Obit of Peter Lazarus Johnson - Conecuh Co. AL -------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGenWeb NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. Lygia D. Cutts - ALGENWEB Archives FM -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributed by Patsy Quick JUNE 1999 From THE PANOLA WATCHMAN Carthage, Texas November 2, 1904 "ANOTHER LANDMARK GONE" News reaches us as we go to press of the death of Uncle Peter Lazarus Johnson who lived in the southern part of the county. Uncle Peter belonged to the rugged class of pioneers who paved the way for civilization in East Texas. His remains were interred at Woods by the Masonic fraternity, of which he was an honored member, on Tuesday evening. We will have something to say of his history in the next issue. From THE PANOLA WATCHMAN November 30, 1904 Uncle Peter L. Johnson who recently died at his home near Woods and forms the subject of this sketch, was born in the State of Alabama, March 12, 1828. He made a good confession and became a member of the Missionary Baptist Church in 1840 and was baptized by Rev. Alexander Travis. He was married to Miss Caroline E, Murray on November 11, 1852, and moved to Panola County, Texas in 1854. He organized the first Sunday School in the neighborhood in 1855 and took part in the organization of the Independence Baptist Church in 1856. He was made a Master Mason in 1858 and a Royal Arch Mason in 1863. In September 1861, he volunteered and joined the Confederate Army and served two years when he was honorably discharged on account of bad health. He assisted in organizing the Buenavista and Shelby Association; was moderator most of time, while missing only two meetings in all those years, and was a delegate at the time of his last illness. After the Civil War, he taught school and farmed at intervals. He was President of the Grange Association and Superintended the Grange Store at Tenaha for several years. He served as County Commissioner for two years, and made a faithful and conscientious officer. He was a man, not perhaps, without his faults, but for all that, a good citizen and generally found working shoulder to shoulder with the best element of society on all moral and political questions that had their purpose the lifting of mankind upon a higher plane and betterment of government and society.. Thus passed away another member of the brave and hardy race of pioneers whose like we shall perhaps never look on again. There are but few now left in the county who stand out like the storm tossed and weather beaten giant oaks of the mighty forest, whose hoary heads are now bowed and whose branches have been broken by the storms of many winters. Let us note their passing with reverence and uncovered heads. Let us emulate their virtues and tread highly and reverently over their moldering bodies. I wondered why the minister that baptized him would be remembered after 64 years… Rev. Travis was well know - for his Christian works (He was an Uncle to William B. Travis, that died at the Alamo.)