Sumter-Taylor-Schley County GaArchives News.....G. A. Johnson, Sumter County's Last Confederate Vet, Dies at 91 November 7 1936
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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.
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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