Timeline for Reuben M. Johnston (1841-1924) – 12 for ‘26

Reuben M. Johnston, my 2x-great-grandfather, was born 18 April 1841 in Alabama and died 4 May 1824. This information is clearly written on the tombstone in Hazeldell Cemetery in Comanche County, Texas, where he lived since the late 1870s.[1] Before Comanche County, he lived in Titus County, Texas, where he registered to vote and pay taxes.[2]

Hazeldell Cemetery, Gustine, Texas
photo by author

1870s
In 1870, he was thirty years old and a farmer. He lived with Catharine, who was nineteen, and Samuel M, who was four months old, born in February of that year. He had no real estate listed.[3] He paid tax on a horse in 1868,[4] 1869,[5] and 1870.[6] By 1871, he owned 80 acres of land valued at $160.[7]

No record has been found of the marriage to Catharine, most likely due to the Titus County courthouse fire in 1895 that destroyed all records.[8]

He moved to Comanche County sometime in the 1870s. Catharine must have died before 1879, as Reuben married Olivia on 23 December 1879.[9] Catharine’s surname may have been Shull, as two daughters, Ocia and Mattie, death certificate named their mother Shull, no first name.[10] If Catharine died before Reuben’s marriage to Olivia in 1879, the daughters were about 8 and 3 and may have never known their mother’s maiden name. Her origins have been difficult to determine. There is a C.S. Shell enumerated in the 1860 census, 11 years old, living in the household of Wm. H. Welch.[11] William Welch should be researched further.

1880s
In 1880, the first census after being married to Olivia, he lived in Comanche County. He was 39 years old. His wife, J. Olivia, was 21. Three daughters were in the household:

• E. M. Martha, 8,
• D. Lola, 6, and
• C. Ocia, 2.[12]

The census taker wrote their middle initials first and then their first names. The daughters in the household were from his first marriage. Ocia being aged two narrows down the death of Catharine as after 1877-78. Other people living nearby were his wife’s family:

• Thomas W. Jones was her brother.
• Betty Knox was her sister.
• Amanda Jones was her mother.
• Mary Wright was her sister.
• Sarah A McDonnold was Reuben’s sister, and
• Marion Johnston was his brother
• Elizabeth Johnston was his mother.

The agriculture schedule listed Johnston Brothers, owners of 45 tilled acres and 115 forest acres (totaling 160 acres), valued at $800. They had $100 worth of machinery and $414 worth of livestock which included two horses, three mules, two milk cows, and thirteen other cattle. They had six calves dropped, sold five, and slaughtered one. Ten hens produced 100 dozen eggs. They produced 200 bushels of Indian corn, one bale of cotton, 50 bushels of potatoes, and flax. They produced $100 in farm production and spent $20 on buildings and repair.

This Johnston Brothers entry does not state which brothers this included. Only M. J. Johnston is listed in the 1880 tax record as having 160 acres of land.[13] This is Marion Johnston, and his brothers, Reuben and David, are also listed as “RM Johnson” and “DN Johnson,” being assessed for horses, mules, and cattle. Between the three men, they had 5 horses & mules, and 3 cattle.

1900s
In 1900, Reubin and Olivia lived still in Comanche County, now with 11 children. Brothers, Marion J and Newt Johnston, both unmarried, lived near them.

JOHNSON, Reubin M. H, w, m, Apr 1841, 59, mar 32 yr, TX, AR/TN, farmer, rent, farm 13
Jane, wife, w, f, Feb 1859, 40, mar 32, 11/11, TX, TX/TX
Rufus A., son, Oct 1880, 19, sing, Al, SC/SC, day school,
Mellisa P., dau, Jul 1882, 17, sing, MS, VA/MS
Robert L., son, Feb 1884, 16, TX, AL/MS, day laborer,
Thomas M, son, Jul 1885, sing, 14, TX, AL/MS, at school,
Florence E., dau, Mar 1887, 13, sing, TX, AL/MS, at school,
Reubin H., son, Aug 1888, 11, sing, TX,, AL/MS, at school,
Edna M., dau, Oct 1890, 9, sing, TX, AL/MS
Woody A., son, Oct 1892, 8, sing, TX, AL/MS
Lila E., dau, Dec 1894, 6, sing, TX, AL/MS
Annie B., dau, Jul 1896, 4, sing, TX, AL/MS
Orial, dau, Dec 1898, 1, TX, AL/MS
(and living next door:)
Johnson, Marion J., head, Jul 1846, 53, sing, TX, AL/MS
Newt, brother, Sep 1849, 50, sing, TX, AL/MS[14]

It is an error that Reubin and Jane, as well as the brothers, are listed as born in Texas. Who was the informant? It is quite possible one of the children gave the information to the enumerator. Even the children’s birthplaces are wrong for the first three children. They should be Texas, with parents born in Alabama and Mississippi. Marion was born in Alabama and parents in South Carolina, and David N. was born in Mississippi.

