JOHNSON, James (1895)

JAMES JOHNSON

from Goodspeed’s History of East Tennessee, 1887

James Johnson, a well-known farmer of the First District, was born in Rhea County, Tenn., May 27, 1818. He is the youngest of nine children (four now living) born to William and Sarah (Forbish) Johnson. The father was born in Virginia in 1766. He was a tinset by trade. About 1803 or 1804, he immigrated to Rhea County, Tenn., being the seventh man who settled there. He purchased land and became a successful farmer. His death occurred about 1842. The mother was born about 1769 on New River, S.C., and died in Rhea County about 1845. For forty-eight years she was a devout member of the Primitive Baptist Church, to which her husband belonged fifty-four years.

The paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland, who settled in Virginia. Our subject has had but meager educational advantages, but by observation and reading has become possessed of a vast amount of practical knowledge. He remained with his parents until his majority. He then rented a farm in Meigs County. After raising one crop he returned home and remained until the death of his parents. January 1, 1849, he moved to Bledsoe (now Cumberland) County, and bought a farm. He engaged in the mercantile business about 1853 in Grassy Cove, Bledsoe County.

In 1857 he sold his farm and bought 200 acres of land. Since that time he has been trading. He now owns 320 acres in Rhea County and 200 in Cumberland County. July 4, 1859, he entered the store of Dr. D.M. Roddy, at Prestonville Post Office. He remained there until July 2, 1861. He then enlisted in Company G, Twenty-sixth Tennessee (Confederate Army), under command of John M. Lillard. Captain of the company was Crawford. Our subject went out as orderly sergeant, and two months later was made quartermaster. He resigned after the battle of Fort Donelson. He was the only man who brought his stock through to Murfreesboro. He was elected captain of a home company, and entered a battalion of cavalry commanded by Maj. B.F. Walker. He was discharged January 6,1864. He was in the battle of Fort Donelson, and at Beans Station, and near Chickamauga. He was never wounded nor taken prisoner. His accumulations were lost during the war. Since that time he has been successfully engaged in farming and trading. He was justice of the peace of the First District twenty- seven years. He has served as chairman of the county court. He was a delegate to the convention which nominated President Cleveland. For fifty-one years he has been a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. He is a stanch Democrat, an enterprising citizen, and firm advocate of educational interests.

December 28, 1840, he married Mary J., daughter of John O. and Jane (Simcox) Thompson. She was born March 12, 1824, in Roane County, Tenn., and died in Rhea County December 20, 1857. She was not a church member, but a believer in religion. This union resulted in eight children. Those living are William H., Calvin G., Sallie, Nettie and N.B.: those deceased are Elizabeth, Jane, and W.W. September 15, 1864, our subject married Amy, daughter of Micajah Clack. She was born in Meigs County, Tenn., February 20, 1829. She is a lady of cultivation and a member of the Baptist Church.

From the 1895 minutes of the Hiwassee Baptist Association:

IN MEMORIAM

Elder James Johnson was born in Rhea County, Tennessee, on May 27, 1818. Under the tuition of his devotedly pious father and mother he never used a profane oath, even through life. And this was the more remarkable because he grew up in the crude and wild condition of the country before civilization had made much progress. But little literary training could be had. Two or three months, at most, in the old field schools of that period for a few years was an advanced education. In this condition of affairs Bro. Johnson reached his thriteenth year when he became conscious of his lost condition. For a little more than a year he gave but little thought to any other subject.

When he had reached his fourteenth year the light shone into his dark mind and it pleased God, who called him by His grace, to reveal in him His Son, Jesus Christ. Immediately he conferred not with flesh and blood, but joined the church at Old Bethel. He was shown his sinful and helpless condition and pointed to Christ under the ministry of Elder Daneil Briggs, who was one of the pioneer and able ministers of that or any other time. Bro. Johnson’s changed life bore unimpeachable testimony to a regenerated nature, which was a characteristic of the man through life and presented him as a christian of the highest type, a hero of the faith, and a faithful minister of the gospel.

In 1840 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Thompson, of the neighborhood in which he was raised. To them were born three sons and two daughters, who survive their father. Three others died in infancy. This marriage was, in all respects, a happy one till about 1854, when his wife died. He bore his affliction without murmuring, in that sweet submisssion that said, “Thy will be done.”

