Our ancestor Richard Terry came to America in 1635 and helped to make history in the new world.
Marilla Terry was born 2 June, 1823 in Albion Home District, Upper Canada, to Parshall Terry 3rd, and Ann Hannah Terry. They were first cousins, there were 13 children born into this family. 7 born in New York and the other 6 born in Canada with Marilla being the 10th child. This part of Canada was a wild and rugged land so it was hard work clearing it, but everyone pulled together in a united effort to clear it so homes could be built and a living made. There was a lot of brush and heavy undergrowth.
Marilla's early life would be spent in the same way as other frontier children. little schooling and just the bare necessities of life and very few pleasures.
About 1837 the Mormon Missionaries came to Albion, the Terry family were immediately interested because they were well acquainted with Joseph Smith and knew what a fine boy he was. Marilla's brother Jacob was a good friend of Joseph's, who was the same ages.
Marilla joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Feb. 1838 and with most of the family came to the United States to gather with the other Saints in Missouri. When the family was driven from their home by an extermination order from Gov. Boggs, out into the bitter cold, Deborah, then age 11, died from exposure.
When Marilla was 18 she married John Crawford and had 2 sons, one dying in infancy and the other lived to be a mainstay in Marilla's life.
When John Crawford died in Dec. 1843, Marilla got along as best as she could with a son to care for. On Jan. 28, 1846 Marilla married Nils (Nilson) Hansen in the Nauvoo Temple. He had come from Norway with a young wife and 4 young children. His wife died leaving the children for him to care for. In 1848, Nils moved the family to Iowa, 20 miles from Glenwood. They lived there until 1861, 7 children were born there.
The family wanted to move to Utah but Nils wanted to go to California for the gold rush. He "fitted out" the wagon but he took his 10 year old son out of the wagon too try to make it harder for the family to leave. Marilla never seen her son again until he was a grown man. Nils had put him in the home of a good family while he went off to fight the Indians. He was never seen again. He died after 1865 in California.
Marilla was a tall and nervous person but she traveled across the plains with her family in the David H. Cannon Company, settling in Draper Utah.
When the call came from President Brigham Young for the Saints to go south to Dixie, Marilla and her family went with the others, they left in the fall of 1863. They arrived at a small settlement called Adventure, just East of Grafton in the Rockville area. Marilla's family was one of the first families to settle in Rockville.
The women as well as the men had to try to make a living out of an nonsupporting land which was surrounded with sage brush and mountains. Their first home was made out of rough rocks with mud placed between them to hold them in place. The roof was made out of logs hewn out and placed for rafters with cedar bark and a quantity of dirt over that which let the roof leak if it rained, and when there was a downpour, the place was covered with mud. There was one corner with a bed that did not leak and the children were put on the bed and all the neighbors came and stayed in the one room to try to stay dry.
Marilla had lots of fruit trees and two long rows of currents bushes in her lot. She had a small oval wood box that she kept her valuables in, it was believed to have been given to Marilla by her first husband, John Crawford. Her son John has it in his possession.
Marilla was a very intelligent person and people liked to talk with her. She had a small one room home in the center of town in the upper side of the street. She lived alone and her needs and wants were few. She looked after her family, yet she wouldn't let anyone help her unless it was with something she could not do. She was a very plain spoken person as well as being superstitious. She would never call "Come In" when some one was at the door because she thought she might be admitting the Devil in.
