Henry Johnson
Early Settler of Buxton

Henry Johnson was originally from Pennsylvania. He also lived in Ohio before coming to Canada. Henry lived in various parts of Canada for four years before moving to the Buxton Settlement. "I came to Canada for rights, freedom and liberty. But most of all I came to Buxton so my children could have a good education."

One of his daughters had been doing extremely well in school in Ohio. She had been advancing quickly through the levels and was receiving her education with ladies. Her mother went through a lot of trouble to make sure she was well dressed and groomed when she went to school also. The school trustees, however, passed a rule that did not allow black children in the public schools. Her father became upset and visited the trustees but there was nothing he could do about the rule. The teacher contacted Henry Johnson and told him that he liked his daughter and that the students had voted in class that she should stay but the vote had already been passed.

Johnson was very impressed with the Elgin Settlement. He told historian Benjamin Drew in 1856 that the people were prosperous and admired the fact that they didn't accept charity as it made men lazy.