OUR HISTORY
The Story of Mount Zion Free Will Baptist Church — The Johnsontown Church
Mount Zion Free Will Baptist Church — affectionately referred to by the community as Johnsontown Church — was established in 1898 as the spiritual center of the Johnsontown community, one of the earliest free African American communities in Jefferson County, West Virginia. The roots of Johnsontown trace back to the 1730s, when free Black families migrated from Pennsylvania alongside German Quaker homesteaders. The community was officially founded by George and Betsy Johnson in 1848 in what was previously known as Jefferson County, Virginia, becoming part of West Virginia upon its statehood in 1863. By the time Mount Zion was established five decades later, it had evolved into more than just a place of worship; it became a vital hub for education, fellowship, and community identity. Its first minister and teacher, Jerry M. Johnson, played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for generations of ministry and learning that ensued. Today, Mount Zion stands as a proud testament to the resilience and faith of the founders of the Johnsontown community, and its ongoing preservation ensures that this remarkable African American heritage remains vibrant for future generations.
Mount Zion's Connection to Storer College
Mount Zion Free Will Baptist Church has a significant historical connection to Storer College in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which stands as one of the first institutions dedicated to educating freed and free Black Americans following the Civil War. Jerry M. Johnson II, the son of the church's founding minister and an integral member of the Johnson family that is central to the Johnsontown community, graduated from Storer College in 1927. He later returned to serve as a Reverend and elder at Mount Zion. His education at Storer embodies the broader values of faith and learning that have shaped the Johnsontown community from its very beginnings — a place built on the belief that education and spiritual life are intertwined paths leading to freedom and self-determination, reflecting the rich African American heritage that continues to thrive today.
The Families of Mount Zion Cemetery
The Mount Zion cemetery serves as the final resting place for George and Betsy Johnson, esteemed founders of the Johnsontown community, alongside generations of their descendants, relatives, and friends who contributed to this vibrant community. Over the years, many families within the Johnsontown community, such as the Ropers, Browns, Taylors, Davenports, Smiths, Foxes, Berrys, and Stevensons, have chosen to purchase their own burial sites at this cemetery, ensuring they rest alongside neighbors and fellow members of the Mount Zion Free Will Baptist Church. Together, these graves tell the rich history of an entire community, depicting not only one family's legacy but the interconnected lives of those who worshipped, worked, and raised families together in Johnsontown. Honoring their names and stories is vital for preserving the African American heritage of this sacred ground, ensuring that every family who called Johnsontown home is remembered for their significant role in its enduring legacy.
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Johnsontown and Mount Zion: A Community Bound by Faith
Johnsontown and Mount Zion Free Will Baptist Church have been intertwined since the church's establishment in 1898. The Johnsontown community has deep roots dating back to the 1730s when free Black families migrated from Pennsylvania alongside German Quaker homesteaders. Formally established in 1848, Johnsontown became one of the earliest free African American communities in Jefferson County, Virginia, which later became part of West Virginia upon statehood in 1863. As the community flourished, Mount Zion emerged as a vital spiritual and social center, where families gathered not only for worship but also for education, fellowship, and mutual support. For generations, the church and the Johnsontown community it served were inseparable, with families like the Johnsons, Ropers, Browns, and Taylors shaping their lives around the presence of Mount Zion. Today, preserving Mount Zion Free Will Baptist Church means preserving the essence of the Johnsontown community itself: its history, its people, and the enduring legacy of a place founded on African American heritage, freedom, faith, and resilience.