Joseph Johns (1794-1906): Difference between revisions

From Iron Allentown Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
← Older editNewer edit →
Aberg (talk | contribs)
1,916 edits
Aberg (talk | contribs)
1,916 edits
→Life as a Collier: description of hut
Aberg (talk | contribs)
1,916 edits
→Life as a Collier: Joseph Johns charcoal
Line 3: Line 3:


==Life as a Collier==
==Life as a Collier==
Unlike most [[colliers]], who lived in [[collier huts]] only during the [[charcoal production]] process, Joseph Johns lived year-round in his dwelling on the mountain<ref>Hower 1992</ref>. Choosing a location near two springs on the Blue Mountain, Joseph Johns constructed his small, round home out of birch and oak logs, using mud and leaves to fill the chinks between the logs<ref>Lebanon Daily News March 31, 1971</ref>. His collier hut was larger than typical huts, being about ten to twelve feet in diameter and twelve feet in height<ref>Welch 2002, 14</ref>. Joseph Johns had a woodstove in his hut<ref>Welch 2002, 15</ref>.
Unlike most [[colliers]], who lived in [[collier huts]] only during the [[charcoal production]] process, Joseph Johns lived year-round in his dwelling on the mountain<ref>Hower 1992</ref>. Choosing a location near two springs on the Blue Mountain, Joseph Johns constructed his small, round home out of birch and oak logs, using mud and leaves to fill the chinks between the logs<ref>Lebanon Daily News March 31, 1971</ref>. His collier hut was larger than typical huts, being about ten to twelve feet in diameter and twelve feet in height<ref>Welch 2002, 14</ref>. Joseph Johns had a woodstove in his hut<ref>Welch 2002, 15</ref>. The charcoal the Joseph Johns produced was likely for smaller, local iron forges<ref>Welch 2002, 18</ref>.


Joseph Johns also sold berries he collected on the mountain. In approximately 1881, thieves came upon his residence and reportedly stole either fifty<ref>The Lebanon Daily News February 7, 1906</ref> or five-hundred dollars from him<ref>Miner's Journal 1906, 2</ref> and then proceeded to burn his collier hut to the ground. Joseph Johns rebuilt his hut following this event<ref>Lebanon Daily News February 7, 1906</ref> on the property of John Fahler, who allowed the hut to remain standing following Joseph Johns' death<ref>Lebanon Daily News June 28, 1906, 5</ref>.
Joseph Johns also sold berries he collected on the mountain. In approximately 1881, thieves came upon his residence and reportedly stole either fifty<ref>The Lebanon Daily News February 7, 1906</ref> or five-hundred dollars from him<ref>Miner's Journal 1906, 2</ref> and then proceeded to burn his collier hut to the ground. Joseph Johns rebuilt his hut following this event<ref>Lebanon Daily News February 7, 1906</ref> on the property of John Fahler, who allowed the hut to remain standing following Joseph Johns' death<ref>Lebanon Daily News June 28, 1906, 5</ref>.

Revision as of 19:30, 7 September 2020

Early Life

Joseph Johns was born in Fauquier County, Virginia in 1794. Before he became a collier, Joseph Johns was a slave in Virginia. After escaping slavery, Joseph Johns resided for several years in the mountains near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania before coming to Lebanon County, Pennsylvania[1] and eventually settling on the Blue Mountain. It was reported that Joseph Johns was believed to have escaped from Virginia with one or two other slaves; however, he was the only one who made it to freedom[2]. Joseph Johns likely came to Lebanon County at some point between 1840 and 1860[3].

Life as a Collier

Unlike most colliers, who lived in collier huts only during the charcoal production process, Joseph Johns lived year-round in his dwelling on the mountain[4]. Choosing a location near two springs on the Blue Mountain, Joseph Johns constructed his small, round home out of birch and oak logs, using mud and leaves to fill the chinks between the logs[5]. His collier hut was larger than typical huts, being about ten to twelve feet in diameter and twelve feet in height[6]. Joseph Johns had a woodstove in his hut[7]. The charcoal the Joseph Johns produced was likely for smaller, local iron forges[8].

Joseph Johns also sold berries he collected on the mountain. In approximately 1881, thieves came upon his residence and reportedly stole either fifty[9] or five-hundred dollars from him[10] and then proceeded to burn his collier hut to the ground. Joseph Johns rebuilt his hut following this event[11] on the property of John Fahler, who allowed the hut to remain standing following Joseph Johns' death[12].

