Alexander was the son of Edward Johnson, a forgeman and Rebecca Pickering, who were married 14 December 1829 at Pentrich. He was born at Ironville (presumably Victoria Street) 24 October 1838 and baptised 18 November 1838, at Alfreton.
He applied to the Church Missionary Society in 1858 having left a job in an iron foundry. He studied at Church Missionary College at Islington 1859 and was ordained deacon by the bishop of Sierra Leone, acting for the bishop of London 26 July 1862 and was ordained priest by the bishop of Madras 26 November 1865. On 15 October 1862 he sailed to South India and was stationed at Allepie, Travancore. He returned to England 23 September 1868 and resigned from CMS on 5 December 1871. From 1869-1870 he was a curate at St. Nicholas' Nottingham, curate of Nuthall, Notts. (1871-1873) and of Holy Trinity Louth, Lincs. (1873-1876). He became vicar of Fulstow, near Louth in 1876 and served there until his death in 1906. Fulstow Vicarage, on the Thoresby Road, was built for Alexander and cost £750.
In 1851, at Victoria Street, Ironville, he was at home with his father, aged 12, and born in Ironville.
In 1861, at 3 School House, Ironville, Alexander was aged 22, a visitor in the Miller household, a missionary student born in Ironville, Derbyshire.
He married Hannah Stevenson (born Bromley, Middlesex about 1843) 27 September 1864. She died 19 May 1883.
In the census of 1871, in Nottingham Road, Kimberly, Notts., Alexander was aged 32, curate of Nuthall, born at Ironville, Derbys, and his wife, Hannah, was aged 28 and born at Bromley, Middx. Their children were Agnes, aged 4 and Harry D aged 3, both born in the East Indies (sic), British Subjects, Alexander S, aged 1 and born at Nottingham. There was also Joanna Stephenson, Hannah's sister, aged 22, and born at Bromley, Middx. There was a domestic servant, Mary A. Hodgkinson, aged 16 and born at Nuthall.
The 1881 census of Fulstow Vicarage has Alexander aged 42, and Hannah, his wife, aged 38 with children Harry D. 13, (born at Allepie, India), Alexander S. 11 (born at Nottingham), Emma 7 (born at Louth), William H. 5 (born at Louth). Mary 3 (born at Fulstow) and Albert L. 1 (born at Fulstow). There was also a servant in the household.
Alexander married Helen Sooby (born 28 June 1843 at Cockthorpe, Norfolk) in the Louth registration district in the December quarter 1888. Helen died 19 June 1919 and is buried at Fulstow and was a daughter of Wightman Sooby, who died at Fulstow 13 September 1894 aged 90.
The 1891 census recorded that Alexander was 52, clerk in holy orders born Ironville, Helen, his wife, was 39 born Cockthorpe Norfolk, and children were William Hedley, 15, Scholar, born Louth, Mary, 13, Scholar, born Fulstow, Albert Leslie 11, Scholar, born Fulstow. Living with him was a boarder, Wightman Sooby, widower, 86, living on his own means, born Grainsborough and Elizabeth Cousins, 24 a general domestic servant, born at Scamblesby.
In the 1901 census of Thoresby Road, Fulstow [the Vicarage], Alexander was aged 62, a clergyman (Church of England), born Ironville, with his wife Helen, aged 56, born at Blickling, Lincs. With them were two servants, a kitchen maid and a house maid.
Alexander died 2 April 1906 and was buried 7 April 1906 at Fulstow.
Alexander and Hannah's children were: