Minnie Lee Wolaver Johnson was born on 29 November 1874 in Diana, Giles County, Tennessee, a daughter of James Tolbert and Alice E. Wolaver. The Wolaver family moved to Texas before 1900 and Minnie was married there about 1896 to John Daniel Johnson and living in Italy, Ellis County, Texas, with their first child, Rose. John Daniel Johnson was employed as a teacher in 1900. The Johnson family was living in San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas by 1910, where John was employed as a "manager, oil company".

Minnie was employed as a "teacher, art" on her "own account". Their second, and last child, Louis, was born about 1902. The Johnsons were living in Dallas, Texas in 1920 where John was employed as an "agent, insurance". No occupation ...