Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1892, volume 3).djvu/480

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JOHNSON
JOHNSON

nel, he repaired to the Ohio frontier. He took part in the engagement at Chatham, Ontario, 4 Oct., 1813, and in the battle of the Thames on the day following. (See Harrison, William Henry.) Col. Johnson with half his men attacked the Indians, while his brother James, with the remainder, fell upon the British regulars. During the combat Col. Johnson killed an Indian chief, whom he sup- posed to be Tecum- seh (q. v.). The colo- nel was borne from the field almost life- less, having re- ceived several bullet wounds. Although not sufficiently re- covered to be taken home until Novem- ber, he was again in Washington in Feb- ruary, though still

unable to walk, and

resumed his seat. On his way to the capital he was heartily cheered, and congress, by joint resolution, directed that he should be presented with a suitable testimonial for his services. At the conclusion of his term in congress in 1819, he returned home, was chosen to the legislature, and at once elected to the U. S. senate, in place of John J. Crittenden, resigned. Being re-elected, he served until 3 March, 1829. He was then again chosen to the 21st, 22d, 23d, and 24th congresses, being a member of the house from 7 Dec, 1829, till 3 March, 1837. He was a candidate for vice-president of the United States on the ticket with Martin Van Buren, and, no choice hav- ing been made by the electoral college, he was chosen by the senate. At the close of his official term he retired to his home, having given thirty years of his life continuously to the service of his country. He was afterward sent again to the legis- lature, and was a member of that body at the time of his death. In 1814 he was appointed Indian commissioner. He was the author of the law abol- ishing imprisonment for debt in Kentucky, and while in congress made himself the especial friend of the old soldiers of the Revolution and the in- valids of the war of 1812 by his efforts to secure pensions for them. — Another brother, John T., clergyman, b. in Great Crossings, Scott co., Ky., 5 Oct., 1788 ; d. in Lexington, Mo., 17 Dec, 1856, chose the profession of law, and began practice. He volunteered in the war of 1812, and was an ac- tive participant in the northwestern campaign, serving as aide to Gen. Harrison. On returning home after the war, he was five times elected to the legislature and twice to congress, serving in 1821-'5. In the "old and new court contest," in 1826, he was appointed and served for nine months as judge of the new court of appeals. In the midst of his successful political career he imit- ed with the Christian denomination, which was then assuming great power in Kentucky, under the teachings of Alexander Campbell and other leaders, and he gave the remaining years of his life to service as an evangelist. No man did more to build up educational and benevolent auxiliaries to his church, and to organize and foster its mission work. His style of preaching was hortatory and pathetic, rather than logical, and was attended with success. He gave liberally of his own means to the interest of the cause which lay so near his heart, and, being possessed of a moderate estate, received no reward for his labor. — Richard Men- tor's nephew, Madison Conyers, lawyer, b. near Georgetown, Ky., 21 Sept., 1806; d. in Lexington, Ky., 7 Dec, 1886, was the second son of William Johnson. He graduated with the first honors at Transylvania university in 1823, in 1825 was gradu- ated in the law department of Transylvania, was admitted to the bar, and began the active practice of the law, in which he attained eminence. Mr. Johnson served for several years in the Kentucky legislature. In 1850 he was chosen one of the com- missioners to adopt and draw up the Kentucky code of practice, and in 1853 and 1857 he was elected to the legislature. From 1858 till his death he was president of the Northern bank of Ken- tucky, and had been one of its directors since 1837. He was for many years connected with the board of trustees of Transylvania university, and in 1865, when that college was changed to the Kentucky university, he became president of its law depart- ment. He was eminent as a financier, and the 3 per cent. U. S. bonds, by which millions of dollars were saved to the National government, were is- sued by Sec Windom at his suggestion.


JOHNSON, James, jurist, b. in Robinson county, N. C, in 1811. He was graduated at the State university in 1832, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and began practice at Columbus, Ga. He was a representative in congress from 1851 till 1853, and was appointed provisional governor of Georgia in 1865. He was collector of customs at Savannah in 1866-'9, and was appointed judge of the circuit court of Georgia in 1870.


JOHNSON, James A., musician, b. in England in 1820 ; d. in Orange, N. J., in 1883. He came with his parents to this country while quite young, and in 1846 was choir-master of Holy Communion church in New York, and also favorably known as a tenor solo-singer in oratorio music He com- piled a " Tune Book " (1848), and composed a vol- ume of " Offertory Sentences " (1851).


JOHNSON, John Barent, clergyman, b. in Brooklyn, N. Y., 3 March 1769 ; d. there, 29 Aug., 1803. He was of the family of Jansen, the first settlers of Brooklyn. He was graduated at Columbia in 1792, and was a minister of the Dutch church at Albany from 1796 till 1802, and at Brooklyn in 1802. He was an accomplished scholar, an excellent pastor, and a graceful and eloquent preacher. — His eldest son, William Lupton, clergyman, b. in Albany, N. Y., 15 Sept., 1800 ; d. in Jamaica, N. Y., 4 Aug., 1870, received his earlv training under the blind school-master, Joseph Nelson, of New York, and was graduated at Columbia in 1819. Taking orders, he became successively rector of St. Michael's church, Trenton, N. J., in 1823, and in 1830 of Grace church, Jamaica, N. Y., where he remained until his death. He was a thorough classical scholar, and well versed in English literature. He wrote much for literary and theological periodicals, and published many sermons and ad- dresses. A nearly complete set of the " Rector's Offering," his annual pastoral letter to his congregation, is in the library of Columbia college. — The second son, Samuel Roosevelt, clergyman, b. in 1802 ; d. in Amenia, N. Y., 13 Aug., 1873, was also prepared for college by Nelson, and graduated at Columbia in 1820, receiving the degree of D. D. from that college in 1849. He was rector of St. James's church, Hyde Park, N. Y., from 1824 till 1834, when he removed to St. George's church, Flushing. In 1835 he accompanied Bishop Kemper on his journey through the northwest, and in 1837 he settled at Lafayette, Ind., where St. John's church was built through his exertions and partly