Edward Johnson and Martha Ann Lee

Edward Johnson, my 3rd great-grandfather, was the son of James Absalom Johnson, Sr and Luvenia "Lucy" Brinkley. He was born 14 April 1826 in Marion County, Mississippi.  

Edward married Martha Ann Lee, the daughter of William S. Lee and Margaret "Peggy" Collins.  The date of their marriage is unknown.  Martha was born 18 February 1833 in Marion County, Mississippi.  

The 1860 census of Marion County, Mississippi shows Edward Johnson, head of household and a farmer, with wife Martha and three children- Stephen, age 9, Wilson, age 5, and Fleming, age 1.  Living next door to Edward's family was Edward's father, Absalom, then widowed with two adult daughters in his household.  A couple of houses further down was Edward's sibling, Daniel Johnson and his family.  

Ten years later, in 1870, Edward and Martha's family had grown, adding four more children to their brood- Margaret, age 8, Ira Rankin, age 6, Almedia, age 4, and Mary Louise, age 2.  Sons Stephen and Wilson worked on the family farm, as they were then age 19 and 15 respectively, while son Fleming was 11 years old.  Also listed in the household with Edward's family that census year was Susannah Johnson, age 21.  I speculate this was Edward's sister.  

1870 Federal census, Marion County, Mississippi

By 1880, there were two more children listed in the household with Edward and Martha Johnson- daughter Martha, age 7, and son Lee, age 4.  On the census, Lee was listed as a daughter, but Lee was actually a male.  Several of the their older children had married and moved out of the house, but resided near them as shown on the census.  Their son Stephen had married Almedia Fillingame and by 1880 the couple had three of their own children.  Their son Wilson had married Elizabeth "Betty" Fillingame, sister of Stephen's wife Almedia, and they had a son.  Their son Fleming was married as well, to Nancy Ann Bounds, but they had no children as of yet.  Their daughter, Margaret "Emily", had married James Elder Nobles, Jr, and they lived next door to Edward and Martha.  Ira, Almedia and Mary Louise were young and still resided with their parents.  

1880 Federal Census, Marion County, Mississippi

The 1890 census is unavailable. I haven't yet located Edward's family on the 1900 census.  The next census record I found showing Edward Johnson was the 1910 census.  By then, Edward was in his 80's and he resided with his son, Ira Rankin Johnson.  Edward's wife, Martha, had died on 20 May 1897.  She was buried in the Old Ed Johnson Family Cemetery, Lamar County, Mississippi.

Edward Johnson died on 25 June 1918 in Lamar County, Mississippi.  Lamar County had been created out of Marion County in the early 1900's, thus explaining the reason for the change in county locations.  He was laid to rest in the Old Ed Johnson Family Cemetery located in Pine Grove, Lamar County, Mississippi.  The date of death on his headstone shows 20 July 1918, but that date conflicts with the death record.

The cause of death listed on the death certificate of Edward Johnson was simply "Old Age".  He apparently died at home as there was no physician listed.  

Children of Edward Johnson and Martha Ann Lee:
Stephen P. Johnson, married Almedia Fillingame
Wilson "Babe" Johnson married Elizabeth G. "Betty" Fillingame
Fleming Johnson, married Nancy Ann Bounds
Margaret Emily Johnson, married James Elder Nobles, Jr
Ira Rankin Johnson, married Lucy (last name unknown)
Almedia Johnson, married William Nobles
Mary Louisa Johnson, married (1) John Jacob  (2) George T. Thompson
Martha Johnson, married E.W. Whiddon
Lee Edward Johnson, married Laura Beach

See also:
Tombstone Tuesday:  Ed Johnson Family Cemetery, Lamar County MS