Christofer C. Johnson of Bryan County Texas
Christopher was a member of the McMullen Colony, traveling alone. In Brazil, he met and married the eldest daughter of William Rankin Bowen. They had two children born in Brazil. In 1878, they endeavored to return to Texas. Both Christofer and his wife, Mary along with their oldest child, died at sea, leaving eighteen month old William "Willie" an orphan who would be raised by relatives in Waco.
Christofer C Johnson
1846–1878
Birth ABT. 1846 • Barber County, Alabama, USA
Death 1878 • At sea (From Brazil to Texas) SS C.C. Cochran
Married:
Mary H Bowen
1847–1878
Birth ABT 1847 • Texas
Death 1878 • At sea (From Brazil to Texas) SS C.C. Cochran
Daughter of William Rankin Bowen and Elizabet G. White
Children:
1.
Unknown Johnson
–1878
Birth Unknown
Death 1878 • At sea (From Brazil to Texas) SS C.C. Cochran
2.
William Robertson "Willie" Johnson
1876–1962
Birth 14 OCT 1876 • Santa Barbara, St of Sao Paulo
Death 17 AUG 1962 • Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas, USA
Married29 Nov 1906 • Whitney, Hill, Texas, USA
Mary Eubanks
1884–1949
Birth MAR 1884 • Hill County, Texas, USA
Death 14 MAR 1949 • Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas, USA
Daughter of Charles White Eubanks and Martha Basye

William Robertson Johnson

Mary Eubanks
Supporting Documents:




TRANCRIPT OF ABOVE:
The Marshall Messenger, Marshall, Texas, Friday, January 31st, 1879, page 2.
Many of our readers in McLennan and adjoining counties will remember in 1866 the formation of what was known as the McMullen colony for emigration to Brazil. They fancied that in the distant empire of Brazil there was prosperity and better government to be found. How delusive those anticipations proved. We all know well enough now perhaps fifty or seventy-five persons from McClennan County went with the colonists, and among them was William Bowen. Well, remembered by many in this city and county, and his six children. The colony reached Brazil in safety, settled in the interior, and went to farming. Of what success, we know but little. Many have returned. Many died there, and others are still living in different portions of the empire. One of the McMullen colony was a young man from Bryan named Johnson. Sometime after their arrival in Brazil, Johnson espoused and married Mary, the eldest daughter of our McLennan County emigrant William Bowen.
The marriage was a happy one, and two children were the fruits of the Union. Last year, a yearning came over Mr. and Mrs. Johnson to leave Brazil and return to the Lone Star State and disposing of their land and effects, sailed from Rio de Janeiro on the ship CC Cochrane, bound for Galveston.
Then the telephone tells of the death at sea of the oldest child, and both parents.
thus of the voyagers who hope to set foot again in McLennan County there was but one left, the youngest child, wee Willie Johnson, just 18 months old when the Cochrane sailed out of the harbor at Rio. The captain of the vessel cared for the little waif, and in due time the ship arrived off Galveston. The sad story of the baby's orphanage found its way into the Galveston News. Mrs.. A J. Carruthers of this city, is a cousin of the little one, and it also has an aunt here, Mary Eubanks. As soon as the family were satisfied of the identity of the child, A.J. Carruthers, Esq. immediately took steps to have it brought to Waco to find a home here. Papers vesting the guardianship of the little boy in the person of Mrs. Eubanks were issued by Judge Gerald and forwarded to Galveston. Mr. Carruthers, being unable to visit the island city just at this juncture, deputized Mr. Y. C. A. Rogers, who happened to be in Galveston, to attend to the matter, and last night's train brought Little Willie and Mr. Rogers to Waco. The little waif, after his long journey, is safe in the hands of kind relatives who will endeavor to supply the places of the father and mother who are sleeping their last sleep at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

It is probably safe to say that the estate was pertaining to William R. Bowen, William R. Johnson's grandfather



Close up view