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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Montgomery County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891.  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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Benjamin Johnson, Jr. By attending strictly to his chosen calling, that of farming, Mr. Johnson has done much to advance the reputation which Montgomery County enjoys as a prosperous farming community. He was born in Newton County, Miss., in 1842, to Dr. Benjamin and Clarinda E. (Fowler) Johnson, the former born in Alabama, in 1813, and the latter in New Jersey, in 1818, their marriage occurring in Newton County, Miss., where they lived until 1854, after which they settled in Calhoun County, Ark., and in 1858 in Montgomery County, and although they first settled on Walnut Fork, they are now residing on the waters of the Mazarn. From 1859 to 1861 they lived in Pike County. Dr. Johnson has been a practicing physician since 1858. He was clerk of Newton County, Miss., for some years, and served nearly two years and three months in the United States cavalry, operating in Arkansas part of the time, but a portion of the time was assistant surgeon in the hospital. His father, Henry Johnson, was of Irish descent, a Methodist minister, and died in Mississippi. The immediate subject of this sketch was the second of a family of four sons and four daughters, was reared on a farm, and received the advantages of the common schools. He came to Arkansas with his parents in 1861, and from here enlisted in Company C, Fourth Arkansas Infantry, Confederate States Army, and fought at Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and many other battles. He was captured at Chickamauga, and was imprisoned at Camp Douglas until the close of the war, nearly two years. He then returned to Montgomery County, and engaged in farming, marrying, in 1877, Samantha, daughter of David and Anna Basinger, who were formerly residents of Kentucky, but afterward lived in Indiana, Illinois, and came from Missouri to this county, before the war, where both died, the father being a farmer and merchant. Mrs. Johnson is a native of this county, and has borne her husband six children. The first year after his marriage Mr. Johnson lived at Caddo Gap, and since then on his present farm, on Collier’s Creek, which consists of 264 acres. He also successfully manages a general mercantile store and a black smith and wood-work shop. Mr. Johnson has served as justice of the peace in this township two years, bailiff four years, and since he established the post-office of Plata he has been its postmaster. Socially he belongs to New Hope Lodge No. 42, of the A. F. & A. M., and has held several offices in this lodge.

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This family biography is one of 37 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Montgomery County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Montgomery County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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