WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Search for Gov.'s Missing Grave

Search for Gov.'s Missing Grave

By Graham Ulkins - bio | email

Elected in 1846, Isaac Johnson was Louisiana's 13th governor and the first Democrat elected in the state. While his term may not be the most significant, it's his death that's keeping his memory alive.

"This community, West Feliciana Parish, is very interested," said Martin Gauthier, an amateur historian. "The people here have searched long and hard for Isaac."

Gauthier has been tracking the dead for almost 18 years, documenting over 6,000 cemeteries in Louisiana. He jokingly said they don't talk back, so he has had to come up with other methods in finding them. However, his countless hours searching for Johnson have yet to pay off.

"There's not much concrete info. that's ever been available," Gauthier said.

The few history books that exist on Johnson say he's buried at a place called Troy, where his family lived. Oak trees mark the spot of the former Troy Plantation right outside of St. Francisville. It is the place where most people think Johnson is buried, but other documents seem to state otherwise.

Through his research, Gauthier has found obituaries and articles from Johnson's death in 1853. The St. Francisville Chronicle reports Johnson being taken to the burying ground at the residence of Mrs. James P. Smith, who did not live at Troy.

Behind a steel door at Grace Church in the official parish register is an entry for former Gov. Isaac Johnson. His place of interment is listed as Mrs. J. P. Smith. The same cemetery was also listed for his wife and children.

"Several people think that plantation is now part of the Girl Scout camp, Camp Marydale," Gauthier explained. "Of the entire 400 acres, this marker represents the only known grave. Could there be more people buried here? Could Gov. Johnson be around here? We may never know."

The original plantation covered much more land than just Marydale, so Gauthier added Johnson could possibly be in someone's backyard because there is lots of private property in that area.

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