MICAH/MICHAEL JOHNSON BIOGRAPHY - HOWARD COUNTY, MISSOURI ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: June Baldwin Bork USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ Research of June Baldwin Bork - http://www.junebaldwinbork.com MICAH JOHNSON was born 14 August 1756 in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia and died in August or September of 1849 in Howard County, Missouri, age 93. Micah served as a Minute-man in the Revolutionary War. He applied for a Pension on 6th of August 1834 (No.R.5648). On that day, "personally appeared in the County Court of Howard, State of Missouri, MICAH JOHNSON, a resident of the County aforesaid, aged 77 years on 14th day of August last who being first duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith on oath.. made the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed 7 June 1832.. That he was living in the County of New Kent in the State of Virginia at the commencement of the Revolutionary War.. that in the year of 1775, a company of men then called Minute-Men was raised and organized in New Kent for the defense of the country against the British and placed under the command of CAPTAIN ROBERT TURNER.. that this applicant was at the organization of this company and drafted into it as a private and served under the same Captain during the whole of my military service..that about the year 1775, the precise time he cannot recollect..he was called into actual service and marched with his company under the command of CAPT. ROBERT TURNER to a place in New Kent County, called the LONG BRIDGE across the Chickohomoney River for the purpose of defending the country against an expected attack from the British...this tour was in actual time of a month and a half. That he afterward went in the same company to the same place for the purpose of defending the country after the attacks of the British troop and was in actual service during the two last mentioned wars.. for 4 months, but he cannot recollect the dates.. Afterwards, in the year 1781 when Lord Cornwallis marched into Virginia he was again in actual service as a drafted militia man in a company commanded by Capt. Robert Turner and marched as far as Williamsburg in Virginia and was stationed there during part of the time.. Lord Cornwallis was besieged in Yorktown and about 10 days before the capture of Cornwallis (19 Oct 1781), this applicant was taken SICK and permitted by his captain to return home.. that he was in actual service as a private upon this occasion at least 2 months and a half. This applicant does not recollect that he ever received any written discharge and if he did he has long since lost it.. he knows of no living witness by whom he can prove his services nor any soldier of his GREAT AGE and because of memory he is unable to give a more complete statement of his services as a soldier of the Revolutionary War. He cannot state with precession the length of his services in the war but according to the first of his recollection he served not less than the times mentioned below as a private: For 8 months he was upon 4 several occasions as a drafted Militia man under Capt. Robert Turner & for these services he claims a pension To the usual questions asked by the Court, the applicant answers: 1. He was born on the 14th of August 1756 in New Kent County in the State of Virginia. 2. He has no record of his age. 3. He was living in New Kent County, Virginia at the several times when he was called into the service. Since the Revolutionary War he removed to Franklin County, Virginia until 1822, then to Patrick County until 1828, then to Howard County, Missouri where he now resides.. 4. He was drafted into service 5. He cannot recollect the names of any of the regular officers with whom he served. 6. He does not recollect that he ever received a written discharge. 