James R. Johnson was born in 1895 in Kentucky. Private Johnson finished school in 7th grade at sixteen years old. He worked for short periods of time with the National Sign Company, National Cash Register Company, and Maleable Iron Works. Former employers state he was industrious but recall little about him. Enlisted in the army October 22, 1914.

Eye witness accounts of Private Johnson’s actions the night of the rebellion are sketchy at best. Private Johnson did not testify on his own behalf.