Biography researched and written by Evelyn Park Blalock. Please do not publish elsewhere without providing full and proper credit. Thank you.
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Catherine Burnett was born about 1832 in Banagher, County Offaly (Kings County), Ireland. She traveled to America with at least two siblings, Jonathan (b. about 1838) and Jane (b. about 1842), and arrived in St. Louis about 1849.

Catherine married Henry Johnson on 21 Sep 1850. The marriage is recorded by the Saint-Lo prefecture (St. Louis, Missouri); however, this marriage record does contain an error. It was recorded by a transcriber several months after the marriage took place, and Catherine's name appears as "Burnside" rather than "Burnett".

Henry and Catherine's first child (Joseph Albert Johnson) was born in St. Louis on 30 Sep 1853. The family, including Henry, Catherine, and Joseph Johnson, and Jonathan and Jane Burnett, moved to New Orleans in 1854. Birth records for all six of their children, including an acknowledgement of Joseph's birth in St. Louis, can be found in the microfiche files of the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge.

Joseph Albert Johnson (1853-1913)
Thomas B. Johnson (1855-1906), m. Mary E. Rice and had four known children
Charles Jean/John Johnson (1857-1900), m. Ellen "Nellie" Lamy/Delaney and had five known children
Elizabeth "Eliza" Johnson (1860-1939), m. Joseph C. Fisher and had four known children
William H. Johnson (1864-1944), m. Ellen "Nellie" Ryan and had four known children
Peter J. Johnson (1869-1935), m. Albertine Moragas and had five known children

All records indicate that Henry and Catherlne could both read and write, and also confirm that their children received what was considered a full education for that period of time. Interestingly, most of the birth records for their children were filed as delayed records... and the record for Charles Jean/John was filed multiple times (once as Jean and once as John, but never with Charles added to the name!).

On 4 Sep 1858, Henry became a naturalized citizen. He worked at a variety of jobs, but his longest-held profession was that of dairyman. Several of his sons worked pushing carts in this industry at some point in their lives as well. Catherine remained at home, raising their children and keeping house.

Catherine died of pulmonary oedema on 11 March 1884 at the age of 52.

Catherine's Obituary
Times Picayune, 12 Mar 1884

"JOHNSON - On Tuesday, March 11, 1884, at ten minutes past 7 o'clock, a.m., Mrs. Catherine Burnett, wife of Henry Johnson, aged 52 years, a native of Banagher, Kings County, Ireland, and a resident of this city for the past twenty-nine years. The friends and acquaintances of the family are respectfully invited to attend her funeral, which will take place This (Wednesday) Evening, at 3 o'clock, from her late residence on Commerce, between Delord and Calliope streets."

Background of Birthplace
Banagher (Beannchar na Sionna in Irish) is a town in Republic of Ireland, located in the midlands on the western edge of County Offaly (Kings County) in the province of Leinster, on the banks of the River Shannon. The name Banagher comes from its Irish name, which translates to English as "the place of the pointed rocks on the Shannon." Source: Wikipedia

Research is ongoing for this family history. Any additional information would be appreciated. Edits may be submitted via the "Edit" button in the top right corner of this page. Thank you!

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Burial Details: Greenwood Cemetery
The double plot purchased by HENRY JOHNSON, for burial of his family members, is located at 36/38 Rosemary Hawthorne Cedar in Cemetery G. The vault has perpetual maintenance care; however, it sustained significant damage to markers during Hurricane Katrina. Very few of the individual markers remain, but cemetery records confirm that twenty-one family members and three people of unknown relationship are buried here.

Individuals interred in this plot include:
1) Henry Johnson
2) Catherine Burnett Johnson, wife of Henry
3) Charles J. Johnson, son of Henry and Catherine
4) Charles James Johnson Jr., son of Charles J. and Ellen (and grandson of Henry and Catherine)
5) Edward Fisher, infant son of Elizabeth Johnson Fisher and grandson of Henry and Catherine
6) Edward Louis Johnson, son of Charles J. and Ellen (and grandson of Henry and Catherine)
7) Elizabeth Johnson Fisher, daughter of Henry and Catherine
8) Ellen Lamy Johnson, wife of Charles J. and daughter-in-law of Henry and Catherine
9) Henry Fisher, son of Elizabeth Johnson Fisher (and grandson of Henry and Catherine)
Henry Johnson
10) John Henry Fisher, infant son of Elizabeth Johnson Fisher (and grandson of Henry and Catherine)
11) John Joseph Winnow, husband of Alice Margaret Johnson (daughter of Charles J. and Ellen)
12) Joseph Albert Johnson, son of Henry and Catherine
13) Joseph C. Fisher, husband of Elizabeth Johnson Fisher and son-in-law of Henry and Catherine
14) Marguerite P. Johnson (cemetery records say "Malina W" but headstone says "Marguerite P" with same date of death)
15) Mary Grace Johnson, daughter of Thomas B. and Mary (and granddaughter of Henry and Catherine)
16) Mary Rice Johnson, wife of Thomas B. Johnson and daughter-in-law of Henry and Catherine
17) Thomas B. Johnson, son of Henry and Catherine
18) Peter J. Johnson, son of Henry and Catherine
19) Unnamed infant child of William H. Johnson and Nellie Ryan Johnson, grandson of Henry and Catherine (William and Nellie are buried in plot located at 24 Thistle Aloe Orange)
20) Viola Johnson, infant daughter of Charles J. and Ellen (and granddaughter of Henry and Catherine)
21) Catherine Lamy Clavier, sister of Ellen Lamy Johnson
22) Martha Washington McLaughlin, no age listed, relationship unknown
23) Jane B. Finegan, age 70, relationship unknown
24) unnamed child of Edward Skinio, age 2 hours, relationship unknown