Texas is known for its influence on the Cattle Industry. The Chisholm Trail and the Goodnight-Loving Trail are among many of the influences but what about the women of the Cattle Industry? Lizzie Johnson Williams is known as the first woman to drive her own herd with her registered brand on them, up the Chisholm Trail. She quickly became known as the "Texas Cattle Queen".

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Johnson was born in Missouri in 1840. Lizzie's parents moved the family to a settlement in Hays County just out of Driftwood Texas, and started a private secondary school, Johnson Institute.  In 1859 Lizzie graduated from Chappell Hill Female College and began teacher at teaching at Johnson Institute. She later taught at other schools such as Lockhart, Manor and Austin. 

Lizzie took side jobs as a bookkeeper for cattlemen in Austin and quickly found a sound profit could be made rom cattle and land. She became friends and business associates with men like William H. Day, George W. Littlefield and Charles W.Whitis. Charles Whitis became an influential friend even writing Lizzie to congratulate her on a new job.

Lizzie registered her own brand and bought ten acres of land in 1871 to start her own cattle ranch. In 1871 this was rarely done by a woman. Lizzie Johnson was the first women to drive her own branded herd up the Chisholm Trail. 

In 1873, Lizzie purchased a lot in Austin and built a two story home. Lizzie lived in the upper story and opened her own private school in the first floor of the home. Elizabeth was a very good business woman and profited from both her school and her cattle business. Many of Lizzie's first herd were rounded up strays that she was able to brand with her own brand.

In 1879 Lizzie married Hezekiah Williams , a widowed cattleman. Lizzie had a premarital agreement signed where she could keep control of her own holdings and keep them separate from her husbands. The couple continued to grow both of their cattle holdings and purchase ranch land. Hezekiah was a poor businessman and Lizzie had to bail him out of many financial troubles. In 1896 Lizzie bought all of her husbands business holdings for $20,000.