George Henry Johnson was born in 1832 in Stockbridge, Oneida County, New York and came with his family to the Cold Springs area in Jefferson County, Wisconsin in 1841 where he farmed until 1899. The farm was principally a dairy farm although they also raised oats and pigs. Johnson married Elizabeth Cheesbrough in 1856 at Koshkonong and they had two children, Arthur and Minnie. Elizabeth died in 1875 and in 1877 Johnson traveled to New York and was married to Angeline DeEtte Burdick. They had a son, Clarence (1884-1908). After retiring from farming, George and DeEtte lived in Whitewater until his death in 1917.
