Charlie Johnson was born in 1897, Mason Tennessee to Laura and Walter Johnson.
As a child, Charlie worked along with his brothers in the hot fields of Tennessee.
Charlie was drafted into the Army during World War I. He is the first known family member to serve in military. Charlie and his brother Richard both trained at Camp Sherman in Chillicothe, Ohio. Charlie fought overseas in France — a place where many of the black troops fought during the war. His tour of duty ended at the end of World War I in November, 1918.
Charlie married Norvenia Johnson (maiden name unknown). The census states that Charlie and Norvenia were married before 1920. To this union were born two children, Annie Birtha and Jame Edward.
Charlie died in 1922, only four years after returning home from the war. The cause of death was listed as pneumonia–possibly a lingering illness he contracted while fighting in the trenches of France.
Charlie’s only daughter, Annie Birtha died at the age of three, one month before he died. They are both buried in Robinson Cemetery, in Mason, Tennessee, along with his mother Laura and brothers Ocie and Richard.
Charlie’s only son James Edwards moved to Cleveland, Ohio and started his family–no connections with the other clans exist.