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Benjamin C. Johnson was born July 12, 1832 in Surry County, NC. The date of birth is derived from his Civil War Pension Application, which seems to be in line with the earliest census records. As it often seems to be, there is quite a difference in age in census records and they put him born anywhere from 1827 to 1833. Both his Death Certificate and Pension Applications list him born in Surry County, NC. 1840: Benjamin's Death Certificate gives his fathers name as Benjamin Johnson. So far my search of the 1840 Surry County, NC Census has only turned up one Benjamin Johnson. Upon examination, I am reluctant to believe it is the correct record. My Benjamin should be about eight years old at that time, but the only young male is listed as five or under. There are a lot of Johnson families in the area at that time. 1850: Benjamin Johnson was a common name, but fortunately for me he seemed to usually include the initial "C" with his name. I find Benjamin C. Johnson in Cherokee County, NC in the 1850 Census. He is living on the farm of Wiley Philips and his family. Information found later in the 1870 Census along with the initial leads me to believe this is in fact my Benjamin. His age is listed as 19, which is in line with the Pension Application information.
1856: Based on census records, Benjamin C. Johnson married Lydia M. Danner about 1856. I believe they were married in North Carolina because their first child Andrew was born there in 1857. I have not yet found a marriage record to verify this. 1860: I find Benjamin, wife Lydia M. and three children living in Gilmer County, GA. in 1860. According to the Pension Application, Lydia was born December 12 1835. Her Death Certificate does not give a date of birth, but does have her being born in North Carolina. It also lists her father as what appears to be W.P. Danner. I feel the Danner part is correct but there is an error in the initials of her father. Information from the 1850 Surry County, NC, 1860 Gilmer County GA and 1870 Cherokee County censuses seem to support this.
In the 1850 Surry County, NC census I find Adam and Susannah Danner and their children, one of which is Lydia. In this record their youngest child is a son named Isaac who is 7 years old. Also, note that Susannah is born in VA and the rest of the family in NC.
As mentioned earlier, Benjamin and his family are in Gilmer County, GA in 1860. I also find Adam Danner and family in the same division of Gilmer County, GA . Note that the child living with them is Isaac and his age is in line with the information from the 1850 Surry County, NC census. Also, note that Adam's wife Susannah was born in VA. This information, as well as information in the 1870 Cherokee Cherokee County census leads me to believe that this is the correct Danner family and that the information on Lydia's Death Certificate (Listing father as W P Danner) is incorrect. Ray Danner, who has researched the "Danner Family of Western North Carolina", has an excellent website, Ray Danner's Home Page, that I highly recommend for further information on this line of the Danner family.
1862-1864: Benjamin enlisted into the Confederate States of America Army on March 23, 1862 in Cherokee County, NC. He served with the 25th North Carolina Infantry Company D under the command of Captain Lee. B. Tathum. Benjamin was shot in a battle near Petersburg, VA on June 18, 1864. After being treated at a hospital in Raleigh, NC he was sent home on furlough to recover from his injury. He was at home at the end of the war. Below are the battles the 25th NC Infantry were involved in during his time of service.
1870: In 1870 I find Benjamin and his family back in Cherokee County, NC. Besides the additional children listed, I find two more important pieces of information in this census listing. First, it lists a Susannah Danner born in VA living with them. Although relationships are not listed in 1870, I believe this to be Lydia's mother and also confirms the Danner connection listed on her Death Certificate. Secondly, their residence is listed just two houses from the Phillips family that I found Benjamin living with in 1850. One apparent mistake on this record is Leander being listed as a female. Besides being listed as a male in 1860, the occupation was listed as a farm laborer and not as "at home" like young females were usually listed.
1880: The family is still in Cherokee County, NC in 1880. There are four additional children and one grandchild listed. There is a son listed as Rebbel that I believe to be the same individual that was listed as Benjamin in 1870. As far as the grandson, I am not sure which one of Benjamin's children was the parent. I also find a Leander Johnson with his wife and child in this census that is most likely the son of Benjamin and Lydia.
Another interesting find in the 1880 Cherokee Co., NC census, are three listings in the "Poor House". Susannah Danner is no longer living with Benjamin in 1880, but there is a listing that appears to be her in the "Poor House". Also listed there are Sarah Johnson and Sarah Johnson Jr.. Could these two Johnson women be related to Benjamin? Are they possibly his mother and sister? I don't have any answers yet, just questions, but it is something I will look into further.
1890's: Unfortunately the census records for this year were destroyed. However from information on Benjamin's Pension Application it appears they moved to Loudon County, TN in the mid to late 1890's. Benjamin's daughter Ary married Robert L. Pullium in 1893 in NC. Since she moved to Loudon Co., TN later and remarried there, it is possible the family may still have been in NC at that time. 1900: On June 1, 1900 Benjamin filed the first of two Civil War pension applications. It states that one daughter is living with him. The Loudon County, TN Census was badly damaged and many parts are unreadable. However, after more searching, I finally found a listing for Benjamin C. Johnson. The record is at the bottom of one page and the top of the next. Unfortunately, most of the information at the bottom of the page is impossible to read. By using our photo image software to manipulate the image, we were able to clearly see it was "Ben C. and Liddie M. Johnson" listed. There are two more individuals listed on the same page that are unreadable. At the top of the next page I do find my grandfather Walter Johnson and his sister Nettie. Interestingly, Walter and Nettie are listed as Webb's and as being born in Georgia. This raises more questions, but also gives a possible clue to who their father was.
1904: Benjamin filed the second Civil War Pension application. It list two grandchildren living with him, I assume this is Walter and Nettie. The Pension Application was accepted November 1, 1904. He was receiving 15.00 per month at the time of his death in 1920. 1910: The 1910 Loudon Co., TN census lists Benjamin, his wife and my grandfather Walter. Benjamin's wife in all previous census records was listed as either "Lydia" or "Liddie", however this time she is listed as "Martha". The enumerator also listed Benjamin's middle initial as "B" instead of "C". It also lists Lydia as having had 12 children, with 5 still living. I have only found information for ten children.
1917: Lydia Margaret Danner-Johnson died on January 13, 1917 in Loudon County, TN. She was buried on January 15, 1917 at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Loudon, TN. The grave is either unmarked or unreadable. 1918: Walter Johnson entered active duty in the United States Army in April 1918 and trained at Camp Gordon, GA. He was assigned to Company C 321st Machine Gun Battalion and sailed for overseas duty in May 1918. Walter was active in all engagements of his unit and was involved in the following battles: 1920: In the 1920 Loudon Co., TN census Benjamin is living with his daughter Ary and her husband George Lanter.
Benjamin C. Johnson died on February 14, 1920 in Loudon County, TN. He was buried on February 15, 1920 at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Loudon, TN. The grave is either unmarked or unreadable. 1921: Walter Johnson married Mary Leona Evans on September 25, 1921. Leona was born April 10, 1904 in Loudon County, TN. She was the daughter of George Webber Evans and Louisa Lane. George W. Evans was born in Claiborne County, TN on August 20, 1874 and died February 19, 1954 in Loudon County, TN. Louisa Lane was born July 16 1879. I believe she was born in North Carolina, but I can't provide definite proof at this time. She died April 5, 1952 in Loudon County, TN. Both are buried at South Holsten Church Cemetery in Loudon Co., TN.
1957: Walter Johnson died March 14, 1957 in Loudon Co., TN. He was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Loudon Co., TN. 1993: Mary Leona Evans - Johnson died October 10, 1993 in Knoxville, TN. She was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Loudon Co., TN. Sources:
Confederate Civil War Pension Application for Benjamin C. Johnson |
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