Marilla passed away in her home in Rockville, Utah on October 19, 1894 at the age of 72. She was survived by 2 sons, 4 daughters and 46 grandchildren.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Seth Johnson
Seth Johnson, a patriarch in the Panguitch Stake of Zion, and a resident of Cannonville, Garfield, Utah, was born March 6, 1839 at Carthage, Hancock, Illinois. The son of Joel Hills Johnson and Annie Pixley. In his early childhood he passed through many scenes of suffering in common with so many other Latter-day Saints at that time. When 4 years of age he was with the rest of his father's family turned out of the family home by the mob, the home being burned in the sight of its owners. The family fled, leaving bloody footprints behind them in the snow. Seth's mother died when he was only 1 1/2 years of age. Seth became well acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith, who married his aunt as a plural wife. (Almera Johnson)
The family was driven from place to place in Illinois until May, 1848 when they started for the Rocky Mountains. Seth was baptized on the journey by Jedediah M. Grant and passed through all the incidents and hardships that followed pioneer life in the Valley, including the experience with grasshoppers and crickets and raids by the red men. (Indians)
Seth accompanied George A. Smith on his mission to Iron County in 1850-51, and afterwards took part in the founding of Cedar City and Summit in Iron county
Seth was ordained a Teacher in 1856, an Elder in 1857 and a Seventy in 1860. In 1861 he drove an ox team across the plains to the Missouri River to help gather the poor. That year also (Nov. 11, 1861), he married Miss Lydia Ann Smith, daughter of Thomas P. and Mary D. Smith.
In 1862 he farmed and raised a large crop of grain. As early as 1857 he enlisted in the territorial militia and served in the same for 37 years. He helped to make a road to the Upper Rio Virgin Valley, southern Utah, in 1859, and crossed the plains again with ox teams to gather the poor in 1863.
In 1864 he sold out his farm at Summit, Iron County, and moved south to Virgin City. In January 1866, he was a member of an expedition sent out against savage Indians who had killed two men and driven of a large number of horses, cattle and sheep. On this expedition he traveled through deep snow in very cold weather and had a narrow escapes from being killed by the arrows and bullets of the savages.
In June, 1866, he moved to Tocqueville, where he lived for nearly six years. While there he carried the U.S. mail for a term of four years from Cedar City to St. George, and while there he held a number of civil offices, such as justice of the peace, superintendent of district schools in Kane county, etc. He also taught school for two years.
In 1865 (Oct. 8th) he married Martha Jane Stratten (My Grandmother). During the years 1867, 1868, and 1869, he participated in several expeditions against hostile Indians. In Nov. 1872, he moved to Hillsdale, on the Sevier river, in Iron county (now Garfield) Utah. There he also taught school for a number of years.
When the Panguitch Stake of Zion was organized, April 23, 1877, Seth was ordained a High Priest by Apostle Orson Pratt and set apart as a High Councilor in that Stake. He was ordained a Bishop by Apostle Erastus Snow, Aug. 2, 1877 and set apart to preside over the Hillsdale Ward.
During the following 39 years he acted either as a High Councilor or a Bishop in the Panguitch Stake and also some home missionary work.
Among the many Church and civil offices held by Seth may be mentioned that he served as superintendent of Sunday Schools, president of Y.M.M.I.A.'s as well as instructor in Sunday Schools, mutual and Priesthood classes. He also served as registration officer and justice of the peace.
In 1895 (Sep.2) he was ordained a Patriarch by Apostle Francis M.Lyman. For more than 60 years Seth had lived on the frontiers and assisted to build new settlements and protect them from hostile Indians.
Seth is the father of 25 children. 22 of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. His wife Lydia Ann bore him 14 children, His wife Martha Jane was the mother of 11 children.
The family was driven from place to place in Illinois until May, 1848 when they started for the Rocky Mountains. Seth was baptized on the journey by Jedediah M. Grant and passed through all the incidents and hardships that followed pioneer life in the Valley, including the experience with grasshoppers and crickets and raids by the red men. (Indians)
Seth accompanied George A. Smith on his mission to Iron County in 1850-51, and afterwards took part in the founding of Cedar City and Summit in Iron county
Seth was ordained a Teacher in 1856, an Elder in 1857 and a Seventy in 1860. In 1861 he drove an ox team across the plains to the Missouri River to help gather the poor. That year also (Nov. 11, 1861), he married Miss Lydia Ann Smith, daughter of Thomas P. and Mary D. Smith.
In 1862 he farmed and raised a large crop of grain. As early as 1857 he enlisted in the territorial militia and served in the same for 37 years. He helped to make a road to the Upper Rio Virgin Valley, southern Utah, in 1859, and crossed the plains again with ox teams to gather the poor in 1863.
