DeSoto Parish, Louisiana; Biography: Walter Johnson - j525 --------------------------------- Submitted by Gaytha Carver Thompson Typed by Trudy Marlow ************************************************ Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Walter Johnson. No name is more properly placed in the history of the parish than that of Mr. Johnson, who is not only one of the most en- terprising planters of the parish, but is of such a social, genial nature that he has made many friends. His land amounts to about 2,000 acres, and he has 1,400 acres under cultivation, on which he raises cotton, oats and corn. He is one of the most successful and prominent planters in this section of the country, and on his place is an ex- cellent general mercantile establishment, which he conducts. He owes his nativity to Montgomery County, Ala., where he was born on January 7, 1847, being a son of Richard T. and Mary I. (Lang) Johnson, the former a native of Edgefield District, S. C., and the latter of Lowndes County, Ala. They removed from the latter State to Louisiana in 1847, and located in De Soto Parish, on the place now owned and occupied by their son, Walter, at which time the land was in a wild state, not a stick having been cut on it. The father was a lawyer by profession, having been admitted to the bar in Pike County, Ala., and he was associated in this business with B. F. Burford, who was the leader of the Kansas expe- dition to extend slavery in Kansas. Mr. Johnson was a colonel of militia in Alabama, and after com- ing to this State he gave up his profession and turned his attention entirely to planting. He was an old line Whig, but after the war he became a Democrat, and upon the surrender of Gen. Lee he left this country and went to British Hondu- ras, where he immediately became naturalized and lived under the British flag until his death, which occurred on April 3, 1869. His remains were brought to Louisiana and interred in the family cemetery near Mansfield. He had traveled all over Texas and Arkansas, looking for a location, and came hither from Natchitoches on an old In- dian trail, and being much pleased with the looks of the country, here he determined to make his home. He became an extensive slave-owner and was regarded as an expert agriculturist, and wrote many articles on the subject of husbandry to dif- ferent agricultural papers, thus, as well as in other ways, becoming well known throughout the State. He was quite active, politically, made nu- merous political speeches, and became a leading spirit in the political affairs of North Louisiana His wife, by whom he became the father of children, is still living, the names of his children being as follows: Walter, Pauline (wife of J. H. Putnam), and Mortimer. Walter was reared on the old homestead here, and attended the com- mon schools, and, like his father, has always fol- lowed planting. In 1881 he had no rain on his place from May 18 to September 14, but made a half crop, which fully shows that his farm is ex- ceptionally adapted to the culture of cotton. In 1884 there was no rain from June 9 to October 22, a half crop being also raised, and from July 3, 1887, to August 31, there was a drouth, but his crop resulted as formerly. Mr. Johnson keeps accurate dates of all these things, as he is par- ticularly interested in the culture of cotton. Long drouths also occurred in 1888, from July 6, to September 3, and in 1889 from July 6 to Septem- ber 3, and in 1890 from July 7 up to the pres- ent date. His gin-house is very large, and does a paying business. Mr. Johnson has been a valu- able acquisition to this section, and deservedly ranks among the leading planters of his parish. His marriage, which occurred on November 16, 1871, was to Miss Susie, daughter of Dr. A. V. Roberts, by whom he has five children: Mary L., Richard, Katie, Walter F. and Ben.