James M. Johnson (politician)

Colonel James M. Johnson
^2nd Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
Incumbent
Assumed office 1868–1871
Governor	Powell Clayton
Preceded by	Calvin Bliss
Succeeded by	Volney V. Smith
Secretary of State of Arkansas
In office 1871–1874
Governor	Ozra Amander Hadley Elisha Baxter
Preceded by	Robert J. T. White
Succeeded by	Benton B. Beavers
Personal details
Born	December 8, 1832 Warren County, Tennessee
Died	February 15, 1913 (aged 80) Madison County, Arkansas
Political party	Brindle Tail Republican
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Johnson
Profession	Soldier

James M. Johnson was an Arkansas politician, and a soldier for the Union Army in the First Arkansas Infantry during the American Civil War.^[1] After the war he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1868, with Powell Clayton as Governor. When the Republican Party of Arkansas split in 1871, Johnson sided with the Brindle Tails against Clayton, who was supported by the Minstrels. When he spoke out against Clayton, he was attacked with articles of impeachment in the state legislature. Though exonerated, his reputation never recovered. Chief Justice John McClure was later impeached for allowing the Johnson affair to have happened. These were part of the events that lead to the Brooks-Baxter War.

He died on February 15, 1913.^[2][3]

References

1. http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/madison/bios/johnsonjm.txt
2. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=johnson&GSfn=james&GSmn=m&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=4&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=34824741&df=all&
3. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=37600919