Robert Henderson, (Herryson, Henrisen, Henryson) a Scottish poet, Born in Edinburgh, flourished during the last half of the fifteenth century. He was born about 1430, he married Jonet or Janet, about 1449, she was born about 1415, they had 3 children. John, James (Our Grandfather) and George. No dates in his life have been established , but there is plausible evidence that he was a schoolmaster in Dunfermline. His poetry shows that he was a searching critic of his times, and in his identification of himself with the poor, he was virtually unique in an age during which authors devoted themselves to the imitation of foreign models of an allegorical nature.
Henryson, as he was known, is best known as the author of the first English pastoral, "Robene and Makyne," and the composer of a sequel to Geoffrey Chaucer's "Troilus and Criseyde," entitled "The Testiment of Cresseid." His best piece, and nevertheless, is probably his excellent version of "The Moral Fables of Aesop."
Henryson is generally credited with the authorship of a third long poem, "Orpheus and Eurydice, " and thirteen shorter poems. In modern times, his reputation has grown steadily. He died about 1486 in Inverkeithing, (I think that is Scotland altho his son James was born in England.)
I wonder if you might be able to find some of his work in your public libraries. I found something once in the Library in Martinsville Ind.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Henry 1, King of England (1068-1135) Dennett Side
Henry 1 was the son of William the Conqueror, he was born at Selby, Yorkshire, England. His education was considered so excellent that he was nicknamed Beauclec.
He received on his fathers death L5,000, but no land, and kept in a position of inferiority by his elder brothers, Robert of Normandy and William Rufus of England.
On the latter's death in 1100, Robert being absent, Henry seized the royal treasury, and the nobles chose him as king. He at once issured a charter of liberties of great importance, conciliating his English subjects in order to gain their support in his struggles with the Norman nobles, whose power he steadily opposed. This charter later served as the basis for the Magna Carta.
In 1106 he defeated Robert at Tinchebrai, France, captured and imprisoned him, and took possession of Normandy. Robert remained in prison until his death in 1134.
In England Henry ruled well, though sternly: it was characteristic of his love of money that the Royal Exchequer was organized during his reign.
In 1100 he married the Anglo-Scottish Princess Edith, renamed Matilda, but he had many mistresses and illegitimate children.
Matilda died in 1118, and three years later Henry married Adelaide, daughter of Godfrey, Count of Louvian.
He was devoted to hunting, a sound soldier, and master of astute and often dishonest diplomacy. He died near Gisors, France, 1 Dec. 1135.
He received on his fathers death L5,000, but no land, and kept in a position of inferiority by his elder brothers, Robert of Normandy and William Rufus of England.
On the latter's death in 1100, Robert being absent, Henry seized the royal treasury, and the nobles chose him as king. He at once issured a charter of liberties of great importance, conciliating his English subjects in order to gain their support in his struggles with the Norman nobles, whose power he steadily opposed. This charter later served as the basis for the Magna Carta.
In 1106 he defeated Robert at Tinchebrai, France, captured and imprisoned him, and took possession of Normandy. Robert remained in prison until his death in 1134.
In England Henry ruled well, though sternly: it was characteristic of his love of money that the Royal Exchequer was organized during his reign.
In 1100 he married the Anglo-Scottish Princess Edith, renamed Matilda, but he had many mistresses and illegitimate children.
Matilda died in 1118, and three years later Henry married Adelaide, daughter of Godfrey, Count of Louvian.
He was devoted to hunting, a sound soldier, and master of astute and often dishonest diplomacy. He died near Gisors, France, 1 Dec. 1135.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Duke William the Conqueror...A Granfather-Dennett Side
Duke William was born in Normandy about 1028, and was the son of Robert 1, Duke of Normandy, and Herleve, a girl of Falaise of uncertain parentage. He married Mathilda, daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders.
