This biographical tribute to Isaac M. Johnson, who is known as, “The Father of Crockett County,” was published in the Supplement and Trade Edition of the Alamo Signal , November, 1903. A reprint was made by McCowat-Mercer Press, Inc. for E. T. Dunlap in 1972. The author of the article was not given.
Isaac M. Johnson, Esq. The subject of this sketch, was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., on November 1, 1805 and died in Alamo, Crockett County, Tenn., Oct. 15, 1879.
In 1823, at the age of 18, he moved with his father, William Johnson, to Haywood County, in what was known as the “Western District of Tenn.” between the Tennessee and the Mississippi rivers. At this time, Haywood county was not organized, this no being done till March, 1824.
Some years before his death, he wrote for publication “Recollections of the First Settling of the Forked Deer Country, Especially the Territory Now Embraced in Crocket County, Preceded by a Short Sketch of the Parentage and Life of the Author.” This was published in his county paper and was intended for publication in book form, but owing to his growing feebleness, it was never. In these reminiscences, he speaks thus: “My father, William Johnson, was one of six brothers, Edward, John, James, Larkin, Will, and Matthew. He had three sisters, Nancy, Milly and Polly. My grandfather on the paternal side, William Johnson, Sr., was an Englishman by birth. He immigrated to the United States and settled in South Carolina before the revolutionary war. My mother Jennett was the eldest child of Isaac and Margaret Miller, who immigrated to the United States from Ireland when my mother was two or three years old, and settled in Western Pennsylvania. My mother had five brothers, John, Matthew, Robert, Isaac, and William. Mother had two sisters, Nellie and Peggy. I had one brother, John, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Rebecca. My eldest sister, Elizabeth, married Major John McFarland, and my youngest married Rev. J. W. McFarland, who died in Memphis, in 1856. I was married to Elizabeth Elliott, daughter of Major Simon Elliot, who moved first from Virginia to Kentucky, then from Kentucky first to Bedford County, then to Rutherford County, Tenn. My wife was born in Virginia on the 14th of August, 1807.”
From this marriage of Esq. Johnson, there were born seven sons, William A., Simon E., Daniel C., Isaac M., Jr., John C., James W., and Fly W., and five daughters, Eliza, Jane, Candace, Martha A. and Tennessee all of whom he reared to manhood and womanhood. His wife having died, he married on Sept. 24, 1863, Margaret M. Gayle, of Haywood County, Tenn., daughter of John Gayle. From this marriage one son was born, Robert E. Lee Johnson.
He was a slave holder before the war, but always treated his slaves with kindness. To show his high sense of Justice, this circumstance might be related. The husband of one of his slaves had, by working at odd times, and saving his earnings, bought his freedom from his master and proposed to Esq. Johnson to buy the freedom of his wife. This was accepted and the price was agreed upon. Before the close of the war, and before the slaves were set free, this ex-slave came to Esq. Johnson with the money to purchase his wife at the price agreed upon some years before. Esq. Johnson foreseeing the end of the war, and the results that would necessarily follow, refused to take the money.
When the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, of course, the slaves heard of it. They were anxious in mind. They had clung to their families through those years of anxiety with a fidelity that has known no equal in the annals of history. In order to find out the truth of the matter, by common consent, they all met under the spreading branches of a large oak tree near Esq. Johnson’s and called on him to read and explain the Proclamation to them, saying that they wanted to hear what “Mars Isaac” had to say about it, for in him they all had the utmost confidence. He showed them the relations that they then bore in the government, and advised them to conduct themselves in a becoming manner, and to show themselves worthy of so great a boon. Many tears were shed by these faithful blacks at the thought of severing the strong ties that had bound them all their lives to the families to which they belonged.
Having been educated far beyond the average scholarship of that day, he was soon called upon to instruct the hardy sons and daughters of the pioneers of the country. The earliest school of any consequence, and the only one of which any record is kept, was begun by him at the village of Lanefield. This school, says the record, was taught in a log house all the year round for many years, and was largely attended and very successful.
In 1834, a convention was held at the State Capital to frame a new constitution. This convention abolished the old court of “Common Pleas,” and created what is now known as the “County Court.” In 1836, Isaac M. Johnson was elected a Magistrate of the county and a member of the County Court. This office he held continuously to the time of his death, with the exception of two years during the war between the states.
He was known and recognized as the “Father of Crockett county.” The country embraced between the Middle and South forks of the Forked Deer river consisted of portions of Haywood, Madison, Gibson, and Dyer counties. These rivers, in time of overflow, and with no bridges in these early day of settlement, formed a serious obstacle in the way of those desiring to visit the county seats for the transaction of business. Hence the need of a county between these rivers was early felt by the settlers of that region. Isaac M. Johnson instituted a movement looking to this end. In 1832-33, a petition was drawn up, signed by the citizens of that section, and forwarded to the Constitutional Convention of Nashville, asking for a new county. This petition, for reasons unknown, was never presented to the convention. Disappointment followed, but nothing daunted. Esq. Johnson, leading others, presented, in 1845, another petition to the Legislature, asking that a new county be formed of the territory in question. On Dec. 20th of that year, the Legislature passed an act to establish the county of Crockett in honor of and to perpetuate the name of David Crockett, Tennessee’s distinguished son, who feel in defense of the Alamo, in Texas. Esq. Johnson was appointed by that Act of the commissioners to run the boundary lines, organize the county, and select a place for the county site. The Act furthermore designated the house of Esq. Johnson as the place of holding the Courts till the selection of the county site was made. In compliance with the Act, the boundary lines were run, and in June, 1846, the Justices of the Peace, organized the county and elected Isaac M. Johnson, County clerk. The first Circuit court met in Oct., 1846, presided over by Judge J. C. Reed. The question of the unconstitutionality of the proceedings being raised by an opponent of the county, Judge Reed decided adversely to the county, and dismissed the Court without transacting any further business. Thus ended the second attempt to gain the coveted object.
