Joseph Johnson (abt. 1812 - abt. 1896)

Born about 22 Feb 1812 in Williamson County,Tennessee [uncertain]

Husband of Cynthia (Shepherd) Johnson — married 3 Apr 1833 (to Sep 1880) in Sumner, Tennessee

Descendants

Died about 11 Jun 1896 at about age 84 in Perry County,Tennessee

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sherry Juedeman [send private message]

Biography

(3-17-2015) I found the 1850 census listing the Johnsons in District 20, Davidson, Tennessee. A houseful of kids: Margaret 17, Mary R. 15, my ancestor Thomas Russell Johnson 12, William 9, Nancy J. 8, Emily 6, and Joseph B. 4.

The 1860 census for District 8, Sumner, Tennessee showed that the family had moved from Davidson. The younger children were still at home then-William B., Nancy J., Emily D. or O., Joseph D., and new baby Arabella, only 4 months old. both Cynthia and Joseph list their birth place as North Carolina but the children were all born in Tennessee. Their real estate is valued at $600 and personal estate $300. And it is noted that Cynthia can't read or write, and that none of the kids attended school, but none of the other children listed on the page had either. This census was taken in August 1860.

And the 1870 census in District 8, Sumner, Tennessee showed that the family had moved again. The scant information I've found on Joseph was from an unsourced family tree on Ancestry.com. It included a sketch of Joseph in a funny bowler type hat, perhaps popular at the time or maybe just from someone's imagination?A marriage license was issued to Joseph Johnson and Cynthia Shepherd 3 April 1833, in Sumner County, Tennessee, signed by clerk A.H. Douglass. They married the same day there in Sumner.

Census information from 1880 had Joseph living with son Tom and his family. I thought Joseph must have died then, prompting Tom and family's move to Missouri.But on closer review, it appears Cynthia died in September 1880, District 6, Sumner, Tennessee+ and Joseph not until 1896, in Perry County. So perhaps he was living with another of his children. I'll follow up on this soon. (3/15/2015) following up, Joseph was buried in the Johnson Cemetery, Perry County, Tennessee having died 11 June 1896. The stone names him as J R Johnson, so his middle name was probably Russell since that was Tom's middle name. This cemetery is small, only 11 graves-the other names are for Skaggs and French, and the birthdates don't correspond with any of Joseph's offspring. Perhaps this was the family of a sibling's? The only other Johnson in this cemetery is Sallie Johnson French, and she was born in 1896, the same year Joseph died at 86. Sincerely hope he wasn't her father!

Both of Joseph's parents were born in North Carolina, and likely he was too. In the 1850 census, however, Tennessee is listed as his birthplace. Was this because Tennessee was drawn from part of North Carolina?Juedeman-1 22:06, 24 September 2015 (EDT)

+The 1880 mortality schedule for Davidson, Tenn. has Cynthia Johnson listed as having died of opium poisoning. So I'm not sure exactly where she died other than the county.Juedeman-1 21:49, 15 August 2015 (EDT)

Sources

• Unsourced family trees on Ancestry.com
• 1850 census, District 20, Davidson, Tennessee, family #27
• 1860 census, Sumner, District 8, Tennessee, family #874
• 1870 census, Sumner, District 8, Tennessee, family #71
• Tennessee mortality schedule for Davidson, Tennessee
• Tennessee marriages, 1780-2002, on-line
• FindaGrave Memorial #38553056