Johnson was settled in the spring of 1871 by four brothers, Joel Hills, Joseph Ellis, Benjamin Franklin, and William Derby. The town is situated Northeast of Kanab, Kane County, in a canyon bordered on both sides by sand bluffs. A short distance below the settlement, the canyon opens out into the broad desert which bordered on the south by Buckskin Mountains (Kanab). Joel Hills Johnson writes in his journal: "On January 23, (Grammys birth date) 1871, I was in the home of President Brigham Young in Saint George. About that time the President suggested to us that the Johnson family have what was called Spring Canyon Ranch twelve miles north of Kanab, for a stock ranch and for all the family who wished to settle there and requested us to go and look at it, which we agreed to do as soon as we conveniently could".
"On January 23, 1871, I started for home and arrived late in the evening having previously made arrangements to meet my brothers and some others at Virgin City on our way out to look at Spring Canyon Ranch, near Kanab, agreeable to the request of President Young. We accordingly went out and found a beautiful canyon half a mile wide and several ,miles long covered with grass. With small springs coming out at the foot of bluffs on each side and a small beautiful stream running from the mouth of the canyon, with plenty of building rock, fence timber, and fire wood, and plenty of excellent grass for meadow and stock range extending for miles around.
We were highly pleased with the place and concluded to accept the President's offer. Therefore we made arrangements for some of us to move there in the spring and start a c0-operative association for herding stock and dairy purposes.
In March, Joel moved his wife, Susan, and their two boys Joel and Almon to Johnson. His brother William moved his family while brother Joseph sent out three young men. His two boys Nephi and Sixtus moved part of their families. Then with the tools, grain and seeds of every kind for gardening, they went to work. They planted trees, vineyards, and built cabins. Others began plowing and planting gardens.
In October word came from Kanab that the Navajos were going to make a raid and the Johnson's moved to Kanab. The Navajos came, but only for a friendly visit, so the people moved back to Johnson, found water had dried up and they became discouraged; hence, they decided to go to raising stock. Later they began digging out the springs and found they had plenty of water. The land became very productive, other families began moving in and Johnson became a town. A brick schoolhouse was built which was used for church as well as social gatherings. From the time of the settlement until August 7, 1877, Sixtus Ellis Johnson, son of Joel, presided over the branch. Then he was made bishop, succeeded in 1879 by William Derby Johnson.
By June 1901 only a few families remained in Johnson. At the present time, (1959) only a few ranches are scattered through the canyon.
