Johnson Oatman Jr Biography: Ethnicity, Hymns, Wife, Age, Height, Children, Net Worth, Religion, Death

Johnson Oatman Jr., an American Methodist minister, merchant, and one of the most prolific gospel hymn writers of his era, penned the lyrics to thousands of sacred songs that encouraged believers across generations.

Best known for enduring classics such as “Count Your Blessings,” “Higher Ground,” and “No, Not One,” his simple yet powerful texts emphasized gratitude, perseverance, and the faithfulness of God.

Though he never achieved fame as a singer or full-time preacher, Oatman‘s output—estimated between 3,000 and 7,000 hymns—left a deep mark on American gospel music and church life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Johnson Oatman Jr.
• Stage Name: Johnson Oatman Jr.
• Born: 21 April 1856
• Died: 25 September 1922
• Age: 66 years old
• Birthplace: Near Medford, New Jersey, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Hymn Lyricist, Local Preacher, Merchant, Life Insurance Agent
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Johnson Oatman Sr, Rachel Ann Cline
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Wilhelmina R. Reid (m. 1878–1909)
• Children: Miriam Eulalie Oatman (later Blachly), Charles Percival Oatman, and Rachel Oatman
• Relationship: Widowed
• Net Worth: Unknown

Early Life and Education

Johnson Oatman Jr. was born on 21 April 1856 near Medford, New Jersey.

He was the son of Johnson Oatman Sr., a merchant and gifted church singer, and Rachel Ann Cline. Details about any siblings are not widely known.

Growing up, he often sat beside his father in church, listening to hymns that sparked his lifelong love for sacred music.

He attended public schools along with Herbert’s Academy in Vincentown, New Jersey, and the New Jersey Collegiate Institute in Bordentown.

At age nineteen he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church and was later licensed and ordained as a local preacher, though he never pastored a full-time congregation.

His ethnicity was Caucasian, and his religion was Christianity within the Methodist tradition.

Career

Johnson Oatman Jr. began his working life in the family mercantile business in Lumberton, New Jersey, operating as Johnson Oatman & Son alongside his father.

After joining the church at nineteen and receiving ordination, he served as a local preacher while continuing in commerce.

Realizing he lacked the vocal talent of his father or strong preaching gifts, he sought other ways to serve.

Around 1892, following his father’s death and some health challenges, he entered the life insurance business in Mount Holly, New Jersey, and discovered his true calling in hymn writing.

From that point onward, Oatman produced lyrics at a remarkable pace—often two hundred songs a year—partnering with leading composers of the day.

His first major successes came in the mid-1890s with “No, Not One” (1895) and “Higher Ground” (1898), followed by the widely loved “Count Your Blessings” in 1897.

These and many other texts appeared in gospel songbooks and were sung in revivals, camp meetings, and churches across America and beyond.

He continued writing steadily even after moving to Oklahoma later in life.

Johnson Oatman Jr. left a rich legacy through his vast catalog of hymns that offered comfort and encouragement during difficult times.

Songs such as “Count Your Blessings” became staples in both American and international Christian gatherings, with some translated into multiple languages.

His work helped shape the sound and spirit of gospel hymnody in the early twentieth century, even though he wrote primarily as a layperson balancing business and ministry.

Social Media

Johnson Oatman Jr. does not have any social media accounts.

Personal Life

Johnson Oatman Jr. married Wilhelmina R. Reid of Lumberton, New Jersey, on 21 July 1878.

She was a devout Christian who supported his work until her death on 20 November 1909.

The couple had three children: Miriam Eulalie Oatman (a talented hymn writer and composer herself), Charles Percival Oatman, and one other daughter (Rachel or another).

Oatman lived a quiet life centered on faith, family, and steady work, later residing with family in Norman, Oklahoma, where he died in 1922.

He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Lumberton, New Jersey.

Discography (Hymns)

• “Count Your Blessings” (1897)
• “Higher Ground” (1898)
• “No, Not One” (1895)
• “The Last Mile of the Way” (1908)
• “There’s Not a Friend Like the Lowly Jesus”

Net Worth

Johnson Oatman Jr., as a 19th- and early 20th-century businessman, local preacher, and hymn writer, left no publicly documented modern net worth figure.

His income came primarily from the family mercantile business, life insurance work, and modest payments for his thousands of hymn texts (he reportedly accepted only small fees, often around one dollar per song).