Individual Details

Benjamin Franklin Johnson was the son of William Monroe Johnson (1822-1895) and Jaley (Asbell) Johnson (1825-1893), both of whom were born in Kentucky and died in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma.

Benjamin's maternal grandfather was Ross Asbell (1874-1864) who was well-known in the Asbell family for his adventurous spirit, his multi-talents and occupations, his generosity, and even for his many marriages.

Benjamin's parents met in Missouri after they came independently with family members from Kentucky to Missouri, probably in the late 1830s. They were married in Adair County, Missouri in 1841, and Benjamin was the 7th known child born to them. Benjamin's siblings were:

Alexander Johnson 1844-
Johnson Johnson 1845-
Ruth E. Johnson 1848-
Felix Johnson 1850-
James Monroe Johnson 1852-
Jane A. Johnson 1854-
Charles Johnson 1858-
Stephen Johnson 1862-1931
Susan Ann Johnson 1870-

In 1850, Benjamin's parents were living in Schuyler County, Missouri, near other relatives, such as Jaley's aunt Lydia (Asbell) and her husband Ezekiel Bennett, Sr. and family (this writer's great great grandparents). Several of the Johnson children were born in this county. By 1855, apparently the Johnsons were living in Boone County, Missouri, as that is reportedly where Benjamin was born.

By 1857, the Johnsons had moved on into Arkansas where their son Charles was born that year. In the 1860 and 1870 census, they were living in Jasper Township of Crawford County, Arkansas where many other Asbell relatives where living, including Jaley's father, Ross Asbell.

In July 1874 at the age of 19, Benjamin married Marzie Ellen Hill in Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas. Marzie was pregnant at this time by another man named Thomas Jefferson Sanders, a part Cherokee Indian. Her child was born 7 months later on February 9, 1875 and named Emily Elizabeth "Lizzie." It was said that Emily went by the last name of Hill, and that Marzie did not keep Lizzie's parentage a secret from anyone. Mr. Sanders also acknowledged Lizzie as his biological daughter.

Benjamin and Marzie had the following known children of their own:

Linda Ida May Johnson 1876-1962
Enis/Enos Stephen Johnson 1877-1915
Rufus Sylvestus Johnson 1880-1915
Saphronia Jaley Johnson 1883-1973
Samuel William Johnson 1888-1968
Susan Mary Johnson 1890-1912
Emma Alice Johnson 1894-1968
Ruthie Ellen Johnson 1897-1897

In the 1900 census, the Johnsons were living in Township 11, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory. In 1910 they were in Brent Township of Sequoyah County, Oklahoma.

Both Marzie and Ben died in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, and are buried at Fleetwood Cemetery near Hanson, Oklahoma.

- Written by Blytha (Dennis) Ellis, 5th cousin to Ben.

Birth	1855
Death	1926

Father	William Monroe Johnson (1822 - 1895)
Mother	Jaley Asbell (1826 - 1893)
Sibling	Alexander C. Johnson (1844 - 1922)
Sibling	Younger Johnson (1846 - )
Sibling	Rutha E. Johnson (1848 - )
Sibling	Felix P. Johnson (1850 - )
Sibling	James Morgan Johnson (1852 - 1906)
Sibling	Jane Ann Johnson (1854 - )
Sibling	Charles Johnson (1858 - )
Sibling	Stephen Johnson (1862 - )
Sibling	Susan Anna Johnson (1870 - )