Although illegitimate, he was nevertheless a direct descendant of Rolf the Viking and had a good claim to the throne. His claim was all the stronger when his father went on a pilgrimage in 1034 and died on the return trip, making William duke in 1035 at the age of 7. Before leaving, Robert brought forward William and had him recognized as his heir.
Upon hearing of Robert's death, a number of notables, including the Archbishop of Rouen (who was Roberts brother), moved to protect and defend the young boy. His minority was a period of grim disorder. Several of those close to William were assassinated. His tutor took to sleeping in the same room with the boy in order to protect him. A number of times William had to flee in the night and hide out in peasent cottages.
When William was 18 he became duke officially, with no tutor or regent. This led immediately to a rebellion as the barons sought to test their new lord's strength. He crushed the rebellion and firmly established himself as being of age and in charge.
William returned to Normandy after Salisbury, for he was at war with the King of France again. He fell ill and was taken to a monastery at Saint-Gervais, where he died on Sept. 9, 1087.
After William's death, all the great lords, including his son William Rufus, hurried back to their estates to better guard them, leaving the body of William to be guarded by lesser attendants, The chronicler Orderic Vitalis says, "Observing that their masters had disappeared, they laid hands on the arms, the plate, the linin, and the royal furniture, and hastened away, leaving the corpse almost naked on the floor of the cell". Williams body was then brought to Caen. The funeral procession was interrupted when a fire broke out in the town. Those carrying the coffin put it down to go and fight the fire, then returned when the fire was out and continued the procession.
The procession finally arrived at the abbey church. A lovely service was held. The eulogies were disrupted, however, when Ascelin, a local man, rose to protest that he was the owner of the ground in which the king was to be buried. He complained that he had not been paid and loudly demanded his rights. Someone came and settled him down, paid him, and the services resumed.
As the body was being placed in the stone coffin, the attendants accidentally broke one of the limbs, releasing such a foul stench that the priests had to hurry the services to an undignified close. The Cathedral quickly emptied.
Williams memorial was beautiful, at least. Chroniclers tell us this, In 1562, Calvinists (Huguenots) completely ruined it, looting the tomb. The body disappeared at this time. Eighty years later, a new monument was built, likewise beautiful. In it was re-buried what was left of William; a thigh bone that a priest claimed had been rescued from the Calvinist sack.
The new monument was destroyed in its turn during the revolutionary riots of 1793. Today, William has only a stone slab to commerorate him. Local tradition asserts that the thigh bone is still under the slab.
Although illegitimate, he was nevertheless a direct descendant of Rolf the Viking and had a good claim to the throne. His claim was all the stronger when his father went on a pilgrimage in 1034 and died on the return trip, making William duke in 1035 at the age of 7. Before leaving, Robert brought forward William and had him recognized as his heir.
Upon hearing of Robert's death, a number of notables, including the Archbishop of Rouen (who was Roberts brother), moved to protect and defend the young boy. His minority was a period of grim disorder. Several of those close to William were assassinated. His tutor took to sleeping in the same room with the boy in order to protect him. A number of times William had to flee in the night and hide out in peasent cottages.
When William was 18 he became duke officially, with no tutor or regent. This led immediately to a rebellion as the barons sought to test their new lord's strength. He crushed the rebellion and firmly established himself as being of age and in charge.
William returned to Normandy after Salisbury, for he was at war with the King of France again. He fell ill and was taken to a monastery at Saint-Gervais, where he died on Sept. 9, 1087.
After William's death, all the great lords, including his son William Rufus, hurried back to their estates to better guard them, leaving the body of William to be guarded by lesser attendants, The chronicler Orderic Vitalis says, "Observing that their masters had disappeared, they laid hands on the arms, the plate, the linin, and the royal furniture, and hastened away, leaving the corpse almost naked on the floor of the cell". Williams body was then brought to Caen. The funeral procession was interrupted when a fire broke out in the town. Those carrying the coffin put it down to go and fight the fire, then returned when the fire was out and continued the procession.
