Johnson, John Albert, 1857-1928.

Minister and bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church.

From the description of John Albert Johnson papers, 1876-1928. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 144652171

John Albert Johnson was born on October 29, 1857 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. He attended the Hamilton Institute and Upper Canada College. In 1874, Johnson was converted and joined the British Methodist Episcopal Church. He was licensed to preach in Toronto by Reverend S.D. Smith and joined the annual conference in 1875 under Bishop Nazray. In 1876, Johnson was ordained deacon at Halifax, Nova Scotia by Bishop Disney and became an elder in 1880, also under Bishop Disney. He was a delegate to every general conference from 1880 and was a fraternal delegate to the Methodist Episcopal General Conference in Cleveland in 1896. He was also a delegate to the ecumenical conferences of 1891 and 1901.

Johnson was voted for the bishopric in 1908 in Norfolk, Virginia and was elected bishop for South Africa. He also was appointed and served as the presiding bishop of the Second Episcopal District.

Bishop J. Albert Johnson married Minnie S. Goosley of Liverpool, Nova Scotia in the Dominion of Canada in 1880. Their union produced two sons, Roland and Percival Courtland.

Bibliography: Richard Wright. Encylopedia of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

From the guide to the John Albert Johnson papers, 1876-1928, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)