James Iredell Johnson, Sr. was born in Raleigh (Wake County), North Carolina on November 2, 1854. Johnson was a pharmacist and drug store proprietor in Raleigh who served as a city alderman (1903) and as mayor (1905-1911 & 1913-1919). In 1915, he was elected director of the Carolina Prisoners Aid Society, an honorary position. He died in Hot Springs, Virginia on October 3, 1919.