The procession finally arrived at the abbey church. A lovely service was held. The eulogies were disrupted, however, when Ascelin, a local man, rose to protest that he was the owner of the ground in which the king was to be buried. He complained that he had not been paid and loudly demanded his rights. Someone came and settled him down, paid him, and the services resumed.
As the body was being placed in the stone coffin, the attendants accidentally broke one of the limbs, releasing such a foul stench that the priests had to hurry the services to an undignified close. The Cathedral quickly emptied.
Williams memorial was beautiful, at least. Chroniclers tell us this, In 1562, Calvinists (Huguenots) completely ruined it, looting the tomb. The body disappeared at this time. Eighty years later, a new monument was built, likewise beautiful. In it was re-buried what was left of William; a thigh bone that a priest claimed had been rescued from the Calvinist sack.
The new monument was destroyed in its turn during the revolutionary riots of 1793. Today, William has only a stone slab to commerorate him. Local tradition asserts that the thigh bone is still under the slab.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Cannonville
Serving as the gateway to Kodachrome Basin State Park, Cannonville is located in the upper Paria Valley at almost 6,000 feet. The first group to use the land for grazing livestock was in 1874 when 2 people arrived to establish homes in the vicinity of where Henrieville Creek empties into the Paria. The following year other settlers came to the area. The residents called the town Clifton (Cliff Town) because of the view of the pink cliffs and other rock formations.The uncertain water supply made it difficult for the early settlers to survive. During July and August 1877 water came down the stream bed only at night in the upper Paria Valley. The people scooped the water from small pools into barrels for the next days use. They hauled water from the Bryce Spring also.
In 1877 the residents still in Clifton decided to relocate their town site about 1.5 miles upstream. Settlers dismantled their homes (basically ten log cabins) and their school/meetinghouse and reassembled them at the new location.They named the new community Cannonville after LDS apostle George Q. Cannon. Some have said that the town should have been called "Gunshot" because it was to small for a cannon.
The following families, Littlefield, Bliss, Bryce, Thompson, Brigham, Orson, Samuel, Packer, Spencer, William Jasper Henderson Sr, Ingram, Dickson, Clayton, Mecham and Laramie were living in Cannonville.
Altho the new town site proved more promising than the first site, the pioneers still faced obstacles over and above those normally associated with establishing settlements in Virgin Territory's. After the drought conditions they had previously known, the water they were able to bring from the Paria River was plentiful but the soil in the upper valley washed out easily.
It would be a decade before the residents of Cannonville would have a more dependable water supply.
A rumored gold rush within Cannonville's first two years presented residents with another challenge. Prospector's came to the region in large numbers and an early winter caught them unprepared and they were without food. The Church instituted a program to which the residents contributed from their already meager stores. William Jasper Henderson Sr. seen the need for a store. He built a one room structure of sawed logs from the saw mill Joel Hills Johnson had established in Hillsdale and used stone for the foundation. He made pine shakes for the roof. After completing his store, he drove a wagon pulled by four-horse team to Parowan for supplies. The journey took 8 days to complete. Without banks nearby, William formed his own coins from a set of dies he owned. (I have one of these coins I found when I moved here)When residents could build their permanent houses they used limestone and sand for their mortar by burning the plentiful limestone in adobe kilns the settlers had a ready supply of lime for the mixture. The early settlers made their own nails from hard wire or square metal bar stock. They also used wooden pegs and dowels to hold the buildings together. The key to survival in Cannonville was self-sufficiency.In addition to dances, the settlers amused themselves with horse racing, horse shoe pitching, and marbles. Some settlers would go to Seaton's still located down river in one of the canyons where Seaton had built a dugout. He grew hops, barley, corn and rye for his beer.
Clifton became a branch of the Panguitch Ward in 1876, with Jonathan T. Packer as branch president. The following year, Cannonville Ward was organized and Packer served as its first bishop. Henrieville, Tropic and Georgetown became branches of the Cannonville ward.
When Drucilla Johnson married William Jasper Henderson and set up housekeeping in Cannonville, summer days dictated that she rise very early and went to the fields to plant corn, potatoes, or whatever else was necessary. 11 o'clock brought her back home to prepare the noon meal, after which she again returned to the fields. At night she stayed home to catch up on household duties.
Life in Cannonville was not easy but the people mustered the energy to do what had to be done and still find time to enjoy themselves.
In 1877 the residents still in Clifton decided to relocate their town site about 1.5 miles upstream. Settlers dismantled their homes (basically ten log cabins) and their school/meetinghouse and reassembled them at the new location.They named the new community Cannonville after LDS apostle George Q. Cannon. Some have said that the town should have been called "Gunshot" because it was to small for a cannon.
The following families, Littlefield, Bliss, Bryce, Thompson, Brigham, Orson, Samuel, Packer, Spencer, William Jasper Henderson Sr, Ingram, Dickson, Clayton, Mecham and Laramie were living in Cannonville.
Altho the new town site proved more promising than the first site, the pioneers still faced obstacles over and above those normally associated with establishing settlements in Virgin Territory's. After the drought conditions they had previously known, the water they were able to bring from the Paria River was plentiful but the soil in the upper valley washed out easily.
It would be a decade before the residents of Cannonville would have a more dependable water supply.
A rumored gold rush within Cannonville's first two years presented residents with another challenge. Prospector's came to the region in large numbers and an early winter caught them unprepared and they were without food. The Church instituted a program to which the residents contributed from their already meager stores. William Jasper Henderson Sr. seen the need for a store. He built a one room structure of sawed logs from the saw mill Joel Hills Johnson had established in Hillsdale and used stone for the foundation. He made pine shakes for the roof. After completing his store, he drove a wagon pulled by four-horse team to Parowan for supplies. The journey took 8 days to complete. Without banks nearby, William formed his own coins from a set of dies he owned. (I have one of these coins I found when I moved here)When residents could build their permanent houses they used limestone and sand for their mortar by burning the plentiful limestone in adobe kilns the settlers had a ready supply of lime for the mixture. The early settlers made their own nails from hard wire or square metal bar stock. They also used wooden pegs and dowels to hold the buildings together. The key to survival in Cannonville was self-sufficiency.In addition to dances, the settlers amused themselves with horse racing, horse shoe pitching, and marbles. Some settlers would go to Seaton's still located down river in one of the canyons where Seaton had built a dugout. He grew hops, barley, corn and rye for his beer.
Clifton became a branch of the Panguitch Ward in 1876, with Jonathan T. Packer as branch president. The following year, Cannonville Ward was organized and Packer served as its first bishop. Henrieville, Tropic and Georgetown became branches of the Cannonville ward.
When Drucilla Johnson married William Jasper Henderson and set up housekeeping in Cannonville, summer days dictated that she rise very early and went to the fields to plant corn, potatoes, or whatever else was necessary. 11 o'clock brought her back home to prepare the noon meal, after which she again returned to the fields. At night she stayed home to catch up on household duties.
Life in Cannonville was not easy but the people mustered the energy to do what had to be done and still find time to enjoy themselves.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Town of "JOHNSON" in Kane County, Utah
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.
"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.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Martha Jane Stratton (Great-Great Grandmother, Johnson side)
Martha Jane Stratton was born March 20, 1848, to Anthony and Martha Jane Layne Johnson. Her parents were crossing the Plains when Martha was an infant. After they arrived in Utah, they located in Provo for three years before they got the call to go to Southern Utah to help settle the area. They went first to Cedar City and build up that area then they located in a small town called Virgin City.
The settlers would grow cane and grind the seeds for flour to make bread. In 1858, while the Stratton's lived in Virgin City, Martha became acquainted with Seth Johnson. She was a very faithful church worker and attended all her meetings every Sunday. Martha had a mild, quiet, patient disposition. She was the type that would make a good wife and mother and these were the virtues that attracted Seth and he tried to get Martha to be his 2nd wife. In 1865 Martha decided to marry Seth and they were sealed in the Endowment House.
