Mark William Johnson (1837-1919) was born in McDonough, Georgia, and served in the Civil War as Captain of the 57th Georgia Infantry. In 1862, he married Lavinia Penelope Hollinshead (1840-1916) and together they had six children: Lena Penelope (1863-1941); Mary Nellie (1867-1868); Harriet Elizabeth (1869-1951); Mark William Jr. (1872-1934); Blakely H. (1874-1965); and Palmer (1878?-1964). Johnson moved to Atlanta in 1865, first working in the grocery business. In 1868, he opened the first seed and farm implement store in Atlanta, Mark W. Johnson Seed Company, located on Broad Street. According to available sources, Mark Johnson and Warham Woodruff operated the seed store together in 1876. From 1890 on, the store was located at 35 South Pryor Street under sole direction of Johnson. Known to the community as "Uncle Mark," Johnson was considered an expert on gardening and offered advice to his customers from all over Georgia. He wrote articles, gave lectures on gardening, and authored How to Plant and What to do With the Crops in 1886. In 1883, Johnson was elected vice president from Georgia to the National Cotton Planters' Association of America.