My Genealogy Hound

M. H. Johnson, clerk of the law court at Humboldt, Tenn., was born in Maury County, July 17, 1813, the eldest of five children of William A. and Mary (Griffin) Johnson, who were born in North Carolina. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the war of 1812, and the maternal grandfather a Revolutionary soldier. William A. Johnson came to Tennessee in early manhood, and was here married, previous to the war of 1812. In 1837 they came from Maury to Gibson County, and here resided until a short time previous to the father’s death, which took place in McNairy County, Tenn., in 1852. His wife died three days later. M. H. Johnson was reared on a farm. He began doing for himself at an early day, and in 1837 came to Gibson County, where he resided until 1850, when he removed to Purdy, McNairy County, and engaged in the livery business. In 1858 he was elected clerk of the circuit court, and held the office eight years. Early in 1863 he removed to Jackson, and one year later came to Humboldt, where he has since resided. At the close of the war he engaged in the family grocery business, continuing two years. In 1870 he was appointed deputy law court clerk and chancery court clerk. In 1872 he was elected law court clerk, and has filled the office efficiently to the present. He has also been deputy chancery court clerk for the same period. He is a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F., and was married September 2, 1834, to America J. Thomas, who died in February, 1860, leaving seven children: Virginia, Hiram T., William A., Mary, Sarah J., America J. and Albert T. November 8, 1864, Mr. Johnson married Mrs. M. I. M. (Lannon) Wrather. The following are their children: Florence, Jessie and Joe. Mrs. Johnson died August 25, 1881. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, as is her husband.