In 1864 he sold out his farm at Summit, Iron County, and moved south to Virgin City. In January 1866, he was a member of an expedition sent out against savage Indians who had killed two men and driven of a large number of horses, cattle and sheep. On this expedition he traveled through deep snow in very cold weather and had a narrow escapes from being killed by the arrows and bullets of the savages.
In June, 1866, he moved to Tocqueville, where he lived for nearly six years. While there he carried the U.S. mail for a term of four years from Cedar City to St. George, and while there he held a number of civil offices, such as justice of the peace, superintendent of district schools in Kane county, etc. He also taught school for two years.
In 1865 (Oct. 8th) he married Martha Jane Stratten (My Grandmother). During the years 1867, 1868, and 1869, he participated in several expeditions against hostile Indians. In Nov. 1872, he moved to Hillsdale, on the Sevier river, in Iron county (now Garfield) Utah. There he also taught school for a number of years.
When the Panguitch Stake of Zion was organized, April 23, 1877, Seth was ordained a High Priest by Apostle Orson Pratt and set apart as a High Councilor in that Stake. He was ordained a Bishop by Apostle Erastus Snow, Aug. 2, 1877 and set apart to preside over the Hillsdale Ward.
During the following 39 years he acted either as a High Councilor or a Bishop in the Panguitch Stake and also some home missionary work.
Among the many Church and civil offices held by Seth may be mentioned that he served as superintendent of Sunday Schools, president of Y.M.M.I.A.'s as well as instructor in Sunday Schools, mutual and Priesthood classes. He also served as registration officer and justice of the peace.
In 1895 (Sep.2) he was ordained a Patriarch by Apostle Francis M.Lyman. For more than 60 years Seth had lived on the frontiers and assisted to build new settlements and protect them from hostile Indians.
Seth is the father of 25 children. 22 of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. His wife Lydia Ann bore him 14 children, His wife Martha Jane was the mother of 11 children.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Allen Joseph Stout (My great, Great, Grandfather)
Allen Joseph Stout was born 5 December 1815 in Danville, Mercer County, Kentucky. He was the son of Joseph Stout and Anna Smith.
In the first settlement of New Jersey, there were 3 young men by the name of Stout. They came from Germany. 2 of them were killed by Indians and one married a woman who had been scalped and tomahawked and left for dead. (Penelope).
Allen was raised by very strict Quaker parents who had just gone through extreme hardships. He was the 10th child. When Allen's mother died from tuberculosis on 28th July 1824, Allen and Hosea were passed around from home to home as hired help. One of the men Allen worked for would whip him for doing things which he couldn't help doing.
Hosea took Allen to live with a cousin named Ephraim Stout Jr. so he could attend Jesse Stout's school for a time. Allen thought he was the meanest man he had ever seen. Allen was weak in body.
In 1837, Allen's sister married a Mormon, Allen believed Mormonism to be correct. He read the D & C but couldn't get hold of a Book of Mormon. He went to Sunday Meetings, He knew the Bible and he knew Lyman Wight and Charles C. Rich were teaching true scriptures even tho others were saying they weren't. Allen was baptized 22 April 1833 at age 22.
Allen was in poor health so he had to stay in Far West while the others moved on. He thought he would have to go back but Hosea, his brother rescued him by buying land and providing employment and shelter for him.
When Allen was baptized he was a very sick man, but after he was done he felt like he could rise and fly. He felt relieved of a seemingly great weight. After the Elders anointed him he was healed both of his breast complaint and fever sores.
At age 24, Allen was called on a mission. He left Nauvoo on foot to go South. His intentions was to try to preach the gospel even tho he was young and unlearned. He had never spoken in public before so he called on the Lord for strength and wisdom to enable him to be able to do his duty with an eye single to His glory.Allen received a letter from his brother Hosea telling him that the Prophet Joseph Smith was in danger in Missouri. Allen hastened back to Nauvoo. He worked as a carpenter, a fisherman, and received a commission as 3rd Lieutenant in the Nauvoo Legion. This happened in October 1842 at age 27. He worked as a teamster for Miles Anderson where he met Elizabeth-They were married in July. (Not my grandmother)
In 1843 Allen was promoted to Captain, 1st Co. Nauvoo Legion. Him and Hosea were determined to protect the life of the Prophet. While Allen was serving as body-guard to the Prophet they seen a man coming toward them. When he came near, the Prophet told Allen to wait there while he went to talk to this man. Allen waited for sometime a short distance away while Joseph spoke with the stranger. When the Prophet returned to where Allen was, Allen was very upset for being negligent as a bodyguard. The Prophet Joseph told Allen that the man would never hurt him, he was John the Revelator.