7. He states that he is known in his present neighborhood to the Reverend William M. Burton and to John DeHart and to James Hall the second one had known him for 20 years and the latter for 15 years..who can testify as to his character for truth and veracity and thus belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. [John DeHart was his son-in-law and James Hall married JANE BURNETT; all from Patrick County, Virginia]. He knows of no living witness by whom he can prove his services. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or an annuity except the present one.. he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.. /s/ MICAH JOHNSON - Sworn and subscribed to by the said MICAH JOHNSON in open Court the day and year first above mentioned... JOHN B. CLARK, CLERK. Micah may have married 1/ about 1779 to (?) SUSANNA MINCH, born before 1765 in ________. His wife (whoever she was) died after the 1820 Census and before 19 March 1825 in Patrick County. On that day, Micah sold to his son, Micah Jr., 75 acres on waters of Smith River and Susannah did not sign the deed. He was perhaps preparing to marry again, as a little less than 3 years, he did have a 2nd wife named MARY ________ who signed a deed with him and made her mark "X". Mary died before 1830, when Micah is shown on the Census without a wife. Her maiden name may have been "Hubbard." By 1840, Micah was married again to 3/ ___________, a much younger wife, born 1780-1790. In 1785, Franklin County was formed from the northern part of HENRY COUNTY. Three years earlier, on the 1782 Henry County, Virginia Tax List, MICHAEL JOHNSON was paying tax on one poll [himself] and 14 slaves. He would have been 26 years of age at this time and this was a pretty young age to have such wealth unless it was inherited. Further research would perhaps reveal how he acquired his slaves. The Census records for MICAH and his family (he named 8 sons and 1 daughter in his Will): 1810 Census shows Micah and his wife born before 1765 with 6 sons living in home. Two other sons and daughter Susan were of age and missing by this time, plus another older female was living in house, possibly a sister, mother, etc?? And he had 3 slaves, one named Tom. The 1830 shows Micah's wife had died and he remarried by 1840 to a female, born 1780-1790. 1825 Mar 19 - Patrick Co, VA - Recorded: April 1825 - Deed Bk 6:393 Indenture of Bargain & Sale: MICAH JOHNSON SR of Patrick to MICAH JOHNSON JR of same.. $100 for 75 acres in Patrick Co on waters of Smith River.. Beg. on a Spanish oak near a branch on WM. AYRES line..thence down the branch as it meanders to a white oak on HAIRSTON'S line.. thence with his line to a corner gum.. thence a straight line to a corner red oak on AYRES line.. thence with his line to the beg.. /s/ MICAH JOHNSON SENR.. Wit: M. SANDEFUR, WM. HANCOCK, CLARK PENN 1828 January 29 - Patrick Co, VA - Deed Book 7:3-4 MICAH JOHNSON SR., and wife MARY and MICAH JOHNSON JR sold to JONATHAN HUBBARD, all of Patrick.. $300 in cash along with a pony, a sorrel mare which belonged to Jesse Hubbard Sr.. which was agreed upon to be worth say $50.. for 100 acres lying in Patrick County joining lands of: HAIRSTON, WILLIAM AYERS, JILL'S CREEK, to HUTCHINS (now Isaac Adams)... /s/ MICAH JOHNSON SR, MARY (x) JOHNSON, MICAH JOHNSON JR. Wit: Wm. Ayers, John Tuggle, James Tuggle. The 1828 deed of Patrick County shows Micah could write his name. In this period of time, it was customary for the eldest son of a family to be bound out to learn a trade and to read and write and learn arithmetic as far as the rule of 3. The Johnsons left Patrick County right after the above deed and arrived in Howard County, Missouri before May 30th (1828) when he entered 80 acres for a Patent. It is not known if his wife Mary died in Patrick, or enroute to, or in Missouri, but before the 1830 Census. 