I’ve been searching for information on the Rev Aile J. Johnson for years. I knew very little about him. He was the husband of my Aunt Sarah Belle. Sarah was my mother Lula’s sister..
Some time ago, I began to search for more information on my Uncle Aile. The crop photo is part of his 1969 obituary from the St. Joseph, Missouri newspaper for Monday, November 10, 1969. It was on page 2. The name in his obituary was The Rev Eile L. Johnson.
In 2014, I began to search on Rev A. J. Johnson by looking through old newspapers online. I came across a Rev who was the pastor of Pilgrims Baptist Church in Moberly Missouri during the 1930’s. I wasn’t for sure if this Rev A . J. Johnson was my Uncle Aile.
After doing some searching; ten years ago, I saw the connections with this Rev A. J. Johnson of Moberly as being my Uncle Aile. But, I had no proof. So, I searched the censuses and other records again. I found another A. J. Johnson that had similar information. Or were they the same person?
There was an A. J. Johnson born in March 24, 1892 in Mississippi. He was married. They were living in Memphis, Tennessee He was listed as a fireman. He was born in Mc something with four letters after it. I believe it was comb ~ McComb, Mississippi. He was tall and had a medium built. He had black hair and brown eyes.~ Source WW I Draft registration cards 1917- 1918.
In Topeka, Kansas, there was an Aile J. Johnson was in a vocational school with occupation of a fireman. He was born in Mississippi about 1894. He was married. ~ Source the 1930 Census.
Source from the World War II Draft ~ Aile Johnson born on April 5, 1892 in Pide County, Mississippi. He was the pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Moberly, Missouri. He was married to. Jenelle ( Collins ) Johnson. Aile was 5′ 9″. His weight was 181. He was 50 and had gray hair.
Through all the searching and connecting the dots, I believe that the Rev A. J. Johnson of Pilgrims Baptist Church was The Rev Aile J. Johnson who was married my Aunt Sarah Belle. Thank You, Jesus!
In March of 2024, I began to discover a little about the Rev. A. J. Johnson by going back to the news papers and comparing info with the other sources.. The Rev. was associated with same pastors to where he preached in their churches.
Rev C.O. Banks was one who highly recommended Rev A. J. Johnson to be the pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Moberly. Rev. C. O. Banks was pastor of 2nd Baptist Church in Richmond, Missouri. Rev. C.O. Banks was in St. Joseph, First Baptist Mount Union Church in 1952. The articles with other names help in the search for the Rev A. J. Johnson.
Here are some of what I have discovered about the preacher, the worshipper The Rev A. J. Johnson. He visited homes and traveled to preach in churches at revivals, brought his choir along with to churches. He married couples and buried people. He was interested with the youth doing church work. There were some typewriting classes.
According to the newspapers, I have found where the Rev A. J. Johnson of Moberly, Missouri was ~.the places where he lived, preached, had meetings and visited between 1932 – 1950′ ‘s
Plattsburg Missouri at the 2nd Baptist Church, he was pastor
Higginsville, Missouri at the St. Paul Baptist Church, he was pastor ~ resigned in 1935
Keysville, Missouri at the 2nd Baptist Church, he was pastor
Richmond, Missouri at the 2nd Baptist Church.
Moberly , Missouri at the Pilgrims 2nd Baptist Church, he was pastor, in 1939
Knoboster,, Missouri ,Dalton, Missouri, Lexington, Missouri, Armstrong, Missouri , Brookfield, Missouri, Fayette Missouri , Glasgow, Missouri , Triplett , Missouri , Roanoke Missouri , Slater, Missouri , Brunswick, Missouri , St. Joseph, Missouri, New Hope Church, he was the pastor
Rev Aile J. Johnson was the pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. There were installation services for him in June of 1952. He retired from New Hope in 1953. He continue his work in the ministry.
The St. Joseph, Missouri for Saturday, February 16, 1952 , on page 2 ~ There was an article that was another clue about the Rev A. J. Johnson. He was a graduate student at the Western Baptist Seminary, in Kansas City.
According to another article The Rev A. J. Johnson was in St. Joseph, Missouri in June of 1932. There was a minister alliance convenience. He was from Plattsburg, Missouri.
There were some things that I was aware about the Rev A. J. Johnson as I read the news articles He met some on of my relatives in churches or at conventions that they attended.. Rev T. A. White, a cousin, and Charles Bartlett, my great uncle. My Great Uncle Charles was in St. Joseph in 1932 with Uncle Aile.
I believe that Uncle Aile and Great Uncle Charles met. They were elected as officers for another year. The Rev A. J. Johnson, preached the annual sermon and Charles Bartlett was treasurer. It was the 44th Annual Session of the Mt Zion District Sunday School Convention and 17th Annual Session of the Mt Zion B.Y. P. U. Convention. It was held in St. Joseph.
Thanks for reading.
Who Was Rev A. J. Johnson? The Rev Aile J. Johnson?
R.I.P. Uncle Aile
Rev Aile was born March 25, 1891 in McComb (Pike) Mississippi.
He passed on November 9, 1969 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Two mysteries that I noticed and there may be more out there.
His middle initial. Sometimes it was J. and other time it was a L.
Rev A. J. Johnson and Rev A. L. Johnson.
According to a June of 1934 article ,The Rev J. Johnson was absence for 7 months from the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Moberly Missouri. He was in Birmingham Alabama on a call. He was to go back. I haven’t found out how long he was in Alabama.
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God bless
S.A. Blakley
Week 13 ~ Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge in 2024
The theme for Week 13 is “Worship.” The lives of many of our ancestors were shaped by their choices (or lack of a choice) in how and where they could worship. This week, consider an ancestor and how their worship practices influenced their life.
The Chronicles of Susan 