The third attempt was made in 1871. The Legislature acting on a petition from this territory, passed an Act in November of that year authorizing the formation of a county on the same conditions as in the Act of 1845. The county was organized and Esq. Johnson was elected Chairman of the County Court. Before further proceedings could be had, and injunction suit was filed in each of the counties from which the territory had been taken to prevent further action. This was compromised by paying the complainant one thousand dollars, and Crockett County took her place among the sisterhood of counties in the State. A debt of gratitude is due to the man who spent his time and money in securing this long sought for object. It shows the indomitable persistence in this man against great opposition, and, seemly, in the face of fate itself. Such men as he, the advance guard of civilization, active, prudent and fearless men, deserve largely at the hands of the Republic to be placed in the front rank of the “Winners of the West,” and to have their names and deeds commemorated as heroes in the establishment of order and good government, and the spread of Christianity.
Personally, he was tall and dignified, with a gravity of countenance that strangely impressed one, with an eye that could look one squarely and steadily in the face, showing an honest man. Intellectually, he was refined and cultured far beyond the times in which he lived, having no superior in the range of his acquaintance. Learned in the law from long reading and experiences, it was often said that he ought to wear the ermine of a Judge, so impartial and righteous was he in the administration of Justice and the enforcement of law. As a Justice of the Peace and as Chairman of the County Court, he probably served the people longer than any other man in Tennessee, and no one excelled him in knowledge of the law or his duties or in honest and faithful performance of the. He was no chronic office seeker. His office sought him. He was a wise and safe counselor. His advice and counsel was sought far and wide by men of all classes, and by following his advice litigation was lessened, and amicable relations rested between neighbors. He was eminently a peacemaker. He was familiar with all legal forms, and his services were in almost constant demand by people in all directions and for miles around. He kept fully with all moral, religions and political questions, and it was a weekly occurrence for mem of all classes to gather at his office to learn the news, and to ascertain his views on the current issues of the day.
Although grave and sedate in the transactions of business, he was courteous in the highest degree. Among his friends socially, he was the center of attraction by reason of his rare conversational powers, and gave and received pleasure, and enjoyed to the fullest extent that intercourse that contributes to the amenities of life, and that binds men together in the strong bond of friendship and love.
True to the traditions of his fathers, in politics, he was a Democrat of the purest type. Following the teachings of Jefferson, he trusted and believed in the people and their right to govern themselves; hence he always preferred to defer questions to them, and when they had spoken, to obey, as an official, their behest. This demonstrated his patriotism as well as hit fitness to represent the people in public office. Such fidelity to trust, and to his convections of the people’s capacity, whatever might be the result, entitles him to the highest encomium.
Religiously he was a Methodist of the old school. In the midst of the religious enthusiasm that swept the whole country in the early part of the 19th century, he was converted and joined the Methodist church, in which he lived a consistent Christian the remainder of his life. When a bold pioneer pushed out into the trackless forest, the Methodist itinerant was sure to be in his wake. The house of Esq. Johnson was always open as a place of refuge to those toil worn soldiers of the Cross. It was known as the preachers’ home, many often riding twenty miles to meet a cheerful welcome at the fireside of this Christian man. Freely he gave of the fruits of his labor to sustain the church and to support its institution. No appeal was made for the sake of the church or for charity to which he did not promptly respond.
At his death, a large concourse of citizens met at the Court house in Alamo to express their grief at the death of the foremost citizen of the county and to pass resolutions of condolence with the family so deeply bereaved. It is rare that this takes place, except in the case of a member of the bar, and this gathering was due to the large degree of esteem and affection in which he was held by all classes of his fellow citizens. A memorial service was held, in which many expressed their sorow at the loss of this friendly and fatherly man. Many letters were written to the Press, exalting his character, extolling his virtues, and showing the appreciation in which he was held.
The following truths were so graved on a costly monument erected over his remains:
“A wise counselor, he led men. He fulfilled every trust committed to him,
and his works do follow him.
He left posterity a worthy example and the heritage of a good man.
He lived, honored and beloved by all; and died in the
triumph of a Christian’s death.
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that
man is peace.”
Isaac M. Johnson was pure and intellectual and good, useful and kind and charitable. He was a strong and noble man, always at the front in all efforts for the moral and intellectual and educational development of the people and the country. Such men are invaluable. Let us keep forever green the memory of this true man, faithful, broad minded citizen, efficient officer, and unsullied patriot.
His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him, that one might stand up and say to all the world, “This was a man.”
2005 – Margaret Nolen Nichol