Henry Joseph Johns was born on 11 July 1865, in Cape Province, South Africa. He married Marie Fredricka Bertha Kümm on 11 May 1897, in Komgha, Caledon, Cape Province, South Africa. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 1 daughter. He died on 17 March 1954, in East London, Cape Province, South Africa, at the age of 88, and was buried in Cape Province, South Africa.