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Discussion: Julia Hills Johnson and more
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GoldnSteve |
Julia Hills Johnson and more
Jan 22 2009, 5:10 PM EST
How interesting that so many decendants of the original Colonia residents have found this site. I would venture to say that there would be no other realistic way for us to find one another and exchange stories and information and most of all, learn about where we come from. Just because of what I have learned here I have kept looking into my family history. My living grandmother's maiden name is Johnson, her father, my great grandfather, was Abia Johnson, son of William Derby Johnson Sr., who was son of Julia Hills and Ezekiel Johnson. A few days ago I found a website that promoted a book series besed on the life of Julia Hills Johnson called "A Banner Unfurled". So what is it with this family? This family (many of us?) seems to be woven into the very fabric of the LDS society now and from early on. I am thinking a lot of us who find or are drawn to this site are related to one another. That is fascinating if you think about it. Do you think there are other sites like this commonly found on the Internet? I don't think so, but who knows?Anyway, who all is related to me and my family? I think it would be interesting to know. Anyone who finds these people in their genealogy: Julia Hills and Ezekiel Johnson, Peter K. Lemmon and Sarah Buchanan, Vivian Lemmon and Abia Johnson, Helen Whiting and Archibald Buchanan, Georg and Anna Dockstader to name a few. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?
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ruelynng |
1. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
Jan 23 2009, 3:37 PM EST
Years ago while I lived in Mesa, I met a man, A Johnson relation who was finishing compiling"The Big Book" about the Ezekiel and Julia Hills Johnson family. He related to me that this Johnson Family is the largest in the LDS Church. "The Big Book" is really to large volumes. Julia Hills is the Mother of 16 children, one of which was died in infancy, all of which joined the Church. Her oldest child, Joel Hills Johnson joined the Church first in Kirland and then preached the restored gospel to the rest ofthe family. Julia was later sealed to Joseph Smith's Uncle John Smith. The Johnson family History is one filled with great joys and heartache, it is one that follows the development of the LDS Church. I am greatful that I am part of this big and glourious family. Both my Mother and Father are descenats of Ezekial and Julia. My father's line through William Derby, Sr. My Mother's line through Joel Hills. The full history would take up to much space to tell in this post. However let be know that it is a rich history. Do you find this valuable? |
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GoldnSteve |
2. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
Jan 23 2009, 4:50 PM EST
Thanks for your comments about the Johnson family. The subject facinates me so much for some reason. Now I have learned more about it from your comments. Oh,and I can actually see a family resemblance in that newly posted picture of WD Johnson Sr. So, who's son of WD Sr. does your dad come from? My grandmother over in Palm Desert is his granddaughter.
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InnyAnny |
3. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
Feb 4 2009, 11:59 PM EST
Julia Hills Johnson and Ezekiel are my direct line grandparents also. I come through William Derby Johnson and his son Joseph Hills Johnson the first and Joseph Hills Johnson the third. My mother was the second daughter of J.H. the third and Eliza Roxy Norton. I have been reading the Banner series too.
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InnyAnny |
4. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
Apr 9 2009, 8:59 PM EDT
There is a lot of confusion over William Derby Johnson and his son William Derby Johnson Jr. William, the first only had one wife-------Jane Cadwallader Brown and she wouldn't consent to him having another. Some sites say that Sr. was the first Bishop of the colony but I don't think that is correct.William Jr. was a polygamist and took his families to Mexico and his father and Jane came later, so I suspect that it was Jr. that was the Bishop. Later Sr. became the Patriarch. I think that this is right and would love to have someone clarify it for me. What is your grandmother's name?
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ruelynng |
5. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
Apr 10 2009, 10:50 AM EDT
Yes that is correct. William Derby, Jr. was the first Bishop of Colonia Diaz.. I believe the confusion comes that William Deby, Sr. never used "senior" after his name. Also the Bishop's Cetificate states only William Derby Johnson, no Jr.Wiliam Derby, