Benjamin F. Johnson - My Lifes Review

FAMILY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN JOHNSON

Benjamin Franklin Johnson was born July 28, 1818, in Pomfret, Chatauqua County, New York, and died November 18, 1905, at Mesa, Arizona.

He married (first) Melissa Bloomfield LeBaron, December 25, 1841. Their nine children were Benjamin Franklin, Melissa Almera, Julia Didamia, Esther Melita, Delcina Elvira, Frances Belle, David Albion, Erastus Elmer, Leah Bloomfield.

He married (second) Mary Ann Hale, May, 1843. Their five children were Emma Jane, Joseph Ezekiel; Benjamin Samuel, Mary Ann, Vilate Elizabeth.

He married (third) Flora Clarinda Gleason and had one child, Clarinda Huetta.

He married (fourth) Harriet Naomi Holman and had eight children-Benjamin Farland, James Francis, Seth Jedediah, Harriet Naomi, William Sawyer, Emma Geneva, Marquis LeBaron, and Junius.

He married (fifth) Sarah Melissa Holman and had eleven children-Benjamin Julius, Brigham Moroni, Heber Franklin, Agnes Saria, John Angus, Sarah Melissa, Cassandria, Lionel Brand, Ellis Hills, Delightra Victoria, and George Albert. There were four adopted Indian children, Samuel, Elva, Kemo, and Daniel.

He married (sixth) Susan Adelaide Holman and had eight children-Susan Celestia, Zina Susetta, Franklin Carlton, Winnie Fredricka, Leofwin, Adeline Estella, Jestus Wanderus, and Nancy Lillian.

He married (seventh) Sarah Jane Spooner and had three children-Julia Ann, Sarah Jane and a son who died in infancy.

Benjamin Franklin Johnsons father, Ezekiel Johnson, was a son of Ezekiel and Bethiah Gurnsey Johnson and was born January 12, 1776, at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, and died January 13, 1848, at Nauvoo, Illinois. He married Julia Hills, daughter of Joseph and Esther Ellis Hills, January 12, 1801, at Grafton, Massachusetts. She was born September 26, 1783; at Upton, Massachusetts, and died May 30, 1856, at Council Bluffs, Iowa. To them were born the following children:

1. Joel Hills, born March 23, 1802, Grafton, Massachusetts; died September 23, 1882, Johnson, Kane County, Utah.

2. Nancy Mariah, born August 1, 1803, Northborough, Massachusetts; died October 30, 1836, Kirtland, Ohio.

3. Seth Gurnsey, born February 14, 1805, Royalton. Massachusetts; died February 19, 1835, Kirtland, Ohio.

4. Delcina Didamia, born November 19, 1806, Westford, Vermont; died October 21, 1854, Salt Lake City, Utah.

5. Julia Ann, born November 9, 1808, Westford, Vermont; died October 23, 1857, Crescent, Iowa.

6. David, born September 10, 1810, Westford, Vermont; died October 30, 1833, Kirtland, Ohio.

7. Almera Woodard, born October, 1812, Westford, Vermont; died March 4, 1896, Parowan, Utah.

8. Susan Ellen, born December 1, 1814, Pomfret, New York; died March 16, 1836, Kirtland, Ohio.

9. Joseph Ellis, born April 28, 1817, Pomfret, New York; died December 17, 1882, Tempe, Arizona.

10. Benjamin Franklin, born July 28, 1818, Pomfret, New York; died November 18, 1905, Mesa, Arizona.

11. Mary Ellen, born February 7, 1820, Pomfret, New York; died June 11, 1845, Nauvoo, Illinois.

12. Elmer Wood, born May 26, 1822, Pomfret, New York; died September 14, 1822, Pomfret, New York.

13. George Washington, born February 19, 1823, Pomfret, New York; died January 22, 1900, Moab, Utah.

14. William Derby, born October 27, 1824, Pomfret, New York; died April 13, 1896, Diaz, Mexico.

15. Esther Melita, born January 12, 1827, Pomfret, New York; died March 15, 1876, Salt Lake City, Utah.

16. Amos Part ridge, born January 15, 1829, Pomfret, New York; died May 9, 1842, Macedonia, Illinois.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN JOHNSON

28 July 181818 November 1905

JULIA HILLS JOHNSON

Mother of Benjamin Franklin Johnson

1783-1856

FIVE SONS OF JULIA HILLS JOHNSON

Seated, left to right: George Washington Johnson, Joel Hills Johnson and Benjamin Franklin Johnson. Standing, left to right: Joseph Ellis Johnson and William Derby Johnson.

My Lifes Review

by

Benjamin F. Johnson

Press of
Zions Printing & Publishing Co.
Independence, Mi

Copyright 1947

by WILBERN S. JOHNSON

Printed in United States of America

By publishing the Life Review of Benjamin F. Johnson it will give his descendants an opportunity to know him and be influenced by his strong personality and his rich experiences. To those who knew him this book will be a source of comfort, consolation and new hope. To those who did not know him it will be a source of inspiration.

This life story will be evidence, to all who are privileged to read it, that hardships are not insurmountable obstacles before a worthy goal, for in it is depicted an outstanding characteristic of this great family-tenacious persistence toward truth and purpose.

The original "My Lifes Review" is safely stored in the fireproof vaults of the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City.

CHAPTER ONE

I was born July 28, 1818, in. the town of Pomfret, Chatauqua County, New York. My father, Ezekiel Johnson, was born in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, January 12, 1776, and my mother, Julia Hills, was born in Upton, Massachusetts, September 26, 1783.

To my parents were born sixteen children, namely: Joel Hills, Nancy Maria, Seth Gurnsey, Delcina Diadamia, Julia Ann, David, Almera Woodard, Susan Ellen, Joseph Ellis, Benjamin Franklin, Mary Maria, Elmer Wood, George Washington, William Derby, Esther Meleta and Amos Partridge. Excepting Elmer W., who died in infancy, all arrived at maturity, and all were among the first to embrace the fullness of the gospel.

In 1806 my parents moved from Royalton, Massachusetts, to Westford, Crittenden County, Vermont, from which place, in 1814, they moved to the place of my birth, in western New York.

My earliest recollections are of pioneer life, clearing deep forests with great labor for my parents, to obtain but scanty living comforts. While gathering forest nuts, wild fruits and flowers, with the tender care of (to me) a beloved and beautiful mother, loving elder sisters, and companionship of my almost twin brother; these were to me the happy features of my childhood and early youth.

At about 4 years of age, the death of my 18-month-old brother, Elmer Wood, brought to me a deep and lasting sorrow and grief, that through childhood often wet my pillow with tears and saddened my lonely hours. My mother possessed high religious veneration, and early taught me faith in God and the necessity of prayer. At this early period, so soon after the war of 1812, and in what was then a wild and almost frontier region, with heavy primeval forests to clear away before a meager crop of anything could be raised from the virgin soil for food, it seemed to require a giant fortitude and great patience on the part of all, to wait for results. My father for a series of years wrestled with the herculean task of clearing off the forests, but worn with incessant labors and the care of so large a family, he sought for a stimulus, and in my earliest childhood became addicted to the use of ardent spirits. Neither his labors nor his love for his family seemed to diminish, yet the fiend of unhappiness had entered our home to break the bonds of union between our parents and to destroy the happiness of their children. In looking back over my childhood it almost seems that I was born to be a child of sorrow, for such was my love for both of my parents that because of the troubles and unhappiness my heart at times would seem almost ready to burst with sorrow and grief, and a feeling always seemed with me to wish that I had died at my birth, or that I never had been born.