My Genealogy Hound

Hon. James E. Johnson, practicing physician and surgeon at Lavaca, was born in Monroe County, Miss., in 1847. His parents, Rev. Samuel C. and Margaret (Jennings) Johnson were natives of Georgia and Tennessee, born in 1804 and 1808, respectively. They were married in Greene County, Ala., and made that place their home until 1846, when they removed to Monroe County, Miss. The mother died in the last named county in 1871, and Mr. Johnson is now living in Lowndes County, with his second wife. He is a man of natural fluency of speech, and for over fifty years has been an active and energetic preacher in the Baptist Church. His father, Jesse Johnson, was a well-to-do farmer of Georgia. The maternal grandfather of our subject came to the United States from Ireland when young, and settled in Pennsylvania, where he was married. He was named Jesse Jennings, and died in Tennessee. James E. Johnson is the youngest of a family of five sons and four daughters. He was reared upon a farm, but received a common-school education during his early youth. During the latter part of the war he served in Company H, Twenty-eighth Mississippi Cavalry, Confederate Army, and after the war returned home. In 1869 he began life for himself as a farmer, and in 1872 began the study of medicine. In 1874 he studied with Dr. E. E. Winn, of Sherman, Tex., with whom he remained a year. He then studied in Polk County, Ark., with Dr. J. W. Gwinn as a preceptor, since which time he has practiced with success. He lived in Polk County until 1884, when he came to Sebastian County, and after spending two years at Central he became a citizen of Lavaca, where he has already a wide and extended practice. In politics he is a Democrat, and as such represented Polk County in the Legislature one term. He has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1871. At this time he is master of Oak Bower Lodge No. 277. In 1872 he was united in marriage to Mary, daughter of Samuel D. Ryan and Mary McKanse, natives of Georgia and Tennessee, respectively. Mrs. Johnson is a native of Georgia, and the mother of five sons. She also belongs to the Baptist Church.