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Katie W. (Midgett) & Martin Johnson
(Submitted by Linda Lau)

Katie W. Midgett, daughter of Edward Dailey Midgett & Lavenia Jane (Spencer) Midgett, was born in Engelhard, Hyde Co., NC on Feb. 8, 1882.  Katie married Martin Louis Johnson in Norfolk, Va. on Oct. 31, 1924.  Martin, born April 30, 1872, was the son of Joshua A. Johnson, Jr. & Ellen Mars MidyettMartin was first married to Mary Ninevah Dough in Manteo on Oct. 7, 1894 and they had three sons of which only one lived to manhood.  Their marriage ended in divorce.

This article on Capt. Martin Johnson was written up in The Independent in 1926 --
NOT A MISHAP IN A MILLION MILES - Captain Martin Johnson Carries Quarter Million People Safely in 35 Years
Thirty-five years and more, spent on the waters of Albemarle and Croatan Sounds, and Pasquotank River, making a round trip every week day between Manteo and Elizabeth City, traveling over a million miles, carrying over a quarter of a million people, and not a single mishap, or personal injury to a passenger. Such is the record of Captain Martin Johnson of the steamer Trenton, operating every day from this city, and stopping at Manteo. For more than thirty-five years, Captain Johnson has sailed this line, master most of the time, Ten years or so ago, he put on the steamer Trenton, one of the fastest and most comfortable vessels plying these waters, and the greatest asset in the way of transportation Manteo has ever had. The Trenton carries all the mail that goes in a county of over 5,000 people, makes a round trip daily between this city and Manteo, and keeps alive the summer resort of Nags Head. On no other line in eastern North Carolina has the same master served as long as Capt. Martin Johnson. On no other line has a steamboat Captain sailed as far. Figure it up, 90 miles a day, six trips a week, and he has sailed over a million miles, equal to 350 trips across the Atlantic Ocean, or forty times around the world. Captain Johnson is a native of the island, and president of the company that operates the Trenton. He is one of the unusually interesting characters of the coast country, and takes pleasure in making his boat trips interesting. The fact that he has operated his line more than 35 years without a mishap is something he never brags about. He believes that would be bad luck. But his unusual record goes to prove that it is more safe to travel by water, than by land, especially if Martin Johnson is skipper.

Martin died in Elizabeth City, NC on March 30, 1959 and his obituary, along with a photograph, was carried in The Coastland Times on April 3, 1959 [see obituary here and his death certificate here].  Katie died 8 years later in Elizabeth City on Aug. 5, 1967 [see her death certificate].  Katie and Martin are buried in Manteo at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. [Photo of Katie was taken in 1912]

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© 2010 Kay Midgett Sheppard