Submitted by Gregory S. Johnson- October 2003

Updated December 27, 2005

My paternal great-grandfather, Samuel Parsons (“S.P.”) Johnson, son of Samuel Johnson and Martha “Patsy” Collier, was born in Carroll County, MS on November 18, 1840. His wife, Susan Eliza Beck, daughter of Thomas Wright Beck and Esther Blackman Fellows, was born March 24, 1850, also in Carroll County, MS.  They were married March 26, 1867 in Black Hawk, MS. by the Rev. Steve Johnson and lived in the city of Vaiden.

They had 10 children, three of whom (Gaston Gilbert, Mary Eliza and John W.) died as children. The remaining seven were Mamie Canzada (wife of Wesley Stephen Hatcher), Mattie Esther (wife of James Robert Lowry), Thomas Meek (married to Ada Mason and Hattie Allen Gratham), George Whitfield (never married; was the surviving twin brother of John W.), Louis Henry (married to Lizzie Red and Lynn Bock), Samuel Walter (married to Bennie Mae Rodgers), and Joseph Emmitt (married to Ada Mayfield). Joseph was my grandfather.

Prior to their marriage, in March 1862, S.P. enlisted in Waul’s Texas Legion (Co. F, Willis Battalion). He was living in Gonzales County, Texas at the time. It is not known when or why he had moved to Texas. According to the pension applications completed by Susan after S.P.’s death, he was still in active service when the Civil War ended.

S.P. died in Carroll County on November 22, 1922. He is buried in Old Salem Cemetery.  “Co. F, Waul’s Texas Legion, CSA” is engraved on his headstone. He was a member and elder of the Blackmonton Presbyterian Church at the time of his death.

After S.P. died, Susan lived for awhile with her daughter Mamie Johnson Hatcher in Red Banks (Marshall County), MS. Later, she lived with her son Thomas Meek in Ruleville (Sunflower County), MS which is where she died on December 30, 1930.

According to Susan’s Death Certificate, she is buried in Old Salem Cemetery in Carroll County. Based on personal observation, her grave is unmarked.