Joseph Johnson was born in Orange County, New York, and relocated multiple times during his early years, settling in Bridgeport, Harrison County, Virginia by 1801. He married Sarah Smith in 1804 and acquired and rebuilt Smith mill on Simpson Creek in 1807, which later became a notable local landmark. Johnson transitioned from private industry to public service, culminating in his election as Governor of Virginia in 1851. Throughout his career, he owned enslaved individuals, a practice he continued until at least 1860. Despite his initial disfavor towards secession, Johnson joined the Confederate States' secession in 1861 and chaired a "Southern Rights" meeting in Clarksburg.

Joseph Johnson's political identity is marked by an intriguing blend of regional economic interests and a complex stance on slavery. Despite owning enslaved individuals, his economic policies focused on local infrastructure, such as rebuilding a mill and supporting a bridge, suggesting a localized economic strategy. His support for Confederate secession, despite earlier disfavor, reveals a calculated approach to regional stability and power dynamics. Johnson's rhetoric likely balanced economic pragmatism with a defense of Southern rights, creating a nuanced and multifaceted political persona.