Sumter-Taylor-Schley County GaArchives News.....G. A. Johnson, Sumter County's Last Confederate Vet, Dies at 91 November 7 1936 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Harris Hill harrishill@starband.net August 19, 2003, 1:01 am Americus Times-Recorder Funeral Sunday Rites to be Held at Home, Burial in Oak Grove Ninety-one year old G.A. Johnson--Sumter county's last surviving Confederate veteran--who shook hands with General Robert E. Lee after the surrender at Appomattox, went out to answer the last roll call early today. He died peacefully at 7 o'clock this morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L.S. Mathews, 910 Oglethorpe avenue, here. The aged wearer of the gray in the War Between the States, who would have been 92 on January 9, had been ill five weeks. Joins Army at 18. A slender youth of 18, Mr. Johnson left his Taylor county farm home, situated two miles above the Schley county line on Butler Road, in the spring of 1863 to enlist in the 6th Georgia regiment. He was assigned to Florida duty. In May of the following year he was transferred to the Army of Northern Virginia. Time blotted out memories of many harrowing experiences of the war, but the 20- year-old boy never forgot the April day when General Lee surrendered to General U.S. Grant at Appomattox court house. Recalls Surrender The years were kind to his alert faculties and on his birthday last January 9, he vividly recounted the moving scenes of that heart throbbing day to the Times-Recorder staff writer. Aware of General Lee's conference with the Union commander at the court house, a body of Confederate troops were awaiting for him after the surrender. They saw him coming down the road mounted on "a big whiter" (his horse "Traveler"). With a surge of emotion, the mass swept on the gallant leader of the lost cause, and Mr. Johnson, in the frontline, was pressed close to the Confederate cheiftain. Lee Overcome, "Failed" Lee was over come "and failed," the local man recalled with a slight break in his tense voice. "When he failed they all started to cryin'--not one cryin' but all of 'em. That was more men cryin' than I ever saw for they were forty deep behind me." Mr. Johnson reached out and carressed the commander's shoulder. Then General Lee extended his hand. For the shake that was to mean more to the Georgia soldier than the entire conflict. He returned to Georgia by sea, landed in Savannah, and lost time in getting back to his Taylor county home to take up farming. Two years later he married Miss Sara Elliston. The years went by, and in 1921 he came here to reside with his daughter, Mrs. L.S. mathews. Two months ago he led four generations to the polls to "vote a straight Democratic ticket." Mr. Johnson held Primitive Baptist faith. Funeral services will be conducted from the residence Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The Rev. H.T. Freeman, pastor of First Methodist church, and the Rev. John R. Joyner, pastor of Central Baptist church will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Grove cemetery. Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. F. Mathews, Columbus; Mrs. L.S. mathews, Americus; Mrs. S.B. Butler and Mrs. C.F. Butler, both of Talbotton; two sons, j.a. Johnson, Americus and W.J. Johnson, Tampa, Fla.; several grandchildren and other relatives. Pallbearers will be George Mathews, R.L. Mathews, W.J. Mathews, C.A. Smith, Jr., Guy Thornton and Carl Butler. Clark Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements. Mrs. Dale Smith, president of the local organization of United Daughters of the Confederacy, today urged all members to attend the funeral of G.A. Johnson here Sunday afternoon. CARD OF THANKS. We wish to thank our friends and neighbors for their many acts and words of sympathy during our recent bereavement caused by the beautiful floral offerings. Mrs. L.S. Mathews, Mrs. F. Mathews, Mrs. S.B. Butler, Mrs. C.F. Butler, James A. Johnson, J.W. Johnson. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb 1930 Sumter Co. GA Oglethorpe Avenue District 789 Americus Ed 11 22b 910 Mary H. Mathews Head f/w 62 wd GA GA GA Johnson " Son m/w 28 s Ga Ga Ga George A. Johnson Father m/w 85 wd Ga Ga Ga 1880 Census Cedar Creek, Taylor, Georgia Page Number 42B George A. JOHNSON Self M Male W 35 GA Farm GA GA Sarah R. JOHNSON Wife M Female W 33 GA Keeping House GA GA Mary A. JOHNSON Dau S Female W 12 GA At Home GA GA Henry T. JOHNSON Son S Male W 10 GA At Home GA GA Faithy M. JOHNSON Dau S Female W 5 GA At Home GA GA Eldora JOHNSON Dau S Female W 1 GA At Home GA GA Matilda JOHNSON Mother W Female W 63 GA At Home GA GA 1870 Taylor Co. GA Cedar Creek Post Office: Butler Page: 356 91 George A. Johnson 26 GA Sarah 23 Ga Mary 2 Ga Thomas? 6/12 Ga 92 Mollie?? Johnson 1860 GA Taylor Co. DIVISION: Carsonville PAGE NO: 855 1 194 179 JOHNSON Matilda 43 F W Domestic 1,600 2,437 GA REMARKS: Widow 2 194 179 JOHNSON William G. 20 M W Farmer 1,090 GA 3 194 179 JOHNSON Jonathan J. 18 M W Farmer GA 4 194 179 JOHNSON George A. 15 M W Farmer Taylor Co. Marriages: Johnson, G(eorge) A. (Sweet) married Ellison, S(arah) A.R. 13 Jan 1867 Georgia Death Index G A Johnson Death Date: 07 Nov 1936 Age: Gender: Residence: County of Death: Sumter Certificate: 36986