From GREATER WHEELING AND VICINITY
By Charles A. Winegerter, 1912; pages 579- 581.
     
Contributed by Linda Fluharty.


JOHNSON BROTHERS.--Among the citizens of Wheeling and its vicinity no man or 
men are better entitled to representation in a work of the nature of this 
than the Johnson Brothers, who constitute the officers and proprietors of 
that widely known and important industrial enterprise, the West Wheeling Coal 
Company. In the legitimate channels of industry and trade these gentlemen 
have won the success which always crowns well directed labor, sound judgment 
and untiring perseverance and at the same time they have concerned themselves 
with the affairs of the community in an admirably public-spirited fashion. 
The West Wheeling Coal Company is, in truth, one of the enterprises which 
have contributed in most definite way to the progress and prosperity which 
have been the lot of the section of the Ohio River Valley in recent times. 
The officers are as follows: William G. Johnson, president; J. C. Johnson, 
vice-president; George W. Johnson, secretary; and T. H. Johnson, treasurer 
and general manager. These four brothers own one hundred and thirty acres of 
coal, employ sixty-five men and are using best and most modern appliances in 
the operation of their mine. Perhaps the coal situation in the United States 
is known by no one more thoroughly than by the Johnson Brothers, who have 
devoted their entire lives to this field. They know the coal mining industry 
from the ground up and this expert knowledge has assisted in giving them 
their high prestige in the world of trade. Although of English parentage they 
are loyal and typically American citizens and stand as forces of the most 
beneficent character. The West Wheeling Coal Company was organized in 19°3 
and the first shipment of coal was made in 1907. 
     The Johnson Brothers are sons of Christopher Johnson and his wife, whose 
maiden name was Eliza Gibson, these worthy people having been natives of 
England. William G. Johnson, president of the company, is the only one of the 
four who was born in England. The year of his birth was 1852, three years 
previous to the decision of his parents to cross the Atlantic to the new 
world with its much vaunted opportunity and independence. In 1855 the little 
British family located in New Bedford, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, and in 
the Keystone state the male members were in course of time very naturally 
associated with the mining industry. When William G. came to years of 
strength and usefulness he went to West Middlesex, Mercer county. In 1891 he 
went to Paris, Stark county, Ohio, where he accepted a position with a mining 
company and was promoted to the office of foreman. He continued as such until 
1898, and then seeing greater opportunity he removed to Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, where he superintended the laying of track for the mines in 
that section. In 1899 he removed to Glencoe, Ohio, and accepted the position 
of foreman with the Glenn Coal Companies. Later he took a similar position 
with the J. C. McKinley Company at Moundsville, and after continuing in that 
field for a time, in 
1903 he came to West Wheeling, Ohio, where success was awaiting him. Here as 
a member of the West Wheeling Coal Company he is in that more independent 
position for which his fine executive gifts fit him. 
     Mr. Johnson was married in 1872, his chosen lady being Miss Jane Jones, 
of Brookfield, Trumbull county, Ohio. Seven children were born to them, three 
of whom are alive at the present time, namely: John G.; Eliza, wife of 
Sylvester Harsh; and Mabel, wife of Robert E. Forest. Mr. Johnson is a 
popular lodge man, his affiliation extending to the Knights of Pythias and 
the Ancient Order of Foresters of America. 
     James C. Johnson, vice-president of the West Wheeling Coal Company, was 
born at Brookfield, Trumbull county, Ohio, in the year 1867. Since his 
earliest youth the coal fields have been familiar scenes to him and ever 
since his years became sufficient he has been employed in some connection 
with the production of coal, and he has worked valiantly 
to bring about the success of the enterprise with which his name is 
connected. He was happily married in 1892, to Miss Rachel Clifton, of 
Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio, and to their union were born ten children, 
namely: Margaret, George, William, James, Henry, Belle, Ellen, Hattie, Harold 
and Hilda, the two latter twins. He finds much pleasure in his association 
with the Knights of Pythias and is helpfully interested in the many-sided 
life of the community in which his interests are centered. 
     George W. Johnson, secretary of the West Wheeling Coal Company, was born 
in New Bedford, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, in 1857, and is the second in 
order of birth of the quartet. His career differs from that of his brothers 
in that he has not always been concerned with mining affairs, but was at 
first and for some time connected with structural work with the W. H. Brown 
Company and also with the Hudson Coal Company of Cleveland. He is a bridge 
carpenter by trade and was in the service of the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Central Railroad for some time. One of his important achievements was the 
building of the Glenn Coal Mine tipple at Glencoe, Ohio. His residence in 
West Wheeling dates only from 1908. 
     Mr. Johnson assumed the responsibilities of married life in 1879, when 
Miss Lilly Austin, of Brookfield, Ohio, became his wife. In their household 
are the following children: Cora, Minnie L., James A. and. Robert E. The 
subject is a member of the lodge of Knights of Pythias. 
     Thomas H. Johnson, treasurer and general manager of the West Wheeling 
Coal Company, was born at West Middlesex, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and is 
the fifth of the brothers in order of birth, the year of his nativity having 
been 1865. He has been connected with the output of coal in some way or 
another since he was a lad nine years of age, miners' sons being early put in 
the service. His ability was of such order that he advanced steadily and for 
a time was superintendent of the Johnson Brothers' Coal Company of Pipe 
Creek, which position he held until 1907, when he assumed his present office. 
     In 1886 Miss Harriet Small, of Palmyra, Ohio, became his wife, and their 
union has been blessed by the birth of ten children, nine of whom are living, 
namely: Emma, wife of Carl H. Eberts; William S.; Lizzie, wife of Stephen 
Jenkins; Martha; Annie; Thomas; Charles; Albert; Agnes; and Belle, deceased. 
Mr. Johnson is well and favorably known in fraternal circles. Like his three 
brothers he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, whose prevailing sentiment 
is similar to that which characterizes the four brothers; and he is also a 
member of the time-honored Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. 
The other members of the Johnson family, brothers and sisters of the 
gentlemen whose names appear in this article, are Robert E., John F., Isabel 
(deceased. who was the wife of Alfred Crook), E.1iza E. (who died in 
childhood).