Description

Johnson Oatman Jr.

Johnson Oatman Jr. was born the son of Johnson and Rachel Ann Oatman, near Medford, New Jersey, April 21, 1856. His father was a local merchant and more importantly a devout Christian with a love for the Lord, Jesus Christ. His father was blessed with a uniquely powerful singing voice, that was said to be “the best singing voice in town, and as Oatman Jr. grew he wanted to contribute musically to the faith that he and his father shared.” Another writer said of the relationship between father and son:

As a child, Oatman Jr. often sang together with his dad and because of his father’s example and nurture he grew in the Christian faith and in his love for Jesus. It was said Oatman Sr. had a powerful booming voice that captivated his audience. Young Johnson looked up at him and wanted to be like his dad in every way and be a musician and singer as he was.

A contemporary of Johnson Oatman Jr., J. H. Hall wrote of him, during his lifetime

His father was an excellent singer, and it always delighted the son to sit by his side and hear him sing the songs of the church. Outside of the usual time spent in the public schools, Mr. Oatman received his education at Herbert’s Academy, Vincentown, N.J., and the New Jersey Collegiate Institute, Bordentown, N.J. At the age of nineteen he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a few years later he was granted a license to preach the Gospel, and still later he was regularly ordained by Bishop Merrill. However, Mr. Oatman only serves as a local preacher. For many years he was engaged with his father in the mercantile business at Lumberton, N.J., under the firm name of Johnson Oatman & Son.

In 1878, Johnson married Wilhelmina Ried. She was described as a “a most devout Christian lady, who walked by her husband’s side and blessed his life.” Together, they had three children.

Johnson Oatman Jr. felt the call and became an ordained minister, yet he never served as a pastor of any Church. He never became the powerful preacher that he wanted to be. And though he longed to sing as his father did, such a talent was never his. Then “at age 36, he realized that he did, without question, have a musical talent after all. He could write songs for other Christians to sing.” And write he did, producing more than 5000 hymn texts in his lifetime, and at one point, some 200 songs per year. He became “one of the most prolific and popular gospel hymn writers in the world.”

The boy who wanted to sing and could not, now sings praises forever through millions of voices, and the boy who wanted to be a powerful preacher, now preaches with greater power and influence than any mortal sermon he could have ever given.

It is fitting then, that the boy who was not given in life the gifts he wanted should be the one who, in 1897, would write these words. “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings; name them one by one, And it will surprise what the Lord has done.”

Sources:

https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/_count-your-blessings-is-a-reminder-to-be-grateful.html