My Genealogy Hound

JAMES P. JOHNSON, farmer and stock raiser, of Williamson County, Tenn., is a son of Thomas B. and Harriet C. (Patterson) Johnson, and was born in Fayette County, Ky. The father was born in the same county in 1808, and in 1832 came to Tennessee and settled twelve miles south of Nashville. His occupation was farming and stock raising. About 1840 he moved to Mississippi, but soon returned and purchased the Laurel Hill Stock farm, which he cultivated very successfully. He was, for a number of years, president of the State Agricultural Association, and was contractor on the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad while it was building. In 1828 he was married to Miss Harriet C. Patterson, of Virginia, and seven sons were born to them. James P. and Andrew H. are the only living descendants of this union. Thomas B. Johnson was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in 1874. Our subject was educated in the Nashville University and graduated in 1847. In 1852 he began farming, but four years later he sold his farm to the State for the benefit of the Insane Asylum. He then purchased the Laurel Hill stock farm, and in 1853 became a member of the firm of Johnson, Brown & Gibson, stock dealers, but retired at the end of four years. In 1853 he wedded Sarah J. Sykes, daughter of Jesse Sykes. Ten children were born to them; James W., Harriet L. (deceased), Thomas B., Jesse S., Jennie S., William A., Addie L., James P., Andrew V. and Richard E. Mr. Johnson and his children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His wife is a Missionary Baptist.