Robert Findley Johnson was a substantial farmer of Shelby County, Ala., with farm and residence near Quito. Mr. Johnson passed his entire life in Shelby County and enjoyed the trust and confidence of his neighbors. He was born in Shelby County, May 6, 1839, the son of Jacob (1804-1859) and Sarah (Fletcher) Johnson, (1807 – 1896) the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of North Carolina.
Grandfather Colonel Isaac Johnson (b. Apr 11, 1780, VA d. June 25, 1867, Shelby County, Alabama -bio. follows) was a Kentuckian also who came to Shelby County soon after the War of 1812, as did his three brothers. Isaac had participated in the war under Gen. “Hickory” Jackson, and during his residence in Shelby County, he was a colonel of militia. Isaac Johnson married Frances Massey September 29, 1803, in Tennessee (b. Mar 7, 1783) a native of North Carolina. They had ten children.
Jacob Johnson was a man of sterling character, a prominent worker in the Methodist church, and identified enthusiastically with the various temperance movements which had their day in his time. He, like his father, was a Democrat, in the days when Democracy was pure and undefiled. He died Dec. 29, 1859, his wife living to a good old age, her death occurring in 1895. They reared nine children.
Robert Findley Johnson secured an ordinary education in the country schools and remained dutifully at home until his majority, which fell in troubles at times of war. He volunteered for the service in 1861, entering a company of the Twentieth Alabama infantry. He saw plenty of active service, remaining to the close of the struggle. He brought home with him the marks of a wound he received at the battle of Nashville, and the remembrance of the terrible experience at the siege of Vicksburg, through which he passed. Since the war, Mr. Johnson cultivated the soil. He voted the Democratic ticket for years but later voted independent of party lines. He served the county four years as commissioner but did not care for public office.
He was a Mason, and he and Mrs. Johnson were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Their marriage occurred Dec. 29, 1869, in Shelby County, Mrs. Johnson was Adeline Fatime Russell, before she married. She was born August 25, 1841, the daughter of Wiley and Mary P. (Sudbury) Russell, both natives of North Carolina who settled in Shelby County in 1832.
Her father died here Aug. 22, 1899 and her mother having lived only nine years after they moved to the Shelby County. Alabama. They were respected farmers, the father a Democrat in political belief, a Freemason, and both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. They reared four children.
Seven children were born to Robert Findley and Adeline and Adeline F. (Russell) Johnson,
Robert Findley Johnson died on September 5, 1909, in Shelby County, Alabama and is buried in Allan Cemetery, Indian Springs Village in Shelby County, Alabama. Adeline died June 18, 1918, in Shelby County, Alabama and is also buried in Allan Cemetery, Indian Springs Village in Shelby County, Alabama, along with several children.
SOURCES
Notable Men of Alabama edited by Joel Campbell DuBose Volume III
