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Johnson Oatman, Jr.
1856 - 1922 Person Name: Rev. Johnson Oatman, Jr. Author of "I Wonder" in Song Service Johnson Oatman, Jr., son of Johnson and Rachel Ann Oatman, was born near Medford, N. J., April 21, 1856. 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, Princetown, N. J., and the New Jersey Collegiate Institute, Bordentown, N. J. At the age of nineteen he joined the M.E. 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. Since the death of his father, he has for the past fifteen years been in the life insurance business, having charge of the business of one of the great companies in Mt. Holly, N. J., where he resides.
He has written over three thousand hymns, and no gospel song book is considered as being complete unless it contains some of his hymns.
In 1878 he married Wilhelmina Reid, of Lumberton, N.J. and had three children, Rachel, Miriam, and Percy.
Excerpted from Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers by Jacob Henry Hall; Fleming H. Revell, Co. 1914
Johnson Oatman, Jr.
J. E. Thomas
1860 - 1946 Composer of "[I wonder if some mother's boy]" in Song Service J. Edmond Thomas Born: December 6, 1860, Calhoun County, Arkansas. Died: April 30, 1946, Fort Worth, Texas. Buried: Greenwood Cemetery, Fort Worth, Texas. Note: Some sources give his first name as John; his tombstone says James. Thomas was the husband of Courtney Lee Wigley and Pearl Hatchett (married 1923) In 1874, his family moved from their farm in Texas to Arkansas. His father died later that year.
As the oldest son, he had his hands full supporting the family, but he managed to begin attending a vocal school at age 17, under Professor T. A. Bridges. He later studied under Horatio Palmer and George A. Goodrich.
He began a full time music career in 1890, and with Franklin Eiland and John M. Greer, and helped found the Trio Music Company in Waco, Texas, in 1892. He went on to establish the Quartet Music Company in Fort Worth, Texas.
A teacher, composer, music compiler, and publisher for over 44 years.
© The Cyber Hymnal™ (www.hymntime.com/tch)
J. E. Thomas
