Ezra Johnson was the son of Joseph Asa Johnson and Sarah Lucy/Lucille Tobey. Ezra’s father, Joseph Asa Johnson was born on March 7, 1814, in Kentucky. Ezra’s mother, Sarah Lucy Tobey was born on December 3, 1819, in Owensville, Gibson County, Indiana.
Ezra Johnson was born on May 14, 1842, in Missouri. He was a farmer by trade. Ezra raised horses and grew crops. He was also elected as a Judge in Douglas County, Missouri. He didn’t run for election again, because many of his friends expected him to find for them. He had to find according to what he thought was right. He had to be fair to everyone.
When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in the Union Army. He fought in a number of battles. One of those was the Battle of Pea Ridge in Benton County, Arkansas. Ezra is listed as a hero in that battle. When the war ended he was a major.
After the Civil War ended, he went home to Missouri, and married Amanda Frances Johnson/Johnston. Her family used both spellings. They were married on January 25, 1866, we believe in Hickory County, Missouri. Ezra was twenty four years old. Amanda was eighteen years old. Amanda’s nickname was Mandie. He received a land grant in Douglas County, Missouri, because of his Civil War service.
Ezra Johnson and Amanda Frances Johnson had nine children. The first of those was Electa or Electra Angeline Johnson. She was born on May 19, 1867, in Douglas County, Missouri. Electra was always called Eccie. Later, Aunt Eccie. She married John Wright in 1884 or 1885. Her husband was later institutionalized for mental illness. We have no record of where they were married. Electra died on February 13, 1956. We have no knowledge of where she died or where she was buried.
The second child born to Ezra Johnson and Amanda Frances Johnson was Joseph Asa Johnson. He was named for both of his grandfathers, Joseph Asa Johnson and Asa Johnson. Joseph Asa was born on March 6, 1869, in Douglas County, Missouri. His first wife was Pruda Florence Wood. He called her Prudie. They were married on September 7, 1890 in Douglas County, Missouri. She died October 8, 1902 of tuberculosis. Second, he married Mary Elizabeth Darrow in 1903 in Douglas County, Missouri. Mary was a wonderful mother to Joseph Asa’s four children, from his first marriage. They moved to Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma. They, later moved to Texas. Joseph’s second wife Mary died after giving birth to eight children, including two sets of twins. Joseph Asa, then married wife number three. Pearl was her name. He called her Pearlie. We have no record of her last name. She had one son, from a former marriage. They, then moved to DeQueen, Sevier County, Arkansas. For most of his life, Joseph Asa was a farmer, a general store owner, and a church pastor. He died on December 26, 1940 in DeQueen, Sevier County, Arkansas. He was buried in DeQueen, Sevier County, Arkansas. We have no additional information of the life, death or burial of Joseph Asa Johnson.
Sarah Frances Johnson was the third child born to Ezra Johnson and Amanda Frances Johnson. Sarah went by the nickname of Sally. She was born on August 2, 1871 in Douglas County, Missouri. Sarah married Marvin Cantrell in Douglas County, Missouri. We don’t know when the were married. She died on August 13, 1922, in Douglas County, Missouri. We have no other record of Sarah Frances Johnson’s life, death or burial.
Amanda Frances Johnson had four children, who died still born or from miscarriages. This happened between 1871 and 1882. We don’t know why. We do know that she had a hard life with plenty of worry and difficult times. Often she would be out all night, delivering a baby, and come home to a full days work with no chance for sleep.
Ezra Johnson and Amanda Frances Johnson’s fourth child was Mathilda Pauline Johnson. Mathilda’s nickname was Mattie, but she was always called Mattie Pauline. Mattie Pauline was born on July 18, 1882, in Douglas County, Missouri. She first married Frank Jenkins in Douglas County, Missouri. We don’t know when. Mattie Pauline’s second marriage was to William Elijah Sanders in Douglas County, Missouri. He was a distant cousin. He was called Bill or Elijah. At some point, they moved to Belen, Valencia County, New Mexico. Mattie Pauline died in Belen, Valencia County, New Mexico, on December 12, 1958. She was buried at the Masonic Cemetery, LasCruces, Dona Ana County, New Mexico. The Plot is in Section 6, Block 13. We have no other details of the life, death or burial of Mathilda Pauline Johnson.
The fifth child of Ezra Johnson and Amanda France Johnson was Otha Arminta Johnson. Otha was sometimes called Odie. She was born April 13, 1885 in Douglas County, Missouri. Otha married William John Howard on June 9, 1902 in Arno, Douglas County, Missouri. She had a long life and died in Missouri but we don’t have a record of where or when.
Charles Lorenzo Johnson was the sixth child of Ezra Johnson and Amanda Frances Johnson. According to the family he had several nicknames. Some of those were names were: Charlie, Lonzo and Lon. Charles was born November 11, 1887 in Douglas County, Missouri. Throughout his life he was a farmer and a church pastor. Charles married Elsey Applegate, in Douglas County, Missouri. We don’t know when. Charles died on March 9, 1946. He may have died in Douglas County, Missouri, and buried at Good Hope Cemetery in Douglas County, Missouri. We have no additional information of Charles Lorenzo Johnson’s life, death or burial.
Ezra Johnson and Amanda Frances Johnson moved their family from Douglas County, Missouri to Claremore, Rogers County, Oklahoma. This was when, their children were older or grown. He died in Claremore, Rogers County, Oklahoma, on May 12, 1929. Ezra was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery,in Claremore, Rogers County, Oklahoma. We have no more details of the life, death or burial of Ezra Johnson.