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.