Adolphus Burrell Johnson (1895 - 1986)

Born 30 Mar 1895 in Georgia, United States

Husband of Marie (Nash) Johnson — married 26 May 1919 in Washington D.C., United States

Died Mar 1986 at about age 90 in Washington D.C., United States

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Biography

Adolphus Johnson is a part of US Black heritage.

Adolphus Burrell Johnson was born in Georgia in 1895.^[1] His mother's name was Lillie.

Adolphus served in the Army 92nd Infantry Division in World War I. The 92nd Infantry Division (92nd Division, WWI) was an African-American infantry division of the United States Army that served in both World War I and World War II. The military was then segregated. The division was organized in October 1917, after the U.S. entry into World War I, at Camp Funston, Kansas, with African-American soldiers from all states. In 1918, before leaving for France, the American buffalo was selected as the divisional insignia due to the "Buffalo Soldiers" nickname, given to African-American cavalrymen in the 19th century. The divisional nickname, "Buffalo Soldiers Division", was inherited from the 366th Infantry, one of the first units organized in the division.

He attained the rank of Corporal in the 325th Field Signal Battalion, 92nd Infantry Division, Company C.^[2] This was an elite group, considered to be one of the best-educated battalions in the Army. The Field Signal Corps maintained communications between the front lines and the division headquarters. Company C was the outpost company.

In 1919, he married Marie Nash.^[3] They had an adopted daughter, Senorah Mayo.

Both A. Bourke and Grandma Marie Nash Johnson told me that he was for many years head tailor at Kann's Department store, ^[4], which was one of the very few places in those days where a Black man could be head tailor.

A. Bourke recounted a story of dinner with GFJ III (when he was courting her), at Marie and Adolphus Johnson (adoptive family)'s home:

AJ -"Is your Grandfather called Sheeney Mike?"

GFJIII -"Yeah!"

AJ -"Well I'll be damned."

(Note that AJ was known for nearly never cursing...) -ShiraDest. 7 Jan.12015 HE

He died in 1986.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Military: "U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918"
   Registration State: District of Columbia; Registration County: Washington
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6482 #23917431 (accessed 8 July 2022)
   Name: Adolphus Burwell Johnson; Race: Black; Marital Status: Single; Birth Date: 30 Mar 1895; Birth Place: Georgia, USA; Residence Date: 1917-1918; Street Address: 1009 Lamont St. NW.; Residence Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Draft Board: 09; Physical Build: Medium; Height: Medium; Hair Color: Black; Eye Color: Black.
2. ↑ Military: "Georgia, U.S., World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919"
   Georgia Adjutant General’s Office. World War I Statements of Service Cards. Georgia State Archives, Morrow, Georgia
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 3129 #103265 (accessed 8 July 2022)
   Name: Adolphus B Johnson; Gender: Male; Birth Date: abt 1895; Birth Place: Atlanta, Georgia; Enlistment Date: 30 Jan 1918; Age at enlistment: 23; Residence Place: Atlanta, Georgia; Card Type: Army Statement of Service Card; Box Title: WWI Statement of Service Summary Cards, CLM-408.
3. ↑ Marriage: "Washington, D.C., U.S., Compiled Marriage Index, 1830-1921"
   District of Columbia, Marriages, 1830-1921. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013; FHL Film Number: 2129769
   Ancestry Record 60261 #410645 (accessed 8 July 2022)
   Adolphus Johnson (24) marriage to Marie Nash on 26 May 1919 in Washington, District of Columbia.
4. ↑ 1954 Directory: "U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995" Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2469 #1017603840 (accessed 8 July 2022)
   Name: Adolphus B Johnson; Gender: Male; Residence Year: 1954; Street Address: 774; Residence Place: Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Occupation: Prsr; Spouse: Marie Johnson; Publication Title: Washington, District of Columbia, City Directory, 1954.
5. ↑ Death: "U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014"
   Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File
   Ancestry Record 3693 #30857836 (accessed 8 July 2022)
   Adolphus Johnson death Mar 1986.

• 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1910; Census Place: Atlanta Ward 1, Fulton, Georgia; Roll: T624_190; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 0042; FHL microfilm: 1374203
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #147014809 (accessed 8 July 2022)
  Adolph Johnson (15), single son, Cup Dipper, in household of Lillie Johnson (49) in Atlanta Ward 1, Fulton, Georgia, USA. Born in Georgia.
• 1920 Census: "United States Census, 1920"
  citing Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Affiliate Film Number: 213; Line: 9; FHL microfilm: 1820213; Record number: 616;
  FamilySearch Record: MNG9-CCY (accessed 8 July 2022)
  FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R69-C43 Image number 00020
  Adolphus Johnson (25), married head of household in Washington, District of Columbia, United States.
• 1950 Census: "1950 United States Federal Census"
  United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: 4813; Sheet Number: 15; Enumeration District: 1-1188
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62308 #15902486 (accessed 8 July 2022)
  Adophus B Johnson (55), married head of household in Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. Born in Georgia.