James Preston Johnson

James Preston Johnson, the husband of Phoebe Moten Johnson, worked as a railroad porter and owned several shoe repair shops. One of the couple’s daughters, LaVaughn, was Michelle Obama’s paternal grandmother. Her name would be carried into the White House when Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama became the first lady.

• "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9L-9RQR : 19 February 2021), James Johnson and Phoebe Morton, 20 Apr 1901; citing Madison, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,306,459.
• Residence: 5637 1/2 Prairie Av, Chicago, Cook, Illinois
• Residence: Chicago Ward 6, Cook (Chicago), Illinois, United States - 1920
  • Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Apr 18 2019, 21:18:47 UTC
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_of_Barack_Obama#LaVaughn_Dolor...
• https://www.megansmolenyak.com/michelle-obamas-ancestors-lavaughn-j... “ As their wanderings suggest, LaVaughn’s parents were the adventurous type who were willing to move for new opportunities. Her father, James Preston Johnson, was the most nomadic of Michelle’s ancestors, starting out in Louisiana in a town near the Mississippi border, and meandering his way north. Over the years, he tried on a variety of occupations including cobbler (a trade he passed on to several of his sons), Pullman porter, and Baptist pastor, and it was likely work prospects that motivated some of his moves. His travels would eventually take him to Illinois where he married Phoebe Moten. … “
• https://famouskin.com/family-group.php?name=10013+michelle+obama&ah... “ On a draft registration card, James reported that he was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Other sources claim he was actually born in Madison Parish, Louisiana just across the Mississippi River from Vicksburg.”. Cites:
  • Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947, Death record for spouse Phoebe (Moten) Johnson.
  • U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, Record for James Johnson.
  • Swarns, Rachel L., American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White, and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama, New York: HarperCollins Publishers (2012), 31-32, 90, inside cover.
  • Wikipedia, "Family of Barack Obama", (accessed 10/22/2012).
• https://ethnicelebs.com/michelle-obama