton mill
and a school. When he was not busy
| building he took occasion to tight
Indians and educated his six chill
dren, none Of whom he has ever seen
because of his blindness.
Not only has johnson refused to
let blindness retard his achievements,
but he also has taken a prominent
part in Texas politics and civic work.
He is SO years old today. altertly
looking into the future with a keen
mind instead of eyes.
Brilliant War Record.
Johnsons record in the war be-
tween the states was as brilliant as
his work after the conflict had clos
ed, altho he could see well enough in
the first years of the war, as the ene-
my realized 1t was duringthe latter
part of the fighting that he lost his
sight from explosion of she'll.
Johnson is one of the few remaining
generals of the Confederacy and has
been a resident of Texas for more
than sixty years.
When Johnson came to Texas be-
fore the Civil War-Kentucky being
his native state-he had charge of
section of the Overland Mail Route, |
one of the links in the Butterfield |
Mail Route between New York and |
San Francisco. The Comanche In !
dians often attacked and killed the !
station agents, and in the fights with |
them, Johnson always took hand
Once he and a few others were saved !
from the Indians by Sull Ross and |
his Texas Rangers. After Ross became !
governor of Texas he and Johnson |
became warm personal friends.
Before the war began Johnson
had a contract to sectionize 256,000
acres for a railroad company along
the Pecos River, for which he was
to receive 200 sections In this work
he had further narrow escapes from
Indians.
When the war came he hurried to
and Joined General For
rest. Johnson had two brothers in
the federal army and having been
absent in Texas so long it was sup
posed his sentiments were similar,
and so he obtained valuable informa-
ton for Forrest. 1t was at this :
time that Johnson earned the So
briquet "Stovepipe Johnson" Learn
ming that there were 500 stands OF ,,
guns at Newberg Ind, he took but
thirty men across the Ohio River !
and found some broken-down wagons
and joints of stovepipe. Mounting /
he pipe on the wagon wheels, he was !
,ble to deceive the people at Newberg ,
nto thinking that he had several !
Powerful cannons trained upon their
own, and when he demanded of the
ederal officers that they surrender !
heir supplies they did so promptly.
The general lost his eyes during a
light at Grubb's Cross Roads, Ken
ucky, and was left COR dead upon
he battlefield. His obituary was ,
published all over the South, but .
he federals picked him up, with C;a' 7
r wounded, and sent him 20 Boston :
Harbor Prison. Later lie was ex | q,
and spent the remainder of :
he war period filling cartridges.
After Lee surrendered, Johnson .
where he still found his old enemy,
he Comanches, on the warpath. He
several expeditions
against them. a
Began Building City. /
Then he began his plans for build
ng Marble Falls, liking the location {
because of the falls in the Colorado d
River at that point and the natural n
lam. Thus the "Blind Mans Town"
With it's fine waterpOwer plant and
actories became a reality. Not long /
lftar the waterpower plant was com e
,leted a flood swept 1t away. This n
vouId have discouraged a man with | c