The Johnsons moved from North Carolina to Henry County, Georgia, the newly created county by the Georgia General Assembly's Land Lottery Act of 1821 from previously Indian-held territory between the Ocmulgee and Flint rivers.

They moved to Columbus, Georgia where he started his law practice after passing the bar in 1835.

[1] Johnson opposed secession, and historians agree that he kept a low profile during the Civil War.

He unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate, but on January 30, 1866, the legislature preferred Alexander H. Stephens and Herschel V. Johnson.

Johnson moved back to Columbus, where he served as judge of the Superior Court from July 1, 1869, to Oct. 1, 1875, when he resigned.