When Carl Norris Johnson was born on 6 September 1896, in Hudson, Lincoln, South Dakota, United States, his father, Charles F Johnson, was 32 and his mother, Sarah Torkelson, was 28. He married Nettie Cobie on 22 September 1921, in Woodbury, Iowa, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He lived in Eden Township, Lincoln, South Dakota, United States for about 10 years. He registered for military service in 1919. He died on 7 March 1951, in Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, United States, at the age of 54, and was buried in Red Oak, Montgomery, Iowa, United States.