Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik on 1 Nov 2003

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Judge Johnson was born in Virginia November 10, 1769. having received a better English education that was common at that time, he went, when a young man, to Kentucky, where he taught school. He soon afterward moved to the north side of the Ohio, and served as Quartermaster Sergeant under Gen. Wayne, and thus formed an intimate acquaintance with William Henry Harrison, an Ensign, a few years younger than himself. This acquaintance ripened into an ardent friendship. Their last meeting was at the Williamson house, in Lebanon, while Gen. Harrison was a candidate for the Presidency. Johnson was one of the first settlers at Deerfield, being there as early as 1797. According to the Manuscript notes of Judge R. B. Harlan, M. H. Johnson sold goods at Deerfield for Mr. Hinkson, and was the first store-keeper in Warren County. About 1801, he moved to the high ground immediately north of Hopkinsville, where he resided until his death. He was appointed Assessor of Deerfield Township, Hamilton County, Northwest Territory, and afterward, Auditor of Supervisors’ account for the same large Township, embracing the greater part of Warren County. He received a commission from Gov. St. Clair as a Lieutenant in the Territorial militia. After the organization of Warren County, he was, in 1803, elected and commissioned one of the first Justices of the Peace of Hamilton Township, and discharged the duties of this office at intervals for about twelve years. He was the first Recorder of Warren County, and, after the creation of the office of Auditor, in 1820, he was the first person to hold that position in the county. In 1809, he was elected a member of the Senate of the General Assembly, and, in 1812, a Representative, serving, in all, seven terms in the Legislature between 1809 and 1819. In the last-named year, he was commissioned by Gov. Brown Collector of Taxes for the Second District. In 1825, he was elected by the Legislature an Associate Judge, and served in that position for about ten years.