Jacob J. Johnson, originally known as Jefferson J. Johnson, was a Black farmer born around 1805. Though early census records list his birthplace as Vermont, later documents say Massachusetts. He and his wife, Lucretia, settled in Bangor, New York, by 1850—a town growing rapidly at the time.
In 1850, Jefferson was listed as a 46-year-old farmer. By 1860, using the name Jacob J. Johnson, he owned real estate valued at $850 and personal property worth $500. He worked 85 acres of farmland, raised livestock, and harvested wheat, corn, oats, and wool.
Over the next two decades, Jacob’s occupations shifted—from farmer to mason, and later to butcher. His property values declined, and census records eventually noted he could not read or write. Despite these changes, he remained in Bangor with his wife, whose name appeared with varied spellings: Lucretia, Lacrecia, and Luscretic.
By 1880, now listed as “Tabb Johnson,” he was a 75-year-old stonemason still living in Bangor. His sister-in-law, Marita Hartford, was boarding with them. Jacob died on September 22, 1885, just months after his wife. He had lived in Bangor for over 30 years.