-
Langdon E. Johnson
- West Virginia University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
west virginia edition 133 and many times he was hard pushed, he refused to be discouraged and went on with his work. He spent several years working and studying in order that he might prepare himself for the real work of life. In 1895 he began his work as a teacher. He taught twelve years, six in the public schools and six in Harmoney Institute at Blackstone. Under his administration the school grew from an enrollment of half a dozen to a hundred and was finally taken over and made a state school. In 1900, he was called to preach and was licensed by the home church in 1903. He was ordained to the full work of the ministry in April 1917, by the New Bethel Baptist church of Washington. His first regular pastorate was the Dudley Baptist church of Martinsburg, W. Va., to which he went in 1917. Under his leadership a debt of $1,472.00 dollars was discharged, a new $2,000 parsonage built and the membership doubled. In the fall of 1921, he resigned that work. In politics Mr. Johnson is a Republican. He belongs to the Masons and the St. Lukes. Next after the Bible, his favorite reading consists of theological and scientific works. Mr. Johnson believes that the religious life of the race is crippled by too many churches, many of which have inadequate leaders. He is also impressed with the need of more independent business enterprises. Mr. Johnson is not only an eloquent speaker, but a forceful writer as well. His booklet, “My Message to the People” is a strong clear call to right living which should have a wide reading. It deals with intimate but practical things in such a way as to make it very helpful. Langdon E. Johnson Mr. Langdon Elwood Johnson, who is prominent in secret order and church work, and also stands high as a business man, resides at Keystone, where he is proprietor of the White Oak Shoe Shop Company . Mr. Johnson is a native of Syracuse, Ohio, where he was born on November 24, 1872. His father, Rush Johnson, was a farmer who had langdon elwood johnson [54.210.85.205] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 08:24 GMT) west virginia edition 135 been born in slavery. His mother, before her marriage, was Elizabeth Block. Growing up in Ohio, young Johnson attended the public graded and high school at Syracuse. Of this period he says, “I learned to love study in early life, and did much at home on Sunday and at night.” He had to make his own way in college. He was converted at the early age of 14, and joined the A. M. E. church. Feeling called to the work of the ministry, he determined to secure a better education than that afforded by the local schools. He says,“I worked in Columbus, and saved enough money to get started in Wilberforce University. I was graduated from that institution with the B.D. degree in 1903. I joined the Conference at Xenia in 1903, under Bishop B. W. Arnett, and was sent to the A. M. E. Church at Huntington. From there I was sent to Echman, where a house of worship was erected and paid for in three years.” Finding himself particularly popular with the young people Dr. Johnson gave special attention to their needs and training. He moved to the growing town of Keystone, and in order that he might be self supporting learned the shoe trade. At the same time he was active in religious work. As there was no Methodist church at Keystone, he went into the S. S. of the Presbyterian church just then beginning its work at Keystone. He and others have succeeded in making of it a well organized , modern Sunday School. He has also prospered in a business way. Having learned his trade, he bought out the shop in which he had learned and continued the business for himself. As his trade grew he enlarged his facilities, added machines till he now has a first-class shop and is himself an employer. Among the secret orders, he is identified with the Masons and Odd Fellows. He is especially active in the work of the Odd Fellows, being Grand Secretary of the West Virginia Grand Lodge. On October 8, 1910, he married Miss Marie Woods, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Woods of Pittsburgh, Pa. They have four children, Aaron R., Langdon E., Jr., George R...