Lycurgus Johnson

1818 (age 58)

Scott County, Kentucky, United States of America

He was the owner of the Lakeport Plantation in Chicot County, Arkansas. He became the largest cotton producer in Chicot County by 1870. He served in the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1874. He had eight siblings. Johnson acquired land in Chicot County, Arkansas for agricultural development in the mid-1830s. In 1857, he inherited his father"s plantation, known as Lakeport. Together with his original landholdings, he owned 4,000 acres in the Arkansas Delta by 1860. Johnson was a large slaveholder, owning 155 African slaves by 1860. He also owned "thirty horses, fifty-five asses and mules, sixteen milk cows, thirty working oxen, thirty-five other cattle, forty sheep, and sixty swine." Johnson mostly grew cotton and corn. By 1860, his harvest was 1,300 bales of cotton and 10,000 bushels of corn. Additionally, it included "two hundred bushels of sweet potatoes and five hundred pounds of butter." Johnson built a mansion on the plantation. The mansion still stands today, and it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since November 20, 1974. During the American Civil War of 1861-1865, Johnson lost most of his slaves as well as many valuables. lieutenant is estimated that he lost up to several hundred thousands dollars. He held fundraisers for the Confederate States Army at his Lakeport Plantation, some of which were attended by the Worthington planter family. By the end of the war, Johnson had retained ownership of the land. In 1867, he was also able to file for bankruptcy, thus waiving his debts. Moreover, he managed to hire many former slaves, now freedmen. He paid wages to some of them and offered a share of the crop they picked to others As a result, only five years after the end of the war, in 1870, he was the largest producer of cotton in Chicot County. He served on the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Cities and Towns. He died on August 1, 1876 in Wilmington, Delaware.

Lycurgus Johnson

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Background

Lycurgus Johnson was born on March 22, 1818 in Scott County, Kentucky. His father, Joel Johnson, was a Kentucky-born plantation owner along the shores of Lake Chicot in the Arkansas Delta. His mother was Verlinda Offutt Johnson.

Career

He was the owner of the Lakeport Plantation in Chicot County, Arkansas. He became the largest cotton producer in Chicot County by 1870. He served in the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1874.

He had eight siblings.

Johnson acquired land in Chicot County, Arkansas for agricultural development in the mid-1830s. In 1857, he inherited his father"s plantation, known as Lakeport.

Together with his original landholdings, he owned 4,000 acres in the Arkansas Delta by 1860. Johnson was a large slaveholder, owning 155 African slaves by 1860.

He also owned "thirty horses, fifty-five asses and mules, sixteen milk cows, thirty working oxen, thirty-five other cattle, forty sheep, and sixty swine."

Johnson mostly grew cotton and corn.

By 1860, his harvest was 1,300 bales of cotton and 10,000 bushels of corn. Additionally, it included "two hundred bushels of sweet potatoes and five hundred pounds of butter."

Johnson built a mansion on the plantation. The mansion still stands today, and it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since November 20, 1974.

During the American Civil War of 1861-1865, Johnson lost most of his slaves as well as many valuables.

lieutenant is estimated that he lost up to several hundred thousands dollars. He held fundraisers for the Confederate States Army at his Lakeport Plantation, some of which were attended by the Worthington planter family.

By the end of the war, Johnson had retained ownership of the land. In 1867, he was also able to file for bankruptcy, thus waiving his debts.

Moreover, he managed to hire many former slaves, now freedmen.

He paid wages to some of them and offered a share of the crop they picked to others As a result, only five years after the end of the war, in 1870, he was the largest producer of cotton in Chicot County. He served on the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Cities and Towns.

He died on August 1, 1876 in Wilmington, Delaware.

Membership

Johnson was elected as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1874.

Connections

Uncle:: Henry Johnson

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