Ed Johnson (1882-1906) · Counternarratives Digital Archive

Name: Ed Johnson (1882-1906)
Date of Birth: 1882
Date of Death: 19 March 1906
State Assigned Gender: Male
Hometown or Region: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Freedom Status: Free
Occupation: Carpenter
Biography: Ed Johnson was a lynching victim whose case sparked a landmark legal battle.; Most of the documented story surrounding the life of Ed Johnson comes from the one year period of 1905-1906 and the trial(s) that occurred following his arrest after he was falsely and unfairly accused and convicted of raping a Caucasian woman. Ed Johnson spent the entirety of his short life of 24 years in the city of Chattanooga. Johnson’s father, known as “Skinbone” Johnson was confirmed to be part of his life up until the eventual lynching but he was not present in Johnson’s household. His mother, Charlott Johnson came from a Virginia family who migrated down to Chattanooga by the time of her birth. Johnson spent his unfortunately short adult life as a “drifter” who was documented working as a roofer and construction man as well as a porter at a local saloon called “Last Chance Saloon”. His gig as the porter of Last Chance Saloon was his most prominent one and many important local figures would often be visitors of this saloon including various deputies who later become important to his trial as witnesses. The city of Chattanooga slowly adapted a culture of extreme White Supremacy matching surrounding cities throughout Johnson’s lifetime and culture shifts such as black codes were implemented around when he was 15 years old. Johnson lived all over Chattanooga but his last known residency was in the eighth ward, what is known Today as the Martin Luther King Boulevard area and has always been a prominent part of African American culture in Chattanooga. Johnson has been noted many times as a devout Christian and that religion was a big part of his life. When the mob came to take Johnson to his eventual death he was seen reciting the 23rd psalm repeatedly in his cell.; Click here to review Primary Sources related to Ed Johnson
Student Researcher: Teddy Arrowsmith