Samuel Ealy Johnson, Sr.

Samuel Ealy Johnson Sr. was born on November 12, 1838, in Wedowee, Alabama. He was the tenth child of Jesse Johnson and Lucy Webb (née Barnett). Johnson was raised as a Baptist and later became a member of the Christian Church. In his later years, he adopted the Christadelphian faith, following the religious affiliations of his wife and daughter.

In the late 1850s, Johnson moved to Texas, settling with his brother Jesse Thomas Johnson, often referred to as Tom Johnson. They established their residence in a one-room log cabin on a 320-acre parcel of land, which became the headquarters for a cattle driving operation that served seven counties.

Johnson enlisted in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, on September 18, 1861. He served in Company B of the 26th Texas Cavalry Regiment until the war's end. His military service included participation in the Battle of Galveston and the Red River Campaign in Louisiana, with duties along the Texas coast and in Louisiana.

After the conclusion of the Civil War, Johnson married Eliza Bunton of Caldwell County on December 11, 1867.

In the political arena, Johnson was the Populist nominee for the Texas House of Representatives representing Blanco and Gillespie counties in the fall of 1892.

Samuel Ealy Johnson Sr. passed away in Texas from pneumonia in early 1915, on February 25. His lifespan covered several significant periods of American history, including the Civil War and Reconstruction era.

He was the grandfather of Lyndon B. Johnson, who would later serve as the 36th President of the United States.

The information available includes references to public domain materials from the National Archives and Records Administration, as well as resources such as the Handbook of Texas Online and sites associated with the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park.