After the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum were taken to Carthage jail, the Prophet told Jonathan Dunham to bring the Nauvoo Legion to Carthage to save him, but Dunham didn't tell anyone about the orders and the Legion was kept under arms while the mob broke in the jail and slew Joseph and Hyrum.
When the bodies were brought back to Nauvoo, Allen saw their beloved forms reposing in the arms of death, which gave him such feelings he could not describe.
After the martyrdom, Allen joined the Nauvoo Police Dept. His salary was one dollar per day in city script. In January 1845, the legislature repealed the Nauvoo city charter and this ended the pay to Allen. The Legion was ended but Brigham Young said if they would render their services, the Lord would provide for them. Allen was soon offered a job which gave him an income.
In 1845, Brigham Young asked Allen to be his own personal bodyguard. In the fall Allen also became the bodyguard to Heber C. Kimball. At the Kimball home, Allen and Elizabeth were sealed then Allen received his endowments in the NauvooTemple.
During the winter months of 1845-46, Allen's family could not stay in Nauvoo any longer. They prepared for their journey West.
Allen had rheumatism attacks so the journey became hard with the weather being so bad. After they crossed the Mississippi River on Feb. 10th, the severity of the weather forced them to camp at Sugar Creek for several weeks. On Jan. 30, 1848, Elizabeth died leaving Allen with 3 small children and a journey of 1100 miles to perform without any animals to help. Allen continued to pour his soul into prayer that the Lord would open up some way for him to take care of the children and make the journey. Allen hired a girl named Amanda Melvina Fisk to care for the children. She worked from April 8 to 30th and Brigham Young performed the marriage between Amanda and Allen. After the marriage, they moved to Pigeon Creek Iowa where they rented land and planted a garden. Allen taught masonry and guarded cattle at night. There their first child was born on April 16, 1849. They left for the Rockies in July 1851. In March they had another child, they left 4 July 1851 and arrived in Salt Lake October 2, 1851. Amanda was very sick and had to be carried into the home.
Allen died 18 December 1889 in Rockville Utah.
In the first settlement of New Jersey, there were 3 young men by the name of Stout. They came from Germany. 2 of them were killed by Indians and one married a woman who had been scalped and tomahawked and left for dead. (Penelope).
Allen was raised by very strict Quaker parents who had just gone through extreme hardships. He was the 10th child. When Allen's mother died from tuberculosis on 28th July 1824, Allen and Hosea were passed around from home to home as hired help. One of the men Allen worked for would whip him for doing things which he couldn't help doing.
Hosea took Allen to live with a cousin named Ephraim Stout Jr. so he could attend Jesse Stout's school for a time. Allen thought he was the meanest man he had ever seen. Allen was weak in body.
In 1837, Allen's sister married a Mormon, Allen believed Mormonism to be correct. He read the D & C but couldn't get hold of a Book of Mormon. He went to Sunday Meetings, He knew the Bible and he knew Lyman Wight and Charles C. Rich were teaching true scriptures even tho others were saying they weren't. Allen was baptized 22 April 1833 at age 22.
Allen was in poor health so he had to stay in Far West while the others moved on. He thought he would have to go back but Hosea, his brother rescued him by buying land and providing employment and shelter for him.
When Allen was baptized he was a very sick man, but after he was done he felt like he could rise and fly. He felt relieved of a seemingly great weight. After the Elders anointed him he was healed both of his breast complaint and fever sores.
At age 24, Allen was called on a mission. He left Nauvoo on foot to go South. His intentions was to try to preach the gospel even tho he was young and unlearned. He had never spoken in public before so he called on the Lord for strength and wisdom to enable him to be able to do his duty with an eye single to His glory.Allen received a letter from his brother Hosea telling him that the Prophet Joseph Smith was in danger in Missouri. Allen hastened back to Nauvoo. He worked as a carpenter, a fisherman, and received a commission as 3rd Lieutenant in the Nauvoo Legion. This happened in October 1842 at age 27. He worked as a teamster for Miles Anderson where he met Elizabeth-They were married in July. (Not my grandmother)
In 1843 Allen was promoted to Captain, 1st Co. Nauvoo Legion. Him and Hosea were determined to protect the life of the Prophet. While Allen was serving as body-guard to the Prophet they seen a man coming toward them. When he came near, the Prophet told Allen to wait there while he went to talk to this man. Allen waited for sometime a short distance away while Joseph spoke with the stranger. When the Prophet returned to where Allen was, Allen was very upset for being negligent as a bodyguard. The Prophet Joseph told Allen that the man would never hurt him, he was John the Revelator.
After the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum were taken to Carthage jail, the Prophet told Jonathan Dunham to bring the Nauvoo Legion to Carthage to save him, but Dunham didn't tell anyone about the orders and the Legion was kept under arms while the mob broke in the jail and slew Joseph and Hyrum.
When the bodies were brought back to Nauvoo, Allen saw their beloved forms reposing in the arms of death, which gave him such feelings he could not describe.
After the martyrdom, Allen joined the Nauvoo Police Dept. His salary was one dollar per day in city script. In January 1845, the legislature repealed the Nauvoo city charter and this ended the pay to Allen. The Legion was ended but Brigham Young said if they would render their services, the Lord would provide for them. Allen was soon offered a job which gave him an income.
In 1845, Brigham Young asked Allen to be his own personal bodyguard. In the fall Allen also became the bodyguard to Heber C. Kimball. At the Kimball home, Allen and Elizabeth were sealed then Allen received his endowments in the NauvooTemple.
During the winter months of 1845-46, Allen's family could not stay in Nauvoo any longer. They prepared for their journey West.
Allen had rheumatism attacks so the journey became hard with the weather being so bad. After they crossed the Mississippi River on Feb. 10th, the severity of the weather forced them to camp at Sugar Creek for several weeks. On Jan. 30, 1848, Elizabeth died leaving Allen with 3 small children and a journey of 1100 miles to perform without any animals to help. Allen continued to pour his soul into prayer that the Lord would open up some way for him to take care of the children and make the journey. Allen hired a girl named Amanda Melvina Fisk to care for the children. She worked from April 8 to 30th and Brigham Young performed the marriage between Amanda and Allen. After the marriage, they moved to Pigeon Creek Iowa where they rented land and planted a garden. Allen taught masonry and guarded cattle at night. There their first child was born on April 16, 1849. They left for the Rockies in July 1851. In March they had another child, they left 4 July 1851 and arrived in Salt Lake October 2, 1851. Amanda was very sick and had to be carried into the home.
Allen died 18 December 1889 in Rockville Utah.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Joel Hills Johnson-Excerpts from my journal
Joel Hills Johnson was born March 23, 1802 in Grafton, Massachusetts. He was the son of Ezekiel and Julia Hills Johnson.
When I was a very small child. my mother, being a very strict Presbyterian, would tell me about Heaven,Hell, Jesus Christ, God, and the Devil. When I was 8 years old I had quite a correct idea of those things being according to the precept of men in those days, and sometimes when thinking about them, I would weep bitterly, considering myself a sinner in the sight of God. I remember a time when my parents scolded me for some minor thing. I felt I had not a friend in heaven or hell, or on the earth, so I would go off to weep by myself. I wrote the following;
And thought unto the brook I'd go,
And drown myself and end my woe,
For if I drowned myself, thought I,
My soul will under water die.
I went to the small brook and selected a place to drown myself. The thought occurred to me that it was a temptation from the devil and I desisted from the purpose and returned home. When I was about twelve years old I almost drowned.
In 1827 I bought a farm adjoining my farm and decided to build a saw mill to help pay for the farm. I didn't have a solid foundation to build on so I built it on sand. When the floods came the mill-dam was torn up. When my creditors saw my situation, they demanded payment so they took everything I owned.