1828 May 30 - Howard Co, MO - Patent Book: MICAH JOHNSON SR entered 80 acres for a patent. In 1834, Micah wrote his Will and bequeathed to his (3rd?) wife (not named) all his property of every kind except what may be necessary for the payment of debts. The 1840 Census of Howard shows Micah Sr. had remarried to a much younger lady, born 1780- 1790. My grandmother, Bertha Johnson Baker told me that her Johnson ancestors lived "SOMEPLACE IN VIRGINIA" in an area where they could set on their porch in the evening and could see the fires on a mountain top where the Indians were dancing and this place was called, "THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE." This was all that she had remembered about her great grandparents. On a map of Floyd County, Virginia, I discovered a cemetery named "The Devil's Backbone." The Indians were very superstitious when it involved spirits from the dead and they no doubt did their dance here on the gravestones to keep the spirits in good humor or drive away the evil ones. In Micah's day, the location of the Devil's Backbone Cemetery was in Franklin County, Virginia. This area became Floyd County in 1831 when it was formed from Franklin. The cemetery itself is at an elevation of 2708 feet at the point of the mountain where Blackwater Valley can be seen. There is a sheer knife-like spur jutting out between this overlook and Pine Spur. The cemetery is still there today (1994). The children of Micah Johnson and 1/ (?) Susanna Minch [there may have been others who died young]: 1) Susannah Johnson, b. about 1780 in Franklin Co, VA; name-sake of her mother; married 1/ 24 June 1808 in Franklin to Richard Booth; her father was the Bondsman. Susan and Richard were divorced and she married 2/ 4 October 1827 in Patrick to John DeHart; Bondsman was her brother, John Johnson. Susan & John Dehart moved to Missouri: 1830 in Ralls Co, MO. 1834 Aug 6 - Micah Johnson applied for a pension and said he had known JOHN DeHART FOR 20 YEARS (since 1814) & John Dehart was living in the same neighborhood as Micah. 1840 in Howard Co, MO where her father lived 1845 Feb 19 - Howard Co, MO Deed Book V:203: JOHN & SUSAN DeHART of Adair Co, sold 40 acres in Howard Co to JESSE P. DeHART being the NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Sec 31, Range 9. 1847 - moved back to Howard Co. 1847 Jun 7 - Patrick Co, VA - Deed Book 12:588; Recorded: July Court 1847: Power of Attorney from JOHN S. DeHART of Howard Co, MO to ZEPHANIAH DeHART [his bro?] of Patrick to be his lawful atty in fact to collect & receive his share of the estate of ELIJAH DeHART SENIOR, DECEASED, late of said County of Patrick.. /s/ JOHN DeHART.. 1850 in Adair Co, MO. 2) Samuel Johnson, b. about 1782; d. Nov 1821 in Cooper Co, MO; m. 20 Dec 1811 in Franklin Co, VA to Matilda Brockman. Bondsman was John Dodd & her mother Elizabeth consented. They moved to Missouri & lived in that part of Cooper Co that was formed from Howard Co in 1818. Samuel died by drowning while crossing the river in Cooper Co. He left his young bride and a son: 1. Samuel Johnson Jr, b. 1820; still living in 1883 in Charilton Co; was named in last will of his grandfather, Micah Johnson Sr to receive his father's share when he became of age. Matilda & her son lived in Howard Co & Charilton Co where she remarried Thomas Cravens. I suspect Matilda and Thomas were divorced as in 1850, Matilda Craven was listed in Prairie Twp of Charilton (Census p.168) & a Thomas Cravens was listed in Clay Co, Liberty Twp (p.309). 3) Martin Johnson, b. about 1784; m. 29 July 1812 in Franklin Co, VA to Dosha Griffith by Rev. Wilson Turner. 1813 Jun 26 - Patrick Co, VA - Deed Bk 4:19-20; Recorded: Oct 1813: JAMES HALL to MARTIN JOHNSON.. 261 acres being part of land that JOHN BURNETT bought from Luke Foley on waters of Goblintown Creek [& Smith River] including the plantation where MARTIN JOHNSON NOW LIVES. Wit: GERMAN BAKER, GREENVILLE PENN, DAVID ROSS, JOHN HANCOCK. James Hall moved to Howard Co, MO where he died. 4) Dabney Johnson, b. about 1785; d. 1835 in Jackson Co, MO, pre-deceased his father; m. 1813 in Patrick Co, VA to Elizabeth Burnett, dau of Jeremiah Burnett III & Effaniah Crowley (continued; family of June Baldwin Bork). 