The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-06-11
Blind Man Builds City in Texas

BURNET. as-"Kcntuckinns
sub and Texans never let the handi-
cap Of blindness retard the progress
of their achievements.
''Kentuckians and Texans follow
destiny when II becomes ordained
sub, that they shall build-thoy
shall build
Modesty forbids Gen. A. r. JGrn-
son to speak thus, but tho tradition
OF the quoted words holds true In
his case,
\ Civil war veteran, minus his
sight General Johnson huilded the
/ city OF Marble Falls, Texas. and
constructed therein "A water Cnd
power plant, n shoe factory, cot
ton mill and n school. When he was
not busy building he took occasion
to fight Indians and educate his
six children, none of whom he has
ever seen because OF his blindness.
/ Not only has Johnson refused to
bet blindness rctard his achieve
monts. but he also has taken n
, prominent part in Texas politics and
/ civic work. He is SS years old to-
/ day. alertly looking into the future
/ with n keen mind instead OF eyes.
Brilliant War Record.
Johnson's record in the war be-
| tween the states was as brilliant ms
/ his work after the conflict had
/ closed although he could see well
/ enough in the first years of the war,
| as the enemy realized. II was dur
/ ing the latter part of the fighting
| that he lost his sight from eXplo-
/ sion OF n she'll Johnson is one OF
| the few remaining generals OF the
confederacy and has been a resi-
dent Of Texas for more than GO
/ wears.
When johnson came to Texas be-
| fore the Civil war-s kentucky being
1 his native state--he had charge of
n section Of the overland mail route,
one of the links in the Butterfield
mail route between New York and
San Francisco. The ComanChe In
dlans often attacked and killed the
station agents and in the fights with
them Johnson always took "A hand.
once he and a few others were
saved from the Indians by sui 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 256,0OO
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
Kentucky and Joined General For
rest. Johnson had two brothers in
the federal army and having been
absent IN Texas so long II was sup
posed his sentiments were similar
and so he obtained valuable informn-
tion for Forrest II was at this time
that johnson earned the sobriquet,
"Stovepipe Johnson" Learning
that there were 500 stands OF guns
at NewberE. Ind, he took but 80
men across the Ohio river and
found somo broken-down wagons
and joints OF stoyepipe. Mounting
the pipe on the wagon wheels he
was able 10 deceive the people Mt
Newberg into thinking that he had
several powerful cannon trained
upon their town, and when he de-
mandod Of the federal officers that
they surrender their supplies they
did so promptly
The general lost his eyes during
fight at Grubb's Cross Roads, Ken
lucky, and was left for dead upon
the battlefield. His obituary was
published all over the south but the
federals picked him up. with other
wounded and sent him to Boston
t0rDOT prison, Later ne was cN-
changed and spent the remainder
| Of the war period filling cartridges.
/ After Leo surrendered Johnson
/ and his wife returned to Texas,
/ where he s,ill found his old enemy.
| the Comanches, on tho warpath lie
accompanied several expeditions
against them
Began Building City.
Then he began his plans for build
ing Marble Falls. liking the location
because OF the falls in the Colorado
river at that point and the natural
| dam. Thus the "Blind Mans Town"
with its fine waterpower plant and
factories became n reality. Not long
after the waterpower plant was
! completed a flood swept II away,
This would have discouraged man
with eyesight, but II did not put a
stop TO Johnson's efforts, for he be-
gan 10 rebuild Immediately. Fvo ry
day found him on the banks OF the
river and he felt OF the logs and
ElNA -. 4. =. a. A -.