Geneva County AlArchives Biographies.....Johnson, James J. October 27 1852 - living in 1893
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 26, 2004, 12:14 am

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
   JAMES J. JOHNSON, the leading merchant, cotton-buyer and banker of Geneva,
Ala., located in that city when a young man, but he now stands at the head of
her mercantile pursuits, although still comparatively young. He was born in
Randolph county, Ga., October 27, 1852, a son of W. J. and Mary (Garrett)
Johnson, and was brought to Alabama when seven years of age by his parents, who
settled in Coffee county on a farm. There James J. passed his years until he was
twenty-two, assisting on the home farm. He then engaged in business for himself
by opening a small general store, but discontinued it at the end of five months
as unprofitable. He next took a position as clerk in the store of T. H. Abarch
.of Troy, Ala., and served one year, adding considerably to his business
knowledge. He then engaged with Rainer Bros. in a similar capacity, and remained
with them three years. Following this, he clerked a year for L. & W. J.
Henderson, after which he engaged in the wholesale liquor business in Troy, in
connection with dealing in fancy and family groceries, in partnership with Alex
McKenzie, under the firm name and style of J. J. Johnson & Co. This partnership
lasted five months, when, in September, 1883, Mr. Johnson settled in Geneva
permanently, and for two years conducted a general store under the style of
Malone & Johnson. Mr. Johnson then bought his partner's interest, and called in
a brother, J. E. Johnson, as a partner; but, at the end of six months this
brother was called away by death, and Mr. Johnson was compelled to assume entire
charge of the now large concern. The store building is modern in its
construction and is 30x100 feet. The stock carried in this department is worth
from $6,000 to $8,000 at different seasons of the year, according to the
variations in business activity. In September, 1890, Mr. Johnson took the
preliminary steps for the organization of a bank at Geneva, which is now
incorporated, with a paid up capital of $25,000. He in fact owns the bank and
operates it, in connection with his extensive cotton transactions and general
mercantile business. The entire volume of trade transacted by Mr. Johnson will
aggregate from $100,000 to $125,000 per annum. Mr. Johnson was first married,
December 2, 1886, to Miss Anna Jenkins, daughter of Maj. Jenkins of Geneva, Ala.
She was born in Wilcox county, Ala., was married in her eighteenth year, and two
years later, in 1888, passed from earth, a member of the old school Presbyterian
church. She never became a mother. The second marriage of Mr. Johnson took place
in July, 1889, to Miss Bessie Jenkins, sister of his former wife. She was born
in Wilcox county, Ala., was married in her twenty-fifth year, became the mother
of one child, James, Jr. (March 6, 1891) and died January 29, 1892, sincerely
mourned by her bereaved husband and a host of beloved friends. Mr. Johnson is
himself a consistent member of the Primitive Baptist church. In 1877 he became a
Mason, and a year later entered the chapter, and at the expiration of another
year became a member of the commandery. His tenacious memory has proven to be
one of his chief blessings. He began his business career without money and
without an extensive education, but his memory of facts and his habits of close
observation have made him what he is. W. J. Johnson, the father of James J., was
born in Randolph county, Ga., also, and was there married. He was reared a
farmer and in 1860 came to Alabama and settled in Coffee county, where he bought
a good plantation near Troy, and became one of the leading citizens of that
county. He and his wife still reside on the old plantation, and are the parents
of six children, survivors of eight born to them. Mrs. Mary Johnson is also a
native of Georgia, and is a member of the Missionary Baptist church



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 1036-1037
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI

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