Jonesboro in Clayton County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Johnson-Blalock House

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, November 16, 2023

1. The Johnson-Blalock House Marker

Inscription. Ante-Bellum home of James F. Johnson, attorney, planter, merchant, Confederate officer and noted political figure in mid-nineteenth century Georgia. Johnson introduced the legislation which created Clayton County in 1858 and the bill which incorporated the town of Jonesboro in 1859. Col. Johnson knew virtually all of Georgia's political leaders over a period of years and it is reasonable to assume that a number of distinguished Georgians were guests in the Johnson home. The house was acquired from Johnson's widow by Jesse Lewis Blalock, prominent planter, merchant, attorney and member of the pioneering Blalock family of Fayette County. Blalock was elected Clerk of the Fayette Superior Court in 1844 and also served as the first Ordinary of Fayette County. Both Johnson and Blalock represented their respective counties as delegates to Georgia's secession convention and both voted to take Georgia out of the Union in January 1861. The house was used as a Confederate commissary and as a field hospital during the Battle of Jonesboro. It is prominently featured in a sketch of Jonesboro drawn by George D. Sayller of the 2nd Iowa

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Infantry during Gen. Judson Kilpatrick's cavalry raid Aug. 19th, 1864.

Source: A History of Clayton County, Georgia 1821-1983 by Joseph Henry Hightower Moore

Erected 2008 by Gene Blalock.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1861.

Location. 33° 31.437′ N, 84° 21.266′ W. Marker is in Jonesboro, Georgia, in Clayton County. It is at the intersection of North Main Street (Georgia Route 54) and Stockbridge Road ( Route 138), on the right when traveling south on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 155 North Main Street, Jonesboro GA 30236, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Piedmont

and in Metro Atlanta.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

Photographed by David Seibert, April 12, 2009

2. The Johnson-Blalock House Marker

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lee's Corps Withdrawn (within shouting distance of this marker); Heritage Place (within shouting distance of this marker); Clayton County (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Battle Of Jonesborough (approx. 0.2 miles away); Clayton County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); In Memoriam Fr. Emmeran Bliemel, O.S.B. Chaplain (approx. 0.2 miles away); Battlefield of Jonesboro (approx. 0.4 miles away); Patrick Cleburne Confederate Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jonesboro.

Regarding The Johnson-Blalock House. The house was probably built in the 1840s, in the "plantation plain" style common in Georgia. In the 1850s it was enlarged and remodeled to its present appearance.

James F. Johnson's widow, mentioned on the marker, was Martha Holiday Johnson. She was the aunt to the famous "Doc" Holiday. Family repute was that "Doc" Holiday visited his aunt Martha and uncle James in Jonesboro many times when he was young.

The Johnson-Blalock House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, November 16, 2023

3. The Johnson-Blalock House and Marker

Photographed by David Seibert, April 12, 2009

4. The Johnson-Blalock House Marker

Photographed by David Seibert, April 12, 2009

5. The Johnson-Blalock House and Marker

The Johnson-Blalock House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by David Seibert, April 12, 2009

6. The Johnson-Blalock House

The house is shaded by trees almost as old as the house itself.

Photographed by David Seibert, April 12, 2009

7. The Johnson-Blalock House

This exceptionally large magnolia tree was planted in the 1880s, according to Blalock family history.

Christmas at the Johnson-Blalock House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Samuel Eugene Blalock Jr, circa 2001

8. Christmas at the Johnson-Blalock House

Credits. This page was last revised on April 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 22, 2009, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 4,746 times since then and 220 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 7, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on April 22, 2009, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 3. submitted on April 7, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on April 22, 2009, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 8. submitted on October 29, 2009, by Samuel Eugene Blalock Jr of McDonough, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.