1910s
They still lived in Comanche County in 1910. Children in the household were Melissa P, Rueben H, Edna M, Woodey A, Lillie E, Fannie B, Oral D, and Loyd S. Reubin owned his farm. This census confirmed he was married twice and he’d been married to Olivia 30 years.[15]

Olivia died on 11 December 1914 and is buried at Hazeldell Cemetery in Gustine. Full birth and death dates are inscribed on the stone; she being born on 22 February 1859.[16] The youngest sons were

1920s
In 1920, Reubin was 78 years old and a widower. His children, Oral, Lloyd S, and Ninnie E. lived with him.[17] He died on 4 May 1924. No death record has been found but newspaper articles document his death as well as the cemetery tombstone.

"Father of Tom Johnston Died at His Gustine Home"
   R.M. Johnston, 84, father of Tom Johnston of this city, died at his home at Gustine last Sunday morning at 8:30 o'clock, following a brief illness from paralysis. Mr. Johnston had been a resident of Comanche county for a period of forty years, coming here from Alabama, his native state, in about the year 1884. He was of the stock of sturdy old pioneers to which the present generation is indebted in a great degree for modern advancement. He reared a family of twelve sons and daughters who were all present when the final chapter of his eventful life having been a useful and active one.
   Funeral service was held at Hazel Dell cemetery Monday afternoon, and the remains laid to rest there in the family burying ground, the Methodist and Baptist ministers of Gustine churches officiating, a large concourse of sorrowing relatives and friends following his bier to its last resting place. Sympathy is extended.[18]

Parts of the obituary are correct. He was born in Alabama but came to Comanche County in the late 1870s. He had 13 children, with one dying as an infant.

Another obituary notice, which is in poor condition, reads:

“Another Pioneer Gone” (Gustine Tribune)
The Tribune is called upon to report the passing of another of our pioneer citizens. The death of R. M. Johnston. “Uncle Mack” as he was endearingly and familiarly called died at his home near town last Sunday morning at 9 o’clock at the age of 83 years and about a month.

For some time he had been in feeble health, but not seriously ill. A few days prior to his death he was stricken with something like paralysis from which he did not revive, death coming at the time stated.

Mr. Johnston moved to Comanche county about forty-five years ago and had lived in this immediate community about thirty years. He was the father of eighteen children, twelve of whom are still living as follows: Mrs. J P King of Lubbock, RA Johnston of the Baggett community, Mrs. RE Huling of Emhouse, Mrs. A W Couch of ??, RL Johnston, Mrs. OW Couch, RH, WA, OD, JD, and Miss Nora Johnston of Gustine, TN Johnston of De Leon, all of which except one were present at the time of his death.

Mr. Johnston was not a member of any ?? [church??] always lived an ?? ….[very light and missing letters of many words]

The remains were laid to rest at the Hazel Dell cemetery Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock beside his wife who preceded him about ten years ago. Rev W H ?? M ?? and S ????pastors each ???? [more difficult words to read]
[the last paragraph very difficult to read, even enhanced, was about “tenderness” “appreciation” and other kind and religious words].[19]

Though it is in poor condition, we learn he was referred to as “Uncle Mack” and that might be another search term to use in newspaper and full-text search. Both notices refer to him having paralysis, so he may have had a stroke. This notice gave him too many children but does note married names of his daughters and their residences.

Next Steps
Full-text search in Comanche and Titus County records at FamilySearch for anything he may have been mentioned in. I would need to search using Johnston and Johnson as surnames, and R.M. and Rubin/Reubin and Mack as first names.

I also need to search for him in 1850 and 1860 census records, starting in Mississippi, with brothers Marion and David, sister, Sarah, and mother Elizabeth.

