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Her Majesty's Texans Two English Immigrants in Reconstruction Texas by Robert J. Robertson |
During Queen Victoria's reign, many working-class immigrants came to America. Because of their shared language, Anglo ethnicity, and familiarity with English-based customs, these immigrants rapidly blended into American life. John W. Leonard and J. W. L. "Will" Johnson were two such Englishmen; they came to Beaumont, Texas, in 1869, assimilated quickly, and became "invisible immigrants."
Living in Beaumont for almost fifteen years, Johnson and Leonard carved out careers as teachers, lawyers, and newspapermen. Johnson operated a school, edited the Neches Valley News, and helped organize the East Texas River and Harbor Improvement Association. Leonard established the Beaumont Enterprise and founded the town's first Episcopal congregation. Both became heavily involved in Reconstruction politics, adopting the racial and political attitudes of conservative white Texans. As fledgling Democrats, they worked to rebuild the party, defeat the Republicans, and thereby "redeem" the state.
In Her Majesty's Texans, Robert J. Robertson presents a fascinating story, recounting not only Johnson's and Leonard's business and political careers, but also their personal lives. Eager for adventures in the new land, sad at being far from home, hungry for money and position, and yearning for the love of Texas women, these young English Texans played hard at the games of life, winning some and losing others.
"Robertson's work informs with its description of how these Victorian Englishmen willingly joined white conservatives in 'redeeming' Texas from Republican government and entertains with its detective-like story of the complex private lives of Leonard and Johnson."—Randolph B. Campbell, University of North Texas
ROBERT J. ROBERSTON, a businessman in Beaumont, Texas, is a leader in local and regional historical associations. He holds a master's in history from Lamar University and has published Texas history articles dealing with immigration, slavery, and politics.
Number Seventy-eight: The Centennial Series of the Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University
Her Majesty's Texans
ISBN 0-89096-841-1
$25.95s
LC 98-19819. 6x9. 184 pp. 8 b&w photos. Bib. Index.
Texas History.
Publication Date: November 1998.
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