Later Life

Although reported to still be a good shot, later in his life, Joseph Johns received an influx of charitable food donations from local residents and surplus game from other hunters in the area[13]. Joseph Johns died in Union Township, Lebanon County on February 7, 1906 at approximately 112 years of age and was buried in Moonshine Church Cemetery [14], which church he had attended for many years, bringing candy with him for the children[15]. A white marble tombstone was placed to mark his grave at the behest of John Fahler. Inscribed on the stone was:
"Joseph Johns
Born in Fauquier County, Va.
Died, Feb. 7, 1906; Aged 112 years.
Resided on the land of John Fahler,
North side of Mountain, west
of Swatara Gap."[16]

According to his death certificate[17], the undertaker thought Joseph Johns, who reportedly had no physician, died of dropsy (now known as edema) and was about 110 years old. In a local newspaper, it was reported that Joseph Johns said he was 117 and remembered the death of George Washington, who died in 1799[18]. There are no known records of his actual year of birth.

Additional Information

Joseph Johns was allegedly known among the residents in the area as a "healer" and mothers were said to have brought their children to him[19]. He was also reported to have been "a splendid shot"[20], which served him well as he hunted game on the mountain. He owned at least three guns, including a shotgun, a pistol, and a Kentucky rifle. Francis Ditzler mounted the shotgun and donated it to the Lebanon County Historical Society[21]. It is the Kentucky rifle that Joseph Johns is shown holding in front of his colliers hut in the only known photograph of him[22]. Joseph Johns also smoked a pipe[23].

In 1969 Joseph John's collier hut was reconstructed as an Eagle Scout project by Michael Shay of Lebanon County, PA[24]. A stone marker in the memory of Joseph Johns was erected at Bashore Scout Reservation, Lebanon County, PA in 1994[25].

Notes

  1. ↑ Hower 1992
  2. ↑ Lebanon Daily News February 7, 1906
  3. ↑ Welch 2002, 8
  4. ↑ Hower 1992
  5. ↑ Lebanon Daily News March 31, 1971
  6. ↑ Welch 2002, 14
  7. ↑ Welch 2002, 15
  8. ↑ Welch 2002, 18
  9. ↑ The Lebanon Daily News February 7, 1906
  10. ↑ Miner's Journal 1906, 2
  11. ↑ Lebanon Daily News February 7, 1906
  12. ↑ Lebanon Daily News June 28, 1906, 5
  13. ↑ Welch 2002, 13
  14. ↑ Hower 1992
  15. ↑ Welch 2002, 12
  16. ↑ Lebanon Daily News June 28, 1906
  17. ↑ Find a Grave
  18. ↑ The Union Leader February 9, 1906
  19. ↑ Hower 1992
  20. ↑ Lebanon Daily News February 7, 1906
  21. ↑ Ditzler 2007, 19
  22. ↑ Welch 2002, 1
  23. ↑ Welch 2002, 14
  24. ↑ Hower 1992
  25. ↑ Ditzler 2007, 33

References

  • Ditzler, Francis W. 2007. From Slavery to Freedom: Joseph Johns 1794-1906. U.S.A.: KeyComp.
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 02 September 2020), memorial page for Joseph H “Black Joe” Johns (1794–7 Feb 1906), Find a Grave Memorial no. 6611393, citing Moonshine Cemetery, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Linda Himpsl (contributor 46993321).
  • Hower, John. 1992. Black Joe: Former Slave Provides Fuel for Campfire Tales. Lebanon Daily News, February 3, 1992.
  • Lebanon Daily News. 1906. County's Oldest Resident, February 7, 1906.[1]
  • Lebanon Daily News. 1906. Hermit Johns Passed Away, February 7, 1906.[2]
  • Lebanon Daily News. 1906. Tombstone Marks Grave of Late Joseph Johns, at Moonshine Church, June 28, 1906. [3]
  • Lebanon Daily News. 1971. Old Black Joe Legend Revived, March 31, 1971.[4]
  • The Union Leader. 1906. He Claims Old Age, February 9, 1906.[5]
  • Welch, Katharine R. 2002. The History of Joseph Johns and an Examination of the Potential For Archaeological Excavations on the Site of his Former Residence. Anthropology Senior Theses. Paper 24.[6]
Retrieved from "https://wiki.ironallentownpa.org/index.php?title=Joseph_Johns_(1794-1906)&oldid=1630"