Middleton Tate Johnson was a ranger, politician, and significant figure in local history.

Born in South Carolina in 1810, Johnson settled near Marrow Bone Springs (in present-day Arlington) after serving in the Mexican-American War, becoming a wealthy landowner and establishing a cotton plantation. An unpleasant truth of his legacy, though, is that he had a very large number of enslaved people.

A settlement grew around his land, becoming known as Johnson Station—a vital trading post, stagecoach stop, and ranger station that served as a precursor to modern-day Arlington.

Johnson also helped establish Fort Worth, often being referred to as the “Father of Tarrant County,” though he was the namesake of Johnson County.

Johnson died on May 15, 1866, after suffering a stroke. Initially buried at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, he was later re-interred at what is now the Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds.

Middleton Tate Johnson (1810-1866)
Photo Credit: UTA Special Collections / J. W. Dunlop Photograph Collection

Texas Historical Marker for Middleton Tate Johnson
Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 05-15-26