Patrick Johnson, Pioneer Texas Cattleman

My Johnson Line

  1. M. Lee Murrah
  2. Earvin Elroy Murrah m. Ina Gertrude Johnson
  3. Hester Ann Laura Forsythe m. Samuel Virgil Murrah
  4. Sarah Alice Darenda Landrum m. William Earl Forsythe
  5. Maston Lee Landrum m. Mary Jane Johnson
  6. Patrick Johnson m. Mary Vianna Ashworth
  7. Patrick Johnson, Sr. (?) m. Martha Norsworthy (?)

Patrick Johnson was born in Louisiana about 1825 [1], and he was probably a member of the mixed blood group know as Redbones, as were the Ashworths, Dials, and Perkins. He moved to Texas by 1847 when he married Mary Vianna (Vinie) Ashworth in Polk Co.. [5] By 1850 the Johnsons were in Houston Co. in an area that later became Trinity County. [1] By 1860 the Johnson were living in Angelina Co. near Burke. [2]

Patrick was a pioneer East Texas cattleman. Terry Jordan in "North American Cattle-Ranching Frontiers" cites the Redbones of Southern Louisiana, a group which includes the Johnsons, Ashworths, Perkins and Dials, as key figures in developing the Texas system of cattle ranching and bringing it from South Carolina to Southern Louisiana and then to Texas. Patrick Johnson was one of this group, and family legend says he was killed on a cattle drive about 1869 near Lovelady, Trinity Co., Texas and is buried at Lovelady Cemetery. [4] It is not known whether he was one of the legendary "cowboys" who participated in any of the great cattle drives to Missouri and Kansas and helped create the Western myth.

The children of Patrick and Vinie were as follows [1,2,3]:

  • Sarilda, born 1848 in Houston Co., Texas, who married John Bridges Forsythe.
  • James M., born 1850 in Houston Co., Texas, who never married.
  • Mary Jane, born 1852 in Texas, who married Maston L. Landrum in 1869, died in Angelina Co., Texas in 1905 and buried at Ryan's Chapel Cemetery near Burke.
  • Sarah K., born 1853 in Texas.
  • William Crawford (Bud), born 1854 in Texas,who married Katherine Bolden and died in 1884.
  • Josiah Allen, born 1857 in Texas, and never married.
  • Mathilda (Mattie) born 1860 in Texas, and married Steve Landrum, brother of Maston Landrum.
  • Hester Ann (Nan) born 1864 in Texas, and married Ed Mahan.
  • Ella born 1869 in Texas.

    Some say there was also a son Steve.

    Was There a Patrick, Sr.?

    It is thought that Patrick's father was also named Patrick and that he married a Norsworthy.

    Published Genealogies and Other Sources

    None known.

    Other Patrick Johnson Internet Resources

    None known.

    Sources

    • [1] 1850 Census, Houston Co., Texas
    • [2] 1860 Census, Angelina Co., Texas
    • [3] 1870 Census, Angelina Co., Texas
    • [4] Patrick Landrum, son of Mary Jane Johnson Landrum (personal interview).
    • [5] Marriage Records, Polk Co., Texas

    Updates and Corrections

    The above information is based on the best sources currently available to the author and is subject to correction. If you have information that is different or additional to that shown above, I would like to receive it. Please contact me by e-mail and mention this web page in your message.

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