5) Nathaniel/Nathan Johnson, b. about 1790; still living in 1834 when father named him in Will 6) Larkin Johnson, b. 1794 in Franklin Co, VA; d. 1877 in Jackson Co, MO; buried in Harris-Johnson Cemetery; m. 26 Jan 1818 in Patrick Co, VA to Sarah Harris, b. 1798 in Patrick; d. 1865 in Jackson Co; buried with Larkin. Sarah was daughter of REUBEN HARRIS SR & Margaret McAlexander. Larkin moved his family to Missouri in Nov 1822 & settled in that part of Lafayette Co that was later Jackson Co where they remained and raised their children. Sally died at age 67 & Larkin died 12 years later, age 83. The Harris-Johnson Cemetery is located on the original old Luttrell farm. 1830 - Larkin Johnson & family & his father-in-law's family were living in Lafayette Co; 1840 - Jackson Co, MO 1850 - Jackson Co, MO - His children were still living at home in 1850: Sarah, Nancy, Laura & Eliza; 1860 - Larkin & Sarah his wife were living in home of widowed daughter, Margaret Sibley along with their youngest child, Eliza, then age 20. 1872 - Larkin Johnson attended the Old Settlers Reunion at Independence on 4 July 1872. Children of Larkin Johnson and Sarah Harris: 1) DAVID JOHNSON, b. 5 Dec 1818 in Franklin Co, VA; d. 13 Mar 1862 at Grain Valley, Jackson Co, MO; m. 12 Dec 1839 in Jackson Co to FRANCES ELIZABETH COOK, b. 19 Sep 1824; d. 7 Jul 1884. David & Frances had children: Wm. T., James Henry, Larkin J., Susan Jane, Carroll H., Harvey Allen, David D. & Lee Jackson Johnson. 2) MARGARET JOHNSON, b. 28 Oct 1825; d. 17 Nov 1901; m. 1/ 18 Sep 1843 in Jackson Co, to ISHAM BURNETT LEE HARRIS (1823-1852), son of William Harris & RHODA BURNETT; Margaret m. 2/ 4 Mar 1858 to WM. H. SIBLEY & by 1860 had: William, Rhoda & John. 3) SARAH JOHNSON 4) NANCY JOHNSON 5) LAURA JOHNSON 6) ELIZA JOHNSON, b. 1840 Jackson Co, MO 7) MICAH JOHNSON JR, b. about 1790-1800 in Franklin Co, VA; d. 1840 in Jackson Co, Mo, pre-deceased his father; Micah m. 1820 in Patrick to JUDITH BURNETT, daughter of Jeremiah Burnett III & Effaniah Crowley 8) JOHN M. JOHNSON, b. 11 Feb 1796 in Franklin Co, VA; d. after 1860 when last found living in Jackson Co, MO; m. 14 Sep 1820 in Patrick Co to SARAH B. THOMAS, b. 5 Mar 1796 in Patrick, dau of Richard Thomas & Elizabeth Ferrell. In spring of 1830, John Johnson moved his family to Howard Co, MO near Fayette & lived near his father where he homesteaded & remained until after Micah's death in 1849. In 1853, Gold-fever struck John & he again moved his family to California to try his luck in mining. They remained for about 4 years & then returned to Howard Co. In Nov 1855, he sold the Johnson Farm & in 1856 moved to Lykins Co, KS for only a year & then traveled through different counties in Missouri till the spring of 1858 when he located in Jackson Co. His son, JOHN M. JOHNSON served in the Civil War & after his discharge, they returned once again to Howard County where Sarah B. Thomas Johnson died on 22 June 1879. John & Sarah had 7 children, 4 living in 1881: 1) RICHARD C. [Carroll?] JOHNSON, m. 1847 in Howard Co to MARTHA ANN BOOTH 2) JULIA ELIZABETH JOHNSON, b. 1827 in Patrick Co, VA 3) MICHAEL COLUMBUS JOHNSON, b. 1834 in Howard Co, MO 4) JOHN M. JOHNSON, b. 11 Aug 1836 in Howard Co, MO; m. 1847 in Howard Co, MO to ELIZABETH BOOTH, sister of Martha 9) FLEMING JOHNSON, b. about 1798 in Franklin Co, VA; d. by 15 Aug 1834 when Micah Sr wrote his Will. Fleming m. 30 Jan 1825 in Patrick to MARY "Polly" THOMPSON. The Bondsman was Jonathan Hubbard. Fleming & Polly had at least one son: 1) JOHN F. JOHNSON, was called "Grandson" by Micah in his will. He was to receive his father's share when he became of age [Note: a Fleming Johnson was living 1830 in Washington Co, MO] LAST WILL of MICAH JOHNSON SR Written: 15 Aug 1834 - Howard County, Missouri - Will Book 3:176 Proved: 24 Sep 1849 - Howard County, Missouri Admr: Son, John Johnson and JAMES HALL Wit: John Cooper, Beckto Jernigan & William Leekey/Leakey (dec'd by 1 Dec 1834) I, MICAH JOHNSON of Howard County, Missouri do make ordain and publish my Last Will and do hereby revoke all former wills