"Col. James M. JOHNSON. Prominent among the most respected and enterprising citizens of the county stands the name of Col. James M. JOHNSON, whose birth occurred in Warren County, Tenn., December 8, 1832.

He is the son of James M. and Elizabeth (DUNIGAN) Johnson, grandson of William JOHNSON and great-grandson of James JOHNSON, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and he was killed by the Tories while on a furlough. Evidence goes to show that he was a commissioned officer of some note. William JOHNSON was a soldier in the War of 1812, was under Gen. JACKSON, and participated in most of the principle battles.

James M. JOHNSON, Sr., was a successful farmer, which occupation he followed all his life, and was a soldier in the late Civil War. He lived in Warren County, Tenn., until 1836, when he moved to Madison County, Ark., and there died in 1869, at the age of sixty years. The mother was about forty years of age at the time of her death, which occurred in Washington County, Ark., in the year 1853. Their son, James M. JOHNSON, Jr., received a good education in the Arkansas College at Fayetteville, and at the Ozark Institute.

In 1850 he married Miss Elizabeth JOHNSON, a daughter of James JOHNSON, and a native of Warren County, Tenn., born in 1833. She died in Madison County, Ark., August 24, 1884, and had been a member of the Protestant Methodist Church from early girlhood.

To Col. and Mrs. JOHNSON were born a large family of children, six now living: Albert P., a graduate of Fayette University, also Ann Arbor Law School, and is now a successful lawyer of Winfield, Kas.; Thomas M., a graduate of Lafayette University and Columbia Law School at Washington, having graduated with honors from both institutions; James F., now a resident of LaGrange, Oreg.; T. L., at Fort Smith, Ark., engaged in merchandising; Kate, wife of William LUCAS, and W. T., who is at home.

Col. JOHNSON followed farming until 1855, when he began to read medicine at Fayetteville, Ark. In 1857 and 1858 he attended the St. Louis Medical College, and in the last mentioned year began the practice of his profession at Huntsville, Ark., where he continued until April, 1862.

He then went, in the company of Isaac MURPHY (who was afterward governor of the State of Arkansas by the suggestion of the subject of this sketch), to Curtis' army, where he was detailed mail agent on the Mississippi River, and afterward joined Gen. SCOFIELD's army at Springfield, Mo.

In the spring of 1863 he was authorized to raise troops, and raised all the Union troops furnished by the State except Col. HARRISON's and LYON's regiments. He took command of the First Arkansas Infantry, and served with credit until the close of the war. At that time he was brevet[ed] brigadier-general, and commanded the third division of the first brigade. While in service he participated in the battle of Cotton Plant, was at the massacre of Fort Pillow, and was in numerous other engagements. During the war his family moved to Illinois, and settled in Madison County of that State.

In 1866 they returned to Arkansas, where they have since resided. In 1864 Col. JOHNSON was elected to Congress from the Third District, and re-elected in 1866, but never took his seat. In 1867 he was elected lieutenant-governor of the State of Arkansas, and served two years. In 1869 he was appointed by Gov. CLAYTON secretary of State, to fill an unexpired term, and was appointed to the same position in 1870, serving in all about five years.

Since then he has been out of politics. The Fayetteville State University owes its origin and location to Col. JOHNSON, who was one of the board of trustees of that college for several years. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and is a Republican in his political views." (Goodspeeds History of NW AR…)