The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 50, July 1946 - April, 1947 Page: 355
582 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Lizzie E. Johnson: A Cattle Queen of Texas
1866.84 It is believed that Lizzie entered into this practice
wholeheartedly. The cattle were unbranded, plentiful, and un-
claimed. A cow was of little value until it had been herded to
a northern market. This was not rustling; it was simply taking
advantage of a pleasant situation, and Lizzie was shrewd enough
to exploit her opportunity.
On June 8, 1879, when she was thirty-six years old, Lizzie
married Hezekiah G. Williams.5 Hezekiah was a preacher, a
handsome widower with several children. Their wedding pic-
ture can be seen at the farm home of Polk Shelton, another
of Lizzie's grandnephews. In the photograph the couple stand
romantically holding one another's hands in an entwined ar-
rangement like that used in waltzing on skates. The lower part
of the groom's face is hidden by mustaches and a full dark
beard, but there is no doubt that the upper part is handsome
with its straight nose, dark, deep-set eyes, and smooth high
brow. Lizzie's clothes seem amusing today; the skirt stands
out around, her toes like an elongated bell and is draped in a
fashion similar to modern window-drape swags. Her dress has
a voluminous train. Lizzie had an eighteen inch waist whose
dimension her dress does not attempt to conceal, for it clings
to her closely. Her hat, feathered and flowered, sits precisely
on the top of her head. Although she was six inches shorter
than Hezekiah, her hat looms above his head. Under her hat
are many fringe-like, spiral curls which trail down her fore-
head to her eyebrows. Two long curls can be seen at the nape
of her neck. Long earrings hang from her ears, and a lace
ruffle and jabot encircle her throat. Her expression is almost
too serious, and the corners of her mouth tip slightly downward.
Not beautiful but tall and stately, Lizzie was striking in ap-
pearance.
Hezekiah was a drinking man, and Lizzie watched him closely.
He had a pleasant disposition and always did just what Lizzie
said-when he was with her. She watched over all his posses-
sions, and, while he was the one who met the public, she was
the real power behind the throne. After her marriage Lizzie
continued to teach school. The two-story home that she and
Hezekiah owned on Second Street in Austin had her private
school downstairs, while the four rooms upstairs were their
841bid., 84.
"Johnson Family Album, reverse side of photograph of Elizabeth E.
Johnson.355
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 50, July 1946 - April, 1947, periodical, 1947; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101117/m1/432/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.