In 1829 I invented a machine for striking shingles from a block at one blow. The invention was stolen from me so I left my birth place and moved to Ohio. I joined up with a friend and we built a saw mill.
At about this time there was an excitement about the Church. I had always read the Bible and upon obtaining a Book of Mormon and reading it, I was against it but I was filled with astonishment it bringing the first discourse that corresponded with the New Testament. I finally gained a testimony and was baptized June 1, 1831, my wife having been baptized a few days earlier.
I had lost my health and property in 1827-28 so I couldn't do any hard labor and I had little means to sustain my family.
In 1834 I attended a conference in Ohio where I met the Prophet Joseph Smith. After counseling from the Prophet Joseph, I moved my family to Kirtland I proceeded to make bricks to help build the temple. The Church didn't use the brick because they decided to build it out of stone.
I donated cash, lumber, stock and other property's to build the temple as I wasn't in good enough health to help build it.
In 1835 I, as well as other brethren were called together to be blessed under the hands of the first Presidency. I was present at the calling of the 12 Apostles. I received my endowments in the Kirtland Temple in 1835. I was with the Prophet Joseph when he received the Word of Wisdom on February 27, 1833. I had used tobacco for fifteen years and always used strong drink, tea and coffee. I gave them all up when the word of wisdom was given.
In 1836, the Brethren formed a banking institution, but the enemies of the Church crushed it which proves that no institution founded upon righteous principles can flourish in so corrupt a nation as the United States.
In January 1839, Carthage I rented a store house with several rooms and moved my family in. Sidney Rigdon and Bishop Partridge came to my house to stay until they could fine a suitable location for the Saints to live.
I baptized several people in Carthage and organized the Branch of the Church at Crooked Creek. I was called to be the Stake President.
When my family took sick with chills and a nervous fever in which my wife died leaving my with several children to raise. Before she died she told me to find a suitable wife because I couldn't raise the children by myself. She said the Lord had told her the children would be well taken care of.
I received my patriarchal blessing under the hands of Joseph Smith Sr. the first patriarch of the church. I also received a blessing from John Smith, brother to Joseph Sr.
In 1848 I sold my sold my land for $90.00 cash and made arrangements to move West. I had 3 wagons, 5 yoke of oxen and steers. I had a few cows and sheep and necessary provisions, so on May 6, 1848, the family left for Salt Lake City, Utah. There were 4 children with us. We arrived in Salt Lake on October 19, 1848.
I built a small cabin in the mouth of Mill Creek Canyon and was elected as justice of the peace and also ordained as the Bishop of that ward.
On March 23, 1850, I was 48 years old. My life had been one continual scene of hardship. sickness and sorrow. I had been robbed, driven from state to state in poverty, sickness and disgrace. Some sought to kill me. While my health was failing in February 1853, I wrote the hymns, "High On a Mountain Top," and at that time I was given another patriarchal Blessing by Isaac Morley.
I encountered several graves on my journey's. The graves had been dug up by wolves and I seen clothes and bones laying near-by.
I was the founder of Enoch, Utah. After other people moved in, we built a fort and called it Johnson's Fort.
I served as a missionary in Iron County, Utah. I am a poet and hymn writer.
I had 5 wives, Anna Pixley Nov. 22, 1826. Susan Bryant, Oct. 20, 1840. Janet Fife, Oct. 25, 1845. Margaret Therekold, 1861. (Anna being the grandmother to us) I have many children and my sister was married to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Joel died September 24, 1883, in Kane County, Utah.
In 1982 a music contest was performed using only music Joel had written.
Joel was included in a list of 75 significant Mormon poets.
When I was a very small child. my mother, being a very strict Presbyterian, would tell me about Heaven,Hell, Jesus Christ, God, and the Devil. When I was 8 years old I had quite a correct idea of those things being according to the precept of men in those days, and sometimes when thinking about them, I would weep bitterly, considering myself a sinner in the sight of God. I remember a time when my parents scolded me for some minor thing. I felt I had not a friend in heaven or hell, or on the earth, so I would go off to weep by myself. I wrote the following;
And thought unto the brook I'd go,
And drown myself and end my woe,
For if I drowned myself, thought I,
My soul will under water die.
