Joseph Johns (1794-1906)

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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 to fill the chinks between the logs[5].

Joseph Johns also sold berries he collected on the mountain. In approximately 1881, thieves came upon his residence and reportedly stole either fifty[6] or five-hundred dollars from him[7] and then proceeded to burn his collier hut to the ground. Joseph Johns rebuilt his hut following this event[8] on the property of John Fahler, who allowed the hut to remain standing following Joseph Johns' death[9].

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[10]. He was also reported to have been "a splendid shot"[11], 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[12]. It is the Kentucky rifle that Joseph Johns is shown holding in front of his colliers hut in the only known photograph of him[13].

In 1969 Joseph John's collier hut was reconstructed as an Eagle Scout project by Michael Shay of Lebanon County, PA[14]. A stone marker in the memory of Joseph Johns was erected at Bashore Scout Reservation, Lebanon County, PA in 1994[15].

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[16]. 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 [17], which church he had attended for many years, bringing candy with him for the children[18]. 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."[19]

According to his death certificate[20], 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[21]. There are no known records of his actual year of birth.

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

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]
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