John Richard Johnson

A 20 year old "gentleman" and law student in Lexington, VA, he enrolled and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Company C, 28th Virginia Infantry in Liberty, VA on 15 May 1861. His Company transferred to artillery service as the Bedford Light Artillery on 15 August 1861 and he was promoted to Captain at the reorganization of April 1862.

He commanded the battery in Maryland.

He was on recruiting duty at Christiansburg, VA in about 1863 (where he met his future wife), saw action again notably at Gettysburg, PA and the Wilderness, VA, and may have been surrendered at Appomattox Court House, VA on 9 April 1865.

He went to Christiansburg, continued his study of the law, and was admitted to the bar in 1866. He served as deputy and, from 1875 to 1881, Clerk of the Court and then practiced law - to 1900 in partnership with his brother-in-law Archer Allen Phlegar (Phlegar & Johnson) - until his death in 1912. He was elected to the Virginia Senate (1889-91) and was a Christiansburg Councilman (1900-1904).

His basic service from Frank E. Fields, Jr's 28th Virginia Infantry (1985). Personal details from a bio sketch in The Virginia Law Register of August 1912 and from family genealogists. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Ella C. Phlegar (1848-1915) in 1867 and they had 6 children.

08/03/1841; Bedford County, VA

04/09/1912; Christiansburg, VA; burial in Sunset Cemetery, Christiansburg, VA