Johnson Oatman

Johnson Oatman, Jr. was a prolific gospel hymn writer and an ordained Methodist Episcopal minister. He was born near Medford, New Jersey, in 1856 and lived until 1922. While he served as a local preacher, Oatman also worked in the mercantile business with his father and later as a life insurance administrator. Oatman began writing hymns at the age of 36 in 1892. Over his lifetime, he authored between 3,000 and 5,000 gospel hymn texts. He was known for his humble approach to his craft, typically accepting no more than one dollar per hymn for his work. He was married to Wilhelmina Reid, and the couple had three children. Among the many hymns Oatman wrote are "Higher Ground," "Count Your Blessings," and "No, Not One." His catalog also includes "The Last Mile of the Way," "He Included Me," "Hand In Hand With Jesus," "Sweeter Than All," and "What Shall It Profit?" His texts, often set to music by prominent gospel composers of his day, became enduring staples in Christian hymnals.