I desire that all my just debts be paid.. I will to MY WIFE for and during her natural life and NO LONGER all my property of every kind except what may be necessary for the payment of debts To my SON, JOHN JOHNSON.. I will the tract of land upon which I now reside being East half of the North East Quarter of Section 23 in Township 50 of Range 18 in Howard County [Micah was original patentee on 30 May 1828].. I will that my MAN SLAVE TOM shall become and be free after the death of myself.. After my wifes death all my property of every kind (except the land given to my son JOHN JOHNSON and the SLAVE TOM) shall be sold in publick sale upon 12 months credit and the proceeds of said property be distributed as follows: To each of my children: NATHANIEL JOHNSON, MARTIN JOHNSON, DABNEY JOHNSON, MICAH JOHNSON, LARKIN JOHNSON, I give out of the proceeds of said sale, the said sum of two dollars, these children I have provided for in my life time by giving to them their share of my estate and therefore I made no further provisions for them in this Will. The residue of the proceeds of said sale after deducting the two dollars to each of the above named children I desire may be equally divided between my son JOHN JOHNSON and my daughter SUSANNAH DEHART and my GRANDSON, SAMUEL JOHNSON, son of SAMUEL JOHNSON and JOHN F. JOHNSON, son of FLEMING JOHNSON and my will is that what is herein given to my daughter SUSANNAH DEHART shall at her death be to her children and that what is givin to my two grandsons, SAMUEL JOHNSON & JOHN F.JOHNSON shall be put out at interest by my Executors and keep at interest until they become of age and that the principal and interest shall be paid to my said grandsons as they respectively become of age and not before. I constitute my son JOHN JOHNSON and JAMES HALL Executors of this Will. In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my seal this 15th day of August 1834.. /s/ MICHA (x) JOHNSON Signed and sealed by the said MICHA JOHNSON in our presence on this day of August 1834 and in testimony thereof we have hereunto at the request of the said Micha Johnson and in his presence and in the presence of one another signed and named witnessed: BECKTO JERNIGAN, JOHN COOPER, WILLIAM LEEKEY.. [Note: there is no punctuation in the old writings]. To all persons to whom these presents shall come greetings: KNOW YE that the last will and Testament of MICHAEL JOHNSON, DECEASED hath in due form has been exhibited proved and recorded in the office of the clerk of the County Court of Howard County, a copy of which is here unto annexed and in as much as it appears that JOHN JOHNSON has been appointed executor in and by said last will and testament to execute the same and to the end that the property of the testator may be preserved for those who may appear to have a legal right or interest therein, and that the said last will may be executed according to the will of the deceased.. we do hereby authorize him the said JOHN JOHNSON as executor to collect and secure all and singular the goods and chattels rights and credits which were of the said MICHAEL JOHNSON at the time of his death in whosoever hands or possession the same may be found and to perform and fulfill all such duties as may be enjoined upon him by said will so far as there shall be property and the law charge him and in general to do and perform all other acts which now are or hereunto or hereafter may be required of him by law. In testimony whereof, I, ANDREW J. HERNDON, Clerk of the County Court of Howard have signed and affixed my seal this 24th September A.D. 1849.. /s/ ANDREW J. HERNDON On 7 November 1855, John Johnson & wife Sarah B. Johnson of Howard County.. for $2100 sold to EDMOND A. BURNETT, 350 acres [including Micah's Original Patent Land of 1828 being 80 acres] (Deed Bk 4:224-225). Micah said in his Will that his wife was to hold the land until her death and NO LONGER, then to be sold. In other words she did not inherit by fee-simple. Apparently she died by 1855.