[1] He served as representative for the Gawler ward of the Adelaide City Council from 1891 to 1895, a post which his father had also once held.

[2] His brother Thomas Johnson jr. (died 3 November 1904) was a prominent businessman in Broken Hill.

[3] His brother Frederick Johnson was mayor of Charters Towers, Queensland.

[4] He never married and his sister Mrs N. A. Mayfield acted as Lady Mayoress during his term as Lord Mayor.

He succeeded William Ashley Magarey as chairman of the South Australian Football Association[5] He was a prominent public speaker and Freemason and was president of the South Australian Dental Board.