Return to Table of Contents
He married Sarah BAILEY in 1845 in Madison Co, Arkansas. Sarah BAILEY was born 1828-1829 in Harlan Co, Kentucky. Martin Johnson died on 29 Apr 1897 in Whitman, Madison Co, Arkansas. He was buried in Wesley, Madison Co, Arkansas. Sarah Bailey died 29 May 1906 in Wetumka, Oklahoma. Issue: John, Jasper, Thomas Green, Jeptha Pleasant, Easter Ann, Nancy, Pleas, Jeams Martin, William Bennett Ball Bailey and Florence Victoria JOHNSON
Much of what we know about Martin JOHNSON, Jr. and his father, was learned from the biography of Martin and Lydia's son, Richmond Johnson, in his biography in Goodspeeds' History of NW Arkansas:
"Richmond JOHNSON was born September 7, 1836, and is a son of Martin and Lydia (HAWK) Johnson. The father was born in Warren County, Tenn., June 5, 1812, and his father, Martin JOHNSON, was a native of that State, did active service in the War of 1812, and died in Madison county in 1850, having located here in 1832. The father of our subject came here when seventeen, and is the only man living here who was a resident prior to 1830. He married in 1831. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is a Republican. His first wife, the mother of our subject, was born near Abington, East Tenn., in 1814, was the mother of eight children, and died February 5, 1845. He afterward married Sally BAILEY, by whom he had twelve children. Richmond JOHNSON grew up on the farm, receiving most of his education at home. April 19, 1855, he married Ruth J. Burchard [BURCHETT]. He settled upon a farm, and did not participate in the war until 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, First Arkansas Cavalry, and served to the end, being discharged August 23, 1865. He was in the battles of Prairie Grove and Fayetteville, and on Price's raid. Returning home he found his farm devestated, but sturdily went to work and, with the aid of his wife and daughters, made another comfortable home. For three years after 1868 he went into the mercantile business at Huntsville. He afterward traded a farm for a grist mill, which he sold in 1877. He afterward engaged in saw-milling with his brother, but later returned to farming, two miles northwest of Huntsville. Mrs. JOHNSON was born in Lee County, Va., December 6, 1838, and came with her parents to this county in 1852. She is the mother of six children: Mary J. (wife of Monroe NEAL), Lydia A. (wife of Thomas SULLIVAN), Samuel M., Elinor, Palistine and Sally. Mr. JOHNSON and family belong to the Baptist Church and he is a Royal Arch Mason."
Notes: Richmond JOHNSON (s/o Martin & Lydia "Liddy" HAWK Johnson, Jr.), b 7 Sep 1836, Madison Co, AR; d 15 May 1926, Madison Co, AR; m 19 Apr 1855, Madison Co, AR, Ruth Jane BURCHETT (d/o Samuel M. & Mary Ellen SIMS Burchett), b 6 Dec 1838, Lee Co, VA; d 15 Oct 1831, Madison Co, AR.
Richmond JOHNSON'S CW Pension Application and CW Widow's Pension Application, Certificate No. 698, 142 Pension Records. Transcribed by C. Hammett, 1998:
"Enrolled as a private in the Union Army, First
Regimental Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers, 'C. B. Harrison's' Company C, in
"the war of the Rebellion," on 11/20/1862 in Richland TWP, Madison
Co, AR.
"Reported for duty on 11/23/1862 to Cassville,
Barry Co, MO.
"Description: Age: 26 years, Height: 5'11",
Complexion: fair, Eyes: blue, Hair: brown, Occupation: farmer.
"Promoted to corporal 2/1/1863. From
2/1863 until discharge, attached to commisary in Fayetteville, Washington
Co, AR.
"Reported for duty to Springfield, MO on 8/31/1863
for detached duty from Commissary (temporary).
"Honorably discharged 8/23/1865 at Fayetteville,
AR, whereupon he received a "bounty" of $100.
"On 9/10/1906, requested an increase in his
monthly pension from $10 to $12 mo., based on his having reached the age
of 70, and stated that he had previously given proof of age in order to
receive an increase from $8 to $10 mo.
"On 9/7/1911, requested an increase from $15
to $20 as he had reached the age of 75, stating that his postal address
was Huntsville, Madison Co, AR.
"On all affidavits, he indicated names and
ages of his children as shown herein (except as noted) and stated that
he had "never married but once."
"Drop Report-Pensioner dated 6/12/1926, stating
that he last rec'd $72 on 5/4/1926.
Note: Still need to transcribe and enter Ruth's affidavit and death date data as well as add'l data from his files for children and marriage.
Arkansas Death Certificate No. 1145.
County: Madison Twp: War Eagle. Registration District No. 6194
Town: Huntsville. Full Name: Richmond JOHNSON
Date of death: May 15, 1926. Cause: Myocarditis Phys: Fred Youngblood
Sex: Male Color: White Marital Status: Married
Widow: Ruth J. Burchett
Date of birth: Sept 7, 1836 Age: 87 years 8 mos 8 days
Occupation of deceased: Farmer
Birthplace: Drakes Creek, Madison Co Ark
Name of Father: Martin Johnson
Birthplace of father: Warren Co Tennessee
Maiden Name of Mother: Lidy [sic] Hawk
Birthplace of Mother: U. S. A.
Informant: Sallie Johnson*
Address: Huntsville Ark
Filed: 7/10/1926. Registrar: L. A. McGuire
Place of Burial: Huntsville. Date of burial: (blank)
Undertaker: No undertaker in charge
(Transcribed from certified copy Arkansas State Board of Health dated
4 Sep 1996 by Carole Hammett)
Note: Sallie JOHNSON, the informant, was their daughter (never
married). All three are buried at Huntsville Cemetery, Madison Co, AR.
Also note that some dates "don't quite match" (but close enough <g>).
(To be continued)
©1997-1999, Combs &c. Research Group