Seth's 1st wife Lydia loved Martha because Martha was so kind to her and the children. Martha never complained about the hardships the family went through while living in Hillsdale. In 1886 Martha and her family moved over the mountain east of Hillsdale and located in a spot 3 miles south of Cannonville. It was during this time that the U.S. Marshall's were hunting men who had plural wives. It became necessary for Martha to hide and keep out of their reach. She had lived in many out of the way places under adverse conditions. She was in almost constant fear of being caught and taken to prison, this lasted for several years.
After Martha's 11th child was born in 1890, she had a very heavy load caring for her children, yet she was able to find time to care for the sick and to help others.
Seth called her an "unselfish, self-sacrificing woman." At times when food was scarce, she had been known to take only a piece of dry bread and drink water and save the rest of the food for the family. She was so tender-hearted that she could not be content if she knew of someone in trouble or stress.
Her motto, "Let's speak of all, the best we can."
Martha treated Lydia's children as her own. She made clothes for all the children. She would tell the children stories in the evenings. She kept the family united and she always knew how to make ends meet.
Martha had 12 children and numerous grandchildren. On the day of Martha's funeral, as they lowered her body into the grave, it was a warm day with not a cloud in the sky, a rainbow arched over her grave.
The Stake President stepped forward and said, "This is a sign of a most righteous woman who has lived her live with other folks in mind." Martha died 13 October, 1910 and is buried in Shelly Idaho.
(I wish we could all be as kind and loving to others as grandma was, what a great tribute the Stake President gave her)
The settlers would grow cane and grind the seeds for flour to make bread. In 1858, while the Stratton's lived in Virgin City, Martha became acquainted with Seth Johnson. She was a very faithful church worker and attended all her meetings every Sunday. Martha had a mild, quiet, patient disposition. She was the type that would make a good wife and mother and these were the virtues that attracted Seth and he tried to get Martha to be his 2nd wife. In 1865 Martha decided to marry Seth and they were sealed in the Endowment House.
Seth's 1st wife Lydia loved Martha because Martha was so kind to her and the children. Martha never complained about the hardships the family went through while living in Hillsdale. In 1886 Martha and her family moved over the mountain east of Hillsdale and located in a spot 3 miles south of Cannonville. It was during this time that the U.S. Marshall's were hunting men who had plural wives. It became necessary for Martha to hide and keep out of their reach. She had lived in many out of the way places under adverse conditions. She was in almost constant fear of being caught and taken to prison, this lasted for several years.
After Martha's 11th child was born in 1890, she had a very heavy load caring for her children, yet she was able to find time to care for the sick and to help others.
Seth called her an "unselfish, self-sacrificing woman." At times when food was scarce, she had been known to take only a piece of dry bread and drink water and save the rest of the food for the family. She was so tender-hearted that she could not be content if she knew of someone in trouble or stress.
Her motto, "Let's speak of all, the best we can."
Martha treated Lydia's children as her own. She made clothes for all the children. She would tell the children stories in the evenings. She kept the family united and she always knew how to make ends meet.
Martha had 12 children and numerous grandchildren. On the day of Martha's funeral, as they lowered her body into the grave, it was a warm day with not a cloud in the sky, a rainbow arched over her grave.
The Stake President stepped forward and said, "This is a sign of a most righteous woman who has lived her live with other folks in mind." Martha died 13 October, 1910 and is buried in Shelly Idaho.
(I wish we could all be as kind and loving to others as grandma was, what a great tribute the Stake President gave her)
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Ezekiel and Julia Hills Johnson
Ezekiel Johnson was the son of Ezekiel and Bethiah Garnsey Johnson. He was born 12 January 1776 in Uxbridge, Mass. He died 13 January 1848.
Julia Hills was the daughter of Joseph and Esther Ellis Hills. She was born 26 September 1783 in Upton, Mass.
