| The Johnson Family Book 2 - Johnsons of St. George, Georgia DEDICATION This book is dedicated to my late father and mother, Wilbert and Amanda Johnson, who gave me life and the inspiration and direction to be
successful. Their commitment to my sisters and me, through good and bad times, has left an ineffaceable impression upon us and developed within us a loving commitment to our families. An undertaking of this nature, the historical story of the members of my father's family, could not have been achieved without the assistance of many people and organizations. I am deeply grateful to all the people who assisted me in gathering the background information about my father's
family. The records that were made available by the Church of Latter Day Saints were an invaluable source of information. Many thanks are extended to the public library and city records office of Wooster, Ohio, for the help they provided. A particular thank you is extended to the wonderful people of the historical society, public library and records office of the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who gave so much of their time and provided such valuable assistance. I am also deeply thankful
for the warm and compassionate assistance I received from the people and institutions of Nassau County, Duval County, and Putnam County, Florida, and Charlton County, Georgia, my birthplace. I give special thanks to my sisters, Lillian and Norma, for their support. Viva Jean Johnson Outterson DeLand, FloridaA
1999 PREFACE This is the historical story of Wilbert Franklin Johnson of St. George, Georgia and his ancestors. The Johnson
family in the early 1700s, fresh from their homeland in Scotland, settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Through hard work and dedication, the Johnson family developed a large and successful farm in Lancaster. With a strong belief in individual freedom and responsibility, they were quick to answer the call to arms during the War of Independence. True to their Johnson pioneer spirit many of the offspring moved to the developing frontiers of Ohio when the west was opened to settlers.
Shortly after the turn of the century, endowed with the same pioneer spirit, Wilbert's father sought a new life for his family and responded to the solicitation for entrepreneurs for the developing and dynamic community of St. George, of Charlton County, Georgia. INTRODUCTION The life and times of the Wilbert Franklin Johnson family of St. George, Georgia, is an inspiration to all that knew the family. Wilbert was a hardworking, family man who found
success and experienced failure in the development of the Big Bend country of the St. Marys River. Together with his wife, Amanda Johnson Johnson, they found peace and satisfaction in the tranquil life of St. George. When Wilbert first came to the area from Ohio, St. George was a developing small town. Wilbert was a successful businessman as St. George grew and blossomed. Later hard times descended upon the area and as the populace deserted it for greener pastures, as St. George declined
economically. Wilbert and Amanda were two of the stouthearted souls that had sunk their roots deeply and refused to accept the decline of the area. They had found a place where they wanted to live, developed a home and reared their family of four children, three girls and a boy who died early in his young life. The ancestral heritage of Wilbert can be traced to the pioneers of Lancaster County, Pennsyivania in the early eighteenth century. His Scottish ancestors fought the
Indians, cleared the land and developed large holdings in Lancaster County. During the War for Independence, Wil-bert's ancestors were quick to respond to their country's call to arms and fought with General Washington at the Battle of Brandywine. When the western frontier was opened to settlers, his ancestors moved to Ohio and developed a large farm. Perhaps it was the pioneer spirit of their forefathers that motivated Wilbert's father and mother to seek a new life in the developing Big Bend
Country of the St. Marys River. But for whatever the reason, Wilbert and Amanda Johnson have left their indelible mark in the area. Their daughters, inspired by the tenacious and loving Johnson spirit, have all become successful in their own right. Viva Jean Johnson and John A. Outterson
(I have reduced the size of maps and some photos so the page will load faster. Some maps are simply too large to display properly within this web page. Click on the images to see larger views. -Tara.) Chapter 1 - The Johnsons' Ancestral Home: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Also includes dedication, preface, and introduction. |
