My Genealogy Hound

A. S. Johnson, junior member of the firm of Johnson Bros., of New Lewisville, Ark., opened his eyes to the light of this world in Tennessee in 1862, the fourth in a family of six children born to Benjamin and Eliza (Darter) Johnson, natives of Tennessee. Mr. Johnson followed agricultural pursuits in Tennessee, and in 1870 he came to Louisiana, locating at Shreveport, where he resided for seventeen years, and during that time served several terms as street commissioner. He was a soldier in the Confederate army, serving as first lieutenant in Company A, Douglass’ battalion, Gen. Wheeler, commander, and participated in the battle of Murfreesboro and numerous skirmishes. He was twice married; first, to a Miss Wright, by whom he was the father of four children, viz.: Virgil F. (resides in Nashville, Tenn.), Benjamin (residing near Murfreesboro), W. L. (also resides near that place), and Caroline (the wife of Mr. Overall). By his second wife he was the father of six children, four of whom still survive, viz.: W. C. (engaged in business in this city), A. S. (our subject), J. C. (in partnership with his brothers), and Ella W. (wife of Mr. Sim Owen, a conductor on the Cotton Belt road). Mr. Johnson was grand master of his lodge, I. O. O. F., which he joined in 1847, and which he represented in the Grand Lodge of the State in 1860. The subject of this biographical sketch received his education chiefly in the common schools of Illinois and Louisiana, commencing in life for himself at the age of twelve years, by driving a cart for 50cents per day. From that he engaged in contracting in stone, etc., in his eighteenth year. He continued in contracting for a number of years, until 1885, when he went to Sulphur Springs, Tex., and engaged at a salary with Hargrove & Miller, with whom he remained eighteen months. He came to Arkansas in 1887, locating in the city, and took charge of John C. English’s business, continuing with him for one year. He then formed a partnership with J. C. Johnson, his brother, and together they organized a general merchandise business, which they still continue; they have an extensive trade, mostly railroad business, amounting to about $60,000 per annum. They intend to branch out in the general furnishing business this year, when their sales will amount to much more. They have a building 40x80 feet, well filled with the best goods the market affords, and though they are young men they are very successful. They understand the wants of the people, and aim to supply these wants to the best of their ability, which is, perhaps, the secret of their success. Mr. A. S. Johnson was married, in 1887, to Miss Lucy Farrar, daughter of Brittian and May Farrar, pioneers of Columbia County, and this union has been blessed with one child—H. B. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. J. C. Johnson, junior member of the well-known firm of Johnson Bros., owes his nativity to Illinois, where he was born in 1869, the fifth child born to Benjamin J. Johnson and wife. At the early age of twelve years he engaged in business with Mr. Greig, of Shreveport, La., in the wholesale business, continuing with him until he attained his nineteenth year, at which time he came to this place and engaged in business with his brother, and together they still continue it. He is a promising young man, and bids fair to become one of the prominent citizens of the county.