Collection (1859-1895, 1979) consisting of correspondence, a certificate, newspapers, photographs, an financial account and genealogical notes on Tom Johnson's family and on the descendants of Shaderack Wooten, William Spencer Murphy, Jacob Johnson Sr., Benjamin May Sr. along with information on Jacob McCotter and Emmeline McCotter.
Tom Watson Johnson was born on January 28, 1907, near Grifton, in Pitt County, North Carolina to George Allen Johnson and Nepple May Johnson. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated with a degree in Journalism in 1928. Johnson worked for four years with the Stanley News-Herald in Albemarle, N.C. before working with the Wilkes Patriot in North Wilkesboro, N.C. In 1932, Johnson became the editor of the Oxford Public Ledger and was the paper's editor until his retirement in 1976.
Tom Johnson was active in community affairs. In Albemarle, he was a member of the Oxford Rotary Club and while at North Wilkesboro, he was a member of the Lions Club. He once served as the President of the Oxford Kiwanis Club. Tom Johnson is best known for his work on behalf of the construction of the Richard H. Thornton Library located in Oxford, N.C.
Johnson went on to marry Una Williams on August 22, 1936. They had two sons, George F. and Thomas L. Johnson. Tom Johnson died in October 1979.
Source: Tom W. Johnson Collection (#141), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Correspondence in this collection covers the years 1859 to 1865 and contains several items of interest. In one letter (27 January 1863), Oscar Wooten, a member of Co. E., 55th Regiment of N.C. Troops, reflects upon conditions at Camp French near Wilmington, N.C., and describes his effort to locate a wounded comrade at the hospital. In another letter (11 October 1864), R. S. May requests blankets and wine not available at Winder Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, where he is a patient. Finally there are two letters (7 January and 21 March 1865) written by Elisha C. Johnson of Johnson's Mill (Pitt County, N.C.) and covering a variety of topics. Reference is made to the economic situation, milling operations, school, the labor situation, and Union control of the Neuse River from New Bern to Kinston.
Also included in the collection are copies of the Berea (N.C.) Hash (October 1895) and the Oxford Ledger from Granville, N.C. (May 1979); two photographs, one of which is labeled Pitt County Club; a certificate (15 February 1859) making Allen Johnson the postmaster at Johnson's Mill; and financial accounts (24 March 1891) from a general store in Johnson's Mill.
Loaned by Mrs. Tom W. Johnson
Processed by R. Weaver, February 1971; Updated by N. Hardison, August 2024
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.