They were married 12 January 1801 in Nauvoo, Illinois. The are the parents of 16 children. (Our line comes through Joel Hills Johnson.)
Times were hard after the war of 1812 and it was almost impossible to care for a large family. All their support and home comforts were produced by their labors. Flax was grown for clothing, bed and table linens and towels. Cheese, butter, soap, sugar and candle making were common everyday events. Theirs was a pioneer life, clearing deep forests with great labor to obtain a scanty living. The children were happiest when gathering nuts, wild fruit and wild flowers with their beloved mother.
Son's Joel and David were the first to join the church in 1830 and then Julia and those children old enough were baptized.
The family started westward on 4 July, 1838, the company consisting of 60 wagons and nearly 400 souls. They reached Dayton Ohio where they stayed for a month then onto Ramus. The Johnson's were influential and quite numerous in Ramus (Now Macedonia). Some people dubbed them the "Royal Family."
When the Prophet Joseph Smith heard this he said they were a royal family and that the father Ezekiel would yet be a great man and stand at the head of a kingdom. He also said that not one of his children would ever leave the church.
Julia Hills was a poet. Some of her works have been published. She wrote the following song for the hymn book. (The gray book called, "The Deseret Sunday School Songs")Julia and Ezekiel are buried in a beautiful cemetery in Ramus, now Webster, Illinois.
Words to the song:
1. We praise Thee, O God, for the joy and the song. Which unto us this beautiful season belongs;
We love and adore Thee, for light and for love, and for all the rich blessings that come from above.
2. The gates are wide open and they beckon us all, each to follow and serve at the sound of call; Tho' portals of praise, and thro' Zion's fair gates, We will pass on with songs the work that awaits.
3. At last in that city, with it's glories untold, with it's gates all of pearl and with streets of pure gold, we'll give to the Savior, who dwelleth in light, All the power and dominion, and wisdom and might.
Julia Hills was the daughter of Joseph and Esther Ellis Hills. She was born 26 September 1783 in Upton, Mass.
They were married 12 January 1801 in Nauvoo, Illinois. The are the parents of 16 children. (Our line comes through Joel Hills Johnson.)
Times were hard after the war of 1812 and it was almost impossible to care for a large family. All their support and home comforts were produced by their labors. Flax was grown for clothing, bed and table linens and towels. Cheese, butter, soap, sugar and candle making were common everyday events. Theirs was a pioneer life, clearing deep forests with great labor to obtain a scanty living. The children were happiest when gathering nuts, wild fruit and wild flowers with their beloved mother.
Son's Joel and David were the first to join the church in 1830 and then Julia and those children old enough were baptized.
The family started westward on 4 July, 1838, the company consisting of 60 wagons and nearly 400 souls. They reached Dayton Ohio where they stayed for a month then onto Ramus. The Johnson's were influential and quite numerous in Ramus (Now Macedonia). Some people dubbed them the "Royal Family."
When the Prophet Joseph Smith heard this he said they were a royal family and that the father Ezekiel would yet be a great man and stand at the head of a kingdom. He also said that not one of his children would ever leave the church.
Julia Hills was a poet. Some of her works have been published. She wrote the following song for the hymn book. (The gray book called, "The Deseret Sunday School Songs")Julia and Ezekiel are buried in a beautiful cemetery in Ramus, now Webster, Illinois.
Words to the song:
1. We praise Thee, O God, for the joy and the song. Which unto us this beautiful season belongs;
We love and adore Thee, for light and for love, and for all the rich blessings that come from above.
2. The gates are wide open and they beckon us all, each to follow and serve at the sound of call; Tho' portals of praise, and thro' Zion's fair gates, We will pass on with songs the work that awaits.
3. At last in that city, with it's glories untold, with it's gates all of pearl and with streets of pure gold, we'll give to the Savior, who dwelleth in light, All the power and dominion, and wisdom and might.
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