Rev. Philip Franklin Johnson was born in Weakley County, Tenn., January 20, 1852. He spent his boyhood days on the farm, attended the common schools, and for several months went three miles (at night) and took "grammar lessons" from a special friend.
In early life (1870) he professed faith in Christ and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Meridian, six miles east of Greenfield, Tenn.
In the fall of 1875, he entered Bethel College at McKenzie, Tenn. He remained in school six years, teaching through the summer months. He also preached every opportunity, filling pulpits for older preachers and helping in revival meetings, and received for his services for the six years, thirty-six dollars. In March, 1881, he was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry. In June of the same year he graduated from Bethel College with honors, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. The following December he was married to Miss Susan V. Flippin.
He taught school for two years before entering the Theological School at Lebanon, Tenn. He was pastor of a church in Gibson County, Tennessee, for the two years and received for his service a clothes brush (which he still has in his possession). But his business was to preach the gospel, and he preached and taught school to pay expenses.
He entered Cumberland University in 1883. The following summer (1884) he held meetings in Missouri and Arkansas and organized the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Paragould, Ark., after graduating from Cumberland University. His first pastorate was the historic old Red River Church in Logan County, Kentucky.
He assisted Rev. B. W. McDonnold in preparing McDonnold's "History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church."
Since that time he has filled some of the most important pulpits in Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas and Oregon.
In 1905 he returned to Obion Presbytery, in West Tennessee Synod, and played an important part in saving it from the attempted destruction by the Northern Presbyterian Church. He was the first man--and for a long time the only man--I heard oppose Union with the U.S.A. Church. He did not wait to see if his action would meet with popular favor, but said: "I am a Cumberland Presbyterian from principle; I oppose Union from conviction and for conscience sake." His saying made an impression on my young heart, and since then I've studied him as closely as I ever studied any text-book, and always found him true to his convictions. Thank God for men who have the strength to stand "alone with conscience."
Perhaps the greatest work he has ever done is that in which he is now engaged, as Dean of the Theological Seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In the fall of 1908 he came to Bethel College and served for one year in the double capacity of president of the college and teacher of theology. Then he resigned the presidency that he might give full time to the growing theological classes. When the Theological Seminary was permanently organized on June 8, 1914, he was elected dean.
Only those who have been under the splendid tutelage of this godly man can have a true conception of the great work he is doing in molding the lives of the future ministry and missionaries of the church. P. F. Johnson's boys and girls will be true. There is a better day coming for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, because he lives and teaches by precept and example, pure Christianity and pure Cumberlandism.
[Source: Our Senior Soldiers: The Biographies and Autobiographies of Eighty Cumberland Presbyterian Preachers.Compiled by The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication. The Assistance of Revs. J. L. Price and W. P. Kloster is Greatfully Acknowledged. Nashville, Tenn.: The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915, pages 288-290]