In 1853, Johnson married Emily Susanna Howells, a native of England whose family had immigrated to the United States in 1832.

[2] The Mohawk resented that under Canadian law, Howells as Johnson's wife would gain status as a Native, with a right "to a portion of her band’s annuities and other benefits.

"[2] Under the Mohawk matrilineal kinship system, her children would have not fully belonged to the tribe as they would not be part of any clan.

The Johnsons entertained leading figures of the time at their home of Chiefswood, which George had built in 1856 on his 225-acre estate.

[3] Johnson was elected as a hereditary chief of the Six Nations, succeeding his mother's brother, Henry Martin of the Wolf clan.

The Mohawk had a matrilineal kinship system, in which descent and property passed through the woman's line, and his mother nominated him for the post.

In addition, much of the open grounds have been restored since the late 20th century to the Ontario Tall Grass Prairie Meadows that were characteristic at the time of the family's residence and had plants used by the Mohawk for medicinal purposes.