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[1] Hazeldell Cemetery, Gustine, Comanche County, Texas, tombstone, R. M. Johnston (1841-1924), photo taken by Lisa S. Gorrell, 3 May 2024.

[2] Texas Comptroller, Texas Tax Rolls, Titus County, 1866, p. 16, R. M. Johnson; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4RSY-RF : accessed 15 Aug 2026), IGN 004653615, image 768 of 1184; citing Texas State Library, Archives Division, Austin. For voter registration, Texas 1867 special voter's registration, Titus Co, p. 68, no. 1500; R.M. Johnston; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKJ-57PN-K), IGN 008151845, image 143 of 1010; citing Texas State Library, Austin, Texas.

[3] 1870 U.S. census, Titus Co, Texas, Mt. Pleasant P.O., p. 27 (26 stamped), fam 174, Rubin M Johnston.

[4] Texas Comptroller, Texas Tax Rolls, Titus County, 1868, p. 22, R. M. Johnston; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4RST-XQ : accessed 15 Aug 2026), IGN 004653615, image 894 of 1184; citing Texas State Library, Archives Division, Austin.

[5] Texas Comptroller, Texas Tax Rolls, Titus County, 1869, p. 22, R. M. Johnston; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4RST-MG : accessed 15 Aug 2026), IGN 004653615, image 960 of 1184; citing Texas State Library, Archives Division, Austin.

[6] Texas Comptroller, Texas Tax Rolls, Titus County, 1870, p. 24, R. M. Johnston; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4RST-VS : accessed 15 Aug 2026), IGN 004653615, image 1023 of 1184; citing Texas State Library, Archives Division, Austin.

[7] Texas Comptroller, Texas Tax Rolls, Titus County, 1871, p. 54, R. M. Johnston; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-4RSR-MG : accessed 15 Aug 2026), IGN 004653615, image 1118 of 1184; citing Texas State Library, Archives Division, Austin.

[8] “Titus County, Texas Genealogy,” FamilySearch Wiki (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Titus_County,_Texas_Genealogy : accessed 15 Aug 2026).

[9] Comanche Co, Texas, marriage, v. B1, p. 299, R.M. Johnston and Miss Olivia Jones, 1879, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YSZS-Z31), citing IGN 004478754, image 301; Comanche County Clerk, Comanche, Texas.

[10] Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Standard Certificate of Death, no. 14596, Ocia Catherine King, 1937; imaged, "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9B98-94N7 ), IGN 005144799, image 1165 of 3601; citing Texas State Registrar Office, Austin. Also, Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Standard Certificate of Death, no. 11924, Mrs. Mattie Knox, 1919; imaged, "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9Y1W-F5R : accessed 15 Aug 2026), IGN 005145128, images 3009-10 of 3364; citing Texas State Registrar Office, Austin.

[11] 1860 U.S. census, Titus Co, Texas, prec. 11, p. 229 (stamped), dwelling 219, Wm. H. Welch household.

[12] 1880 U.S. census, Comanche Co, Texas, ED 30, p 95a, fam 173, M. Reubin Johnston.

[13][13] Texas Comptroller, Texas Tax Rolls, Comanche County, 1880, p. 26, M.J. Johnson; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939F-WZ9Z-91 : accessed 16 Aug 2026), IGN 004616282, images 812-13 of 1200; citing Texas State Library, Archives Division, Austin.

[14] 1900 U.S. census, Comanche, Texas, Justice Prec 3, ED 30, sht 1b, household 12, fam 12, Reubin M Johnson.

[15] 1910 U.S. census, Comanche Co, Texas, Justice Precinct 3 (part of), p. 108-108b (stamped), dwelling/fam 10, Rueben M. Johnston.

[16] Hazeldell Cemetery, Gustine, Comanche County, Texas, tombstone, Olevia J. Johnston (1859-1914), photo taken by Lisa S. Gorrell, 3 May 2024.

[17] 1920 U.S. census, Comanche Co, Texas, Prec. 2, ED 73, sht. 7b, dwell. 144, fam 150, Ruben M Johnson.

[18] "Father of Tom Johnston Died at His Gustine Home," The De Leon Free Press, 9 May 1924, p. 7, col. 2

[19] “Another Pioneer Gone,” Comanche Chief, 16 May 1924, p. 4, col. 2, Portal to Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1060513/m1/4/embed/ : accessed 5 Aug 2026).

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