William M. Johnson (1840 - 1912)

Born 1840 in Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 31 Oct 1912 at about age 72 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

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Biography

William M. "John" Johnson was born about 1840^[1]-1855^[2] in Tennessee^[3][4][2][5] or New York^[6], New York. He was the child^[7] of William Johnson, also born in Tennessee^[7]. He was the husband^[3][4][8] of Isabella, and the husband^[2][5][8] of Elizabeth Chauncey. He served with the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War.

Occupations

• 1910^[5]: Lawn mower contractor
• 1900^[2]: Lawn mower
• 1880^[4]: Wood sawing business
• 1863^[1], 1870^[3]: Laborer

Residences

• 1910: Alfred Street, Detroit, Michigan with his wife Elizabeth and their child Wilber^[5]
• 1900: 212 Alfred Street, Detroit, Michigan with his wife Elizabeth and 16-year-old Herman Snead^[2]
• 1890: Detroit, Michigan (US Veterans Schedules)
• 1880: 212 Alfred Street, Detroit, Michigan with his wife Isabelle^[4]
• 1871: (post office) No. 272 Whitney Street, Detroit, Michigan^[8]
• 1870: Detroit, Michigan with his wife Isabella^[3]
• 1863: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (military enlistment)^[1]

Military Service

During the Civil War, he served as a Private in Company H of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry of the Union Army, the second^[9] regiment in the United States made up entirely of enlisted men of color. He was about 23 years old, single and working as a laborer when he enlisted on 15 April 1863 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He accidentally wounded himself in camp on 8 July 1863 and was wounded in action (gunshot wound^[10]) on 30 November 1864 at the Battle of Honey Hill. Discharged 22 June 1865 from the hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts.^[1]

Note: There is another John Johnson in Company H (This one is generally noted as 2nd.)

Military Pension

Military Pension Application No. 76063 Certificate No. 113093 (8 July 1865)

Military Pension Widow's Application No. 996184 Certificate No. 775810 (11 November 1912)

Michigan Death Certificate November 1912

Declaration for an Invalid Pension June 1865

Race

• 1870^[3], 1880^[4], 1900^[2], 1910^[5]: Black

Death

He passed away in 1912^[8] and is buried at Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.^[7]Cite error 4; Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content

Projects

• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Emilio, Roster p. 375
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} 1900 federal census
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} 1870 federal census
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} 1880 federal census
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4} 1910 federal census
6. ↑ Regimental Descriptive Book
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Michigan death certificate
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} Military pension files of Private William M. "John (2nd)" Johnson, 54 Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Co. H
9. ↑ and the first with federal recognition; the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry regiment was against the wishes of the Secretary of War and filled only six companies, but did see action a full year before the 54th
10. ↑ 1890 veterans schedule

• 1870 United States Federal Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Detroit Ward 6, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: M593_713; Page: 461B; Family History Library Film: 552212
• 1880 United States Federal Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: 613; Page: 401B; Enumeration District: 308
• 1890 United States Veterans Schedules for Detroit, Michigan. S.D.: 1; E.D.: 234; Minor Civil Division: Detroit; Page: 2. (as William M. Johnson)
• 1900 United States Federal Census Year: 1900; Census Place: Detroit Ward 5, Wayne, Michigan; Page: 8; Enumeration District: 0049; FHL microfilm: 1240748
• 1910 United States Federal Census Year: 1910; Census Place: Detroit Ward 5, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: T624_682; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0069; FHL microfilm: 1374695
• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Book Co., 1891 (1st ed.) and 1894 (2nd ed.)
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 24 April 2020), memorial page for PVT William M “John” Johnson (1 Apr 1846–31 Oct 1912), Find A Grave: Memorial #179770995, citing Woodmere Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA ; Maintained by SoaringSoul (contributor 49275284) .
• Fold3.com. "Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900." National Archives Catalog #2588825. "Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900, compiled 1949 - 1949, documenting the period 1861 - 1942." Free Access Black History Collection Records 5-28 February 2019. (as John W. Johnson)
• Fold3.com. "Records of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Colored), 1863-1865." National Archives Catalog #577134. "Regimental and Company Books of Civil War Volunteer Union Organizations, compiled 1861 - 1865." Free Access Civil War Records 1-15 April 2018.
• Michigan Death Certificate in military pension files, National Archives
• National Archives Catalog #300020. "Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934."