MOSES JOHNS  (c1815 – 1892)

Moses Johns was born in Tennessee about 1815.  In the late 1830’s, Moses was one in a group of slaves brought to Texas with the Stephen B. Johns and Major Clement R. Johns family.

Moses Johns married Nancy, who was also from Tennessee.  In 1870, the household included Moses 55, Nancy 45, Isaiah [Sr.] 23, Aaron 20. Abraham 15, Lucinda 19, Isaiah [Jr.] 8 months.

Moses Johns was a Baptist minister.  He performed the marriages of about 30 couples in Guadalupe County and Wilson County from 1868 to 1891.  The Sweet Home Baptist Church was organized in 1864, under an old oak tree by Reverend Johns.  He gave land deeds for a cemetery, church and school in the Sweet Home community.

Not only was Moses a religious leader, but he also owned a large amount of land and he was a farmer.  In a 12-month period in 1879 – 1880, the Johns farm on Elm Creek produced 200 pounds of butter, and three calves were born.  There were hogs, poultry and six milk cows.  Sixteen acres were planted in Indian corn and ten acres in cotton.  In 1886, Moses gave each of his children 75 acres.

Moses died in 1892 leaving his estate to his children Mary Johns Gregg, Abraham Johns, Aaron Johns, and Isaiah Johns’ children.