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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Crittenden County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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M. J. Johnson has long been considered one of the most prominent and respected citizens of this county. Born in North Carolina in 1827 he is the son of Devrick Johnson, a native of Wake County, N. C, who was married to Mary, daughter of Henry Boone, a brother of the noted Daniel Boone. In about 1836 Mr. Johnson, in company with his wife and son, M. J., his brother, Dudley Johnson and his family, with all of their slaves came to Memphis and settled. The father of our subject was a carriage manufacturer, and purchased a large gin-house and mill in Memphis, where he placed his factory. He had a family of four children, all sons, who lived to be grown; those surviving are M.J. and Thomas B. (who is living in Memphis). Thaddeus B. died in 1871, from disease contracted in the Confederate service, and Charles H. died in 1873 of yellow fever. While a boy M. J. Johnson served a six years’ apprenticeship with Meraman & Clark, jewelers, going after he left them to Holly Springs, Miss.; where he engaged in the jewelry business and four years later added a stock of merchandise. He remained here for ten years, and was married to Miss Fannie Cole, a native of Mississippi, and daughter of Lemuel H. Cole, of North Carolina. Mrs. Johnson died at her father’s home in 1850, leaving two children: Julia B. (wife of L. D. Blann) and William M. (now living at Wynne). Coming to Arkansas with his wife and father-in-law, Mr. Johnson purchased over 2,500 acres of land, on a part of which he now lives, and continued on this plantation till 1884, when he moved his family to Randolph County; one year later, however, he returned to the plantation. He was a second time married, this wife’s maiden name being Miss Sally A. Torian. She was a Kentuckian by birth, but raised in Nashville by an uncle. By this marriage there are eight sons, four now living: Trice, Jacob, Mat and Boyd; those deceased are: Charles W., Thomas, Aca and Daniel B. Mr. Johnson is very active and a strong advocate of a better school system, and is one of the county’s best citizens. He was wealthy before the war, and owned large and valuable tracts of land and over 100 negroes; now he has about 200 acres of land in cultivation on which are a good residence, cotton-gin, good outbuildings and all other modern improvements. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a very reliable man, and is admired by all who know him.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Crittenden County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Crittenden County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Crittenden County, Arkansas family biographies here: Crittenden County, Arkansas Biographies

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