The students of the Radical University: James H. Johnson

James H. Johnson
From The Southern Indicator

James Henry Johnson (b. December 20, 1855, d. January 14, 1942)
South Carolina.  Black/mulatto.
Occupation: clerk, minister, real estate agent, teacher.

James H. Johnson left Camden, South Carolina and registered as a student at the University of South Carolina on October 5, 1875.  He entered the college preparatory (or sub freshman) class, but by the next year, he was in the college class and on the classical studies track.  (In university records, his name is consistently misspelled as "Johnston."). The university closed before he completed his degree.

After the university closure, James returned to Camden and was working as a school teacher in 1880. He later returned to Columbia and spent most of his life in the city.  In Columbia, he worked as a Methodist pastor and a clerk in the revenue department.  In an article on former U of SC students, C. C. Scott said that James was "one of the oldest and most efficient and highly respected clerks" in the department.

James was the grandfather of Harold A. Stevens, a New York Supreme Court Justice.  Harold's father died when he was young, so he was raised by James and his wife in Columbia.  Harold briefly discussed his grandfather's experience at U of SC in a 1980 recorded interview.

Late in life (around 1930), James worked as a real estate agent.  He died on January 13, 1942 and is buried in Randolph Cemetery.

Grave of James H. Johnson
Courtesy of author

Graves of Johnson family
Courtesy of author

Sources
1). "When Negroes Attended the State University,"  May 8, 1911. State (published as The State).  Page 9.

2). 1880; Census Place: Kirkwood, Kershaw, South Carolina; Roll: 1232; Page: 68C

2). 1910; Census Place: Columbia Ward 4, Richland, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1471; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0088

4). 1920; Census Place: Columbia Ward 4, Richland, South Carolina; Roll: T625_1707; Page: 10B

5). 1930; Census Place: Columbia, Richland, South Carolina; Page: 1A

6). "Quest for Civil Rights: Judge Harold A. Stevens". From series "Quest for Human / Civil Rights - Oral Recollections of Black South Carolinians." Interview of Harold A. Stevens by Grace Jordan McFadden, University of South Carolina, 1980.  Cassette #RC 2626.  27.53 minutes.

7). "South Carolina Union Bank", February 15, 1913.  The Southern indicator.  p. 1.