Early County Georgia Biographies - James M. Johnson 1859 - Submitted by Charlene Parker Sep 2002 ****************************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profitor for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ****************************************************************************************** From "History of Bethel Association Including Centennial Meeting", by Alexander Lee Miller JAMES M. JOHNSON Men like to see and admire an old patriot, a man who has stood the trials of life, kept up the fight, and has succeeded as a hightoned citizen, a faithful Christian and a gentleman in every sense of the word. Such a man is Deacon J. M. Johnson of Arlington, Georgia. He was born in Emanuel County on January 26, 1859. His parents were J. D. and Mary Johnson. He was reared on a farm and as country boys in that day did not have the privilege of attending school, except a little while in the summer time, and then only such schools as were known as Old Field Schools, just a few weeks in some outhouse unused by its owner. He followed the business of farming, that being all he knew, after he reached maturity. He came to Arlington, Calhoun County, Georgia in 1881 and there attended the Arlington Baptist Church and becoming converted, joined this church and was baptized in 1882. Sometime later he was made a Deacon of that church and has been active ever since as a Deacon of his church, and is now Chairman of the Board of Deacons. In that same year he was married to Miss Delilah Timmons. To them were born five children, one boy and four girls. He has now retired from very active work, but continues to regularly attend church and look after the affairs of that institution. He also is a regular attendant upon Sunday School and has been for the past forty years or more. He is spending his old age at his home about two miles South of Arlington in Early County, where he is loved and respected by all of his neighbors and friends. It is said in his community of him that any statement made by him is never questioned for its veracity. He believes in honesty, truth and uprighteousness, and so lives that his light is not hid under a bushel. May he yet live long and continue to be a blessing to his town and community! Would that there were many more like him.