Ashley Sydney Johnson was born within a short distance from where he would later plant a Christian college in East Tennessee on June 22, 1857. His love for knowledge came early in his life. By the age of sixteen he was already certified to teach in the Knox County school system. The following year he entered the University of Tennessee. After a year of studies he quit school and became a reader in a law firm in Tennessee's capital city. He attended Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio, where he received the A.M. degree. He was the awarded the LL.D. at Christian University (now, Culver-Stockton), in Canton, Missouri.

     In October, 1877, Johnson obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ after setting out to study the New Testament. Within a week he preached his first sermon.

     He was married to Emma Elizabeth Strawn in Dunnville, Ontario, Canada on December 31, 1884. After their marriage they moved to South Carolina. It was there that the Johnsons entered into the field of evangelism. They established churches and rejuvenated others that were already in existence. While there Ashley started a correspondence Bible school. Thousands took his courses, severely reducing his time for evangelistic work. He printed over 200,000 copies of books to be used in his correspondence work.

     Wanting to train preachers, especially those who could not afford to pay for it, he purchased the farm owned by his great grandfather. It sat upon the hills that lay along the edge of the French Broad River. He would later say that he began the school with $100, ten acres of land, two mules, three cows, and one student: Albert T. Fitts, of South Carolina, "plus faith, plus obedience, plus prayer, plus energy. The school began in 1893.

     Many well-known and successful preachers studied under A.S. Johnson including, G.C. Brewer, Charles E. Coleman, W.F. "Will" Etheridge, Amos J. Barnes, J.M. McCaleb, and others.

     In 1891, Emma was with child. It's death in childbirth, nearly took her life as well. Hence, they raised no children of their own. Yet some years later the Johnsons expressed that the Lord had taken away their own child, but had given them thousands of sons in his place through the school.

     Johnson was a successful writer. He wrote the following volumes, "The Busy Man's Bible Encyclopedia," "The Eternal Spirit, His Word and Works," "Moses or Christ, Which?" "The Great Controversy" in 1882, a book of sermons called, "The Life of Trust," "Opening The Book Of The Seven Seals," "The Holy Spirit And The Human Mind," "The Two Covenants," "The Self-Interpreting New Testament," "Outline Study Of God's Eternal Purpose," "Thirteen Expository Sermons On Hebrews," "Debate With A Baptist," "Ten Evangelistic Sermons," and others.

     In 1903, while G.C. Brewer was a student, a fire destroyed the main school building, causing Brewer, C.E. Coleman and other students to depart the school for education in other places. However, by 1905 a new brick structure was built and ready for classes. The school continued to grow over the years with other structures being built on the campus.

     A.S. Johnson became a sickly man in his later years. However he refused to let it take him away from his dedication and work. Traveling to Baltimore, Maryland early in 1925, he thought he could receive an operation there that would help to overcome his illness. He did not survive. On January 14, 1925 Ashley Sidney Johnson passed from this life. He was laid to rest on the Heights, there on the campus of the college. Within two years his wife Emma, followed him in death due to cancer. Her body was laid beside her husband.

     After his death, the Board of Trustees, changed the name of the School of the Evangelists to Johnson Bible College. This name continues to the present.