William II was the first child of Andrew and Elizabeth Johnson. He was born in South Carolina October 6, 1827. Since Thomas was born three years later in Gwinnett County, Georgia, we know that the Johnsons came to Gwinnett County from South Carolina sometime between 1827-1830.
William II married Penelope Ann Wise. We have no information about her life, death, or ancestry, but she did move with William II to Carroll County, Georgia, sometime between 1857 and 1861. We know this because the grave marker of their 13 month-old son, thomas, in the Johnson-Maddox-Goldsmith Cemetery, shows that he died in 1857.
During the civil War, Carroll County did not suffer as much destruction as did the area of Stone Mountain, Georgia. William II was able to hold onto a family album containing a good photograph of his father, Andrew Johnson, which is at least 150 years old. Had William stayed in this part of the state, this album would probably been destroyed by the invading army.
We have no information about how many more children William and Penelope may have had. We do know that William was a physician and owned a drugstore in Carrollton. this drugstore remained in the family for five generations.
The location of Penelope's grave is unknown. William II died December 24, 1884. He is buried in the Carrollton City Cemetery, Carroll County, Georgia.
courtesy of Cora Whitley Lambert & Hazel Britt Mitchell |