In 1864 he was united in marriage to Miss Amy Clack, his surviving but grief-smitten widow. Again Bro. Johnson was fortunate in his choice of a partner, as he found a helpmate indeed in every department of their life’s labor–they in full enjoyed each other’s confidence and unsullied affection to the end. In 1867 he was licensed to preach.

His ministerial zeal, which appeared to be according to knowledge, led him to the strong entrenchment of confidence in him by his brethern in all of the churches, as well as by an exacting public. He soon developed in the pulpit the correct expositor of “The principles of the doctrine of Christ;” the wise counsellor, the eloquent exhorter, the judicious disciplinarian, and faithful pastor.

In 1868 he was ordained to the full work of the ministry by prayer and imposition of hands of the presbytery composed of Elders J. B. McCallon, A. Newport and R. T. Howard. He sometimes reached sublime heights when exhorting sinners to repentance. He went among them with Christ crucified, Jesus and the resurrection his only theme, “the broken spirit, the broken and contrite heart” the only human sacrifice allowed upon God’s altar, then “testifying both to the jews and also to the greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ;” lowly and still lower humility the only way to reach the throne of grace; obedience to the ordinances and teachings of the gospel the evidences of a regenerated nature.

He was the most of his ministerial life pastor of four churches, which were fairly successful, never having any confusion among them, but “endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. He was a living practical embodiment of the principles which he taught. A devotedly tender husband, a gentle father , thus securing obedience from his children; a kind neighbor with an open ear and hand to hear the cry and to releive the wants of the needy poor, and with songs and prayers and consoling promises ever ready to enter the homes of the sorrowing, the sick and dying; an impartial magistrate; a faithful friend, and all that enters into the make-up of a good man.

For several years he was afflicted, but uncomplainingly bore it. His last sickness was attended with great suffering. But in it all his theme was religion, and as long as his mind was clear his confidence was unshaken in the love and ability of his Savior. He died March 29, 1895, aged 76 years, 10 months and days.

The high esteem in which he was held was manifested y the immense concourse of people in attendance at his funeral services conducted by his life-long friend and fellow laborer, Elder J. B. McCallon. His remains were laid to restin the Newport cemetery. The assemblage was largely composed of the aged from Rhea, Cumberland, Roane and Meigs counties.

from the “Records of Rhea” by T.J. Campbell

CAPTAIN JAMES H. JOHNSON Colonel William Johnson, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia in 1766. His wife, Sarah Forbush, was born in South Carolina in 1769. They came to Rhea County before it was a county, in 1803. He is said to be the seventh white man to settle in the territory, which was then still occupied by the Indians. The county was not organized until early in 1808. He was a commander of the county militia for a number of years; a record shows that he designated certain persons to serve as guards in the Hiwassee Garrison in 1814.

In 1859 the son, James H. Johnson, lived in the Tennessee Valley, a mile or two south of White’s Creek where the Dixie Highway now crosses under the Cincinnati Southern Railroad (currently, 1997, known as the Waldo farm – EC). He was then serving as salesman in D. M. Roddy’s mercantile establishment and acting as postmaster in the village of Prestonville, later to become Roddy. A record of Capt. Johnson’s birth is not available, but he married to Mary J. Thompson, December 25, 1840.

In 1861, though past military age, Capt. Johnson enlisted in Company G, 26th Tennessee Infantry (Confederate) and became quartermaster of the regiment. At the Battle of Fort Donelson, where his regiment was surrendered to the Union forces under General Grant, he was the only quartermaster to escape with his stock, which he broughtto Murfreesboro. He then resigned and proceeded to raise a company of old men and boys, known in army annals as “Silver Grays.” This company served in the remarkable command of Major B. F. Welcker of Roane County, and the organization of which it was a part held the Confederate line from the Tennessee River at Citico Creek to Missionary Ridge, when General Rosecrans was being beseiged in Chattanooga after the Battle of Chickamauga.

Capt. Johnson was among the honored citizens of the upper end of Rhea County. A Baptist minister and a Democrat, he was always outspoken in his opinions on any question or issue. He was an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1884, which nominated Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks for president and vice-president. He later had the pleasure, subsequently, of personally felicitating Mr. Hendricks on his election.