I went to the small brook and selected a place to drown myself. The thought occurred to me that it was a temptation from the devil and I desisted from the purpose and returned home. When I was about twelve years old I almost drowned.
In 1827 I bought a farm adjoining my farm and decided to build a saw mill to help pay for the farm. I didn't have a solid foundation to build on so I built it on sand. When the floods came the mill-dam was torn up. When my creditors saw my situation, they demanded payment so they took everything I owned.
In 1829 I invented a machine for striking shingles from a block at one blow. The invention was stolen from me so I left my birth place and moved to Ohio. I joined up with a friend and we built a saw mill.
At about this time there was an excitement about the Church. I had always read the Bible and upon obtaining a Book of Mormon and reading it, I was against it but I was filled with astonishment it bringing the first discourse that corresponded with the New Testament. I finally gained a testimony and was baptized June 1, 1831, my wife having been baptized a few days earlier.
I had lost my health and property in 1827-28 so I couldn't do any hard labor and I had little means to sustain my family.
In 1834 I attended a conference in Ohio where I met the Prophet Joseph Smith. After counseling from the Prophet Joseph, I moved my family to Kirtland I proceeded to make bricks to help build the temple. The Church didn't use the brick because they decided to build it out of stone.
I donated cash, lumber, stock and other property's to build the temple as I wasn't in good enough health to help build it.
In 1835 I, as well as other brethren were called together to be blessed under the hands of the first Presidency. I was present at the calling of the 12 Apostles. I received my endowments in the Kirtland Temple in 1835. I was with the Prophet Joseph when he received the Word of Wisdom on February 27, 1833. I had used tobacco for fifteen years and always used strong drink, tea and coffee. I gave them all up when the word of wisdom was given.
In 1836, the Brethren formed a banking institution, but the enemies of the Church crushed it which proves that no institution founded upon righteous principles can flourish in so corrupt a nation as the United States.
In January 1839, Carthage I rented a store house with several rooms and moved my family in. Sidney Rigdon and Bishop Partridge came to my house to stay until they could fine a suitable location for the Saints to live.
I baptized several people in Carthage and organized the Branch of the Church at Crooked Creek. I was called to be the Stake President.
When my family took sick with chills and a nervous fever in which my wife died leaving my with several children to raise. Before she died she told me to find a suitable wife because I couldn't raise the children by myself. She said the Lord had told her the children would be well taken care of.
I received my patriarchal blessing under the hands of Joseph Smith Sr. the first patriarch of the church. I also received a blessing from John Smith, brother to Joseph Sr.
In 1848 I sold my sold my land for $90.00 cash and made arrangements to move West. I had 3 wagons, 5 yoke of oxen and steers. I had a few cows and sheep and necessary provisions, so on May 6, 1848, the family left for Salt Lake City, Utah. There were 4 children with us. We arrived in Salt Lake on October 19, 1848.
I built a small cabin in the mouth of Mill Creek Canyon and was elected as justice of the peace and also ordained as the Bishop of that ward.
On March 23, 1850, I was 48 years old. My life had been one continual scene of hardship. sickness and sorrow. I had been robbed, driven from state to state in poverty, sickness and disgrace. Some sought to kill me. While my health was failing in February 1853, I wrote the hymns, "High On a Mountain Top," and at that time I was given another patriarchal Blessing by Isaac Morley.
I encountered several graves on my journey's. The graves had been dug up by wolves and I seen clothes and bones laying near-by.
I was the founder of Enoch, Utah. After other people moved in, we built a fort and called it Johnson's Fort.
I served as a missionary in Iron County, Utah. I am a poet and hymn writer.
I had 5 wives, Anna Pixley Nov. 22, 1826. Susan Bryant, Oct. 20, 1840. Janet Fife, Oct. 25, 1845. Margaret Therekold, 1861. (Anna being the grandmother to us) I have many children and my sister was married to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Joel died September 24, 1883, in Kane County, Utah.
In 1982 a music contest was performed using only music Joel had written.
Joel was included in a list of 75 significant Mormon poets.
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