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The Life of Thomas Webster Johnson, Sr.

SPECIAL NOTE: We are not sure if this applies to all Thomas W. Johnson's history so we included in all three sites. Thomas W. Johnson was born at J ohnson’s Corner, Delaware County, PA., January 7, 1833, being the son of Eliza Ann and William Johnson. The Johnson ancestry, so far as it is known, dates back to a time previous to the Revolutionary contest, when one emigrated from Scotland to America, married here, and having a family of small children, enlisted in the Continental army and fell at the battle of White Plains. Robert, his youngest son, was “bound”in Christiana Hundred, Del., to a man named Brown. What became of the other children is, yet, a profound mystery. Robert married, in 1794, Margaret Webster, sister of Clark Webster. The names of their children and their marriages were as follows, viz: William to Eliza A. Talley; Robert to Mary Talley, John to Brandling Clark, David to Sarah Barnet, Harriet to Harman Talley, Anna to James Grubb Hanby; Margaret to Samuel Hance; and Mary to Anthony Bigger Carey, first, and David Gilbert, second. One son (Thomas) never married. William Johnson in 1832 came into possession of the farm of 190 acres at Johnson’s Corner. The farm is now owned by Thomas W. Johnson, the only son of William and Eliza A. Johnson. Felspar was accidentally found on this farm as early as 1848. This was the earliest discovery of felspar on the east side of the Brandywine. Samuel Stockton was the first manufacturer of artificial teeth in America. He was succeeded in this business by S. S. White, of Philadelphia. About 1848 Mr. White, who had been on a visit to the Dixon Quarries in Christiana Hundred, stopped on his homeward trip at the house of his relative, William Johnson, of Concord Township, PA. He told Mr. Johnson of the purpose of his visit to the Dixon Quarries, and showed him a sample of felspar. Mr. Johnson said, “Why, there is plenty of that kind of rock down along my run”. He took a grubbing hoe and went to the run, and was soon back with a basketful of the white rock. Mr. White soon thereafter contracted with Mr. Johnson for all the felspar then known to be on the farm. Thus began the felspar business of the great Brandywine Summit Quarries. The beginning was made near the spring in the easterly part of the “Camp Meeting Woods”. Teeth made from this rock were exhibited at the great Expositions in London and in Paris, at each of which they were awarded the premium. Thousands of tons of this rock, since 1850, have been shipped to Trenton, N. J. and to- East Liverpool, Ohio for pottery uses. The finer portion is selected at the quarry for the manufacture of teeth. This higher grade is sold at 30 per ton in Philade1phia and in other places. lt is scarcely necessary to say that the famous “Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting Grounds” are a part of this fann. The Camp Meeting began here about 1866, and increased in size and in importance year by year, until a few years ago the associationbecame incorporated, and many permanent wooden cottages are to be found here. These cottages are occupied weeks before the Camp Meeting proper begins, by families from Wilmington and elsewhere. Year after year, many find recreation, rest and comfort in this beautiful grove. Thomas W. Johnson attended the Union School of Concord Township until he was seventeen years old. He next spent one term at Pine Grove Select School, near West Chester; then a term at Norristown. He closed his school days at the Charlotteville (New York,) Methodist Seminary. " At the age of twenty he began teaching school at Mt. Pleasant, in Brandywine Hundred. He next taught one year at Brandywine Village. Then came the very successful term of three years at the Shellpot School. He was especially proud of his record at this last school, and was much interested in his geometry class. He introduced many studies here that belonged to the boarding rather than to the district school, He was very earnest in whatever he undertook, ever in playing ball at the noon hour. He married Sarah Poole in March 1877, taught about one year longer then, at the earnest solicitation of his father, moved to the home farm. This moving business brought health and wealth; but some profession, possibly the law, was deprived of what might have been a very able member. His mental and physical energy equipped him for almost any position in life. In his youth, he was a schoolboy, in early manhood a schoolteacher, and in after years a school trustee, having served on the official board of his township for thirty years. What is still more remarkable, seven of his nine children became, for a time, schoolteachers. Mr. Johnson is very strongly in favor of the temperance cause, and is an advocate of the higher order of politics. He is also quite public spirited, and fondly cherishes the hope that he may see a trolley line running between Wilmington and West Chester, along the Wilmington and Great Valley Turnpike. Mr. Johnson and his very genial companion have reared a large and interesting family, six of whom are married and occupy prominent positions in life. Truly may it be said, that the fine old mansion at Johnson’s Corner has shed a healthful influence over the affairs of Concord Township. pill online

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