Robert Ward Johnson Sr.
Born: July 21, 1814
Birthplace: Scott County, Kentucky
Father: Judge Benjamin Johnson 1784 – 1849
(Buried: Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas)
Mother: Matilda Williams 1793 – 1874
(Buried: Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas)
1st Wife: Sarah Frances Smith 1821 – 1862
(Buried: Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas)
2nd Wife: Laura Smith 1826 – 1912
(Buried: Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas)
Uncle: U.S. Vice President Richard Mentor Johnson 1780 – 1850
(Buried: Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Kentucky)
Uncle: US Congressman James Johnson 1774 – 1826
(Buried: Great Crossing Cemetery, Great Crossing, Kentucky)
Uncle: US Congressman John Telemachus Johnson 1788 – 1856
(Buried: Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Kentucky)
Brother – in – law: US Senator Ambrose H. Sevier 1801 – 1848
(Buried: Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas)
Children:
Charles G. Johnson 1840 – 1840
Benjamin Smith Johnson 1841 – 1913
(Buried: Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas)
Robert Ward Johnson Jr. 1844 – 1862
Francis Johnson 1847 – 1902
(Buried: Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas)
Sallie Frances Johnson 1849 – 1922
Political Party: Democratic Party
Education:
Attended Choctaw Academy
Attended St. Joseph College in Bardstown, Kentucky
Occupation before War:
1835 – 1840: Attorney in Little Rock, Arkansas
1840 – 1842: Prosecuting Attorney for Little Rock, Arkansas Circuit
1843: Arkansas State Attorney General
1843 – 1847: Attorney in Little Rock, Arkansas
1847 – 1853: United States Congressman from Arkansas
1847 – 1849: Member of House Indian Affairs Committee
1849 – 1853: Chairman of House Indian Affairs Committee
1850: Supporter of Donation Land Claim Act
1852: Choose not to run for renomination to U.S. Congress
1853: Appointed to U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy of Solon Borland
1853 – 1861: United States Senator from Arkansas
1853 – 1859: Member of Senate Public Lands Committee
1853 – 1855: Member of Senate Territories Committee
1854: Supporter of the Kansas – Nebraska Act
1859 – 1861: Chairman of Senate Public Lands Committee
1860: Choose not to be a candidate for renomination to U.S. Senate
Civil War Career:
1861 – 1862: Arkansas Delegate to Confederate Provisional Congress
1862 – 1865: Confederate States Senator from Arkansas
1862 – 1865: Chairman of Senate Indian Affairs Committee
1862: Member of Senate Rules Committee
1862: Member of Congressional Joint Rules Committee
1862: Member of Senate Military Affairs Committee
1862: Member of Senate Naval Affairs Committee
1863: Temporary Member of Senate Accounts Committee
1864 – 1865: Member of Senate Military Affairs Committee
1864 – 1865: Member of Senate Public Lands Committee
1864 – 1865: Member of Senate Rules Committee
Supporter of keeping Western Soldiers at home and to make the trans – Mississippi virtually independent entity.
Strong supporter of the Davis Administration
One of his suggestions was to require renomination of department heads every two years.
He didn't attend the last session of Congress fearing reprisals when the Confederacy collapsed.
Occupation after War:
He first planned to seek refuge in Mexico, but was dissuaded and induce to go to Washington, D.C. and Seek a Pardon.
He received a Pardon from President Andrew Johnson.
His property in Little Rock was swept away by creditors
Attorney and law partner of Albert Pike in Washington, D.C.
He returned to Little Rock in the 1870's and Practiced law
1878: Unsuccessful Candidate for United States Senator, Arkansas
Died: July 26, 1879
Place of Death: Little Rock, Arkansas
Age at time of Death: 65 years old
Burial Place: Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas
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