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 Midyett. Martin 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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