DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the marker on Joshua Foster Johnson tells it, best I can put it into words. Now, some men leave a mark on a place. Joshua Foster Johnson left about a dozen — and he wasn't even finished unpacking when he started.
He was born September 27, 1824, and by 1845 he'd made his way down from Tennessee to Texas. Settled in 1846 near a stretch of ground that would one day become Mount Vernon. And two years after that, in 1848, he was right there helping found the town — back when they were still calling it Keith.
He didn't slow down once the town had a name. By 1849, Johnson was sitting in the 3rd Texas Legislature, serving through 1850, and he came with something on his mind. He sponsored the Mount Vernon Male and Female Academies bill — a piece of work the marker credits as leading to a public school system.
Think about that. The man helped plant a town, then turned around and tried to make sure the children growing up in it had somewhere to learn. And he kept showing up at the moments that mattered most.
He was a member of the Secession Convention in 1861 — one of the defining crossroads in Texas history. Then fourteen years later, there he was again at the Constitutional Convention of 1875. Two conventions, decades apart, and Joshua Foster Johnson was present for both.
As if the legislature and the convention halls weren't enough, he also served as a pastor, and helped organize the Mount Vernon Baptist Church. He married Amanda C. Wright, and together they raised a family of ten — seven sons and three daughters.
Joshua Foster Johnson died February 15, 1877. Town founder, legislator, pastor, father of ten. Some men come to a place.
This one helped build it from the ground up.
What the marker says
(September 27, 1824 - February 15, 1877) Came to Texas from Tennessee in 1845, settling (1846) near site of Mount Vernon, which he helped found (as town of Keith) in 1848. Member 3rd Texas Legislature (1849-50); sponsored Mount Vernon Male and Female Academies bill -- leading to public school system. Member Secession Convention, 1861; Constitutional Convention, 1875. As pastor, helped organize Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Married Amanda C. Wright; they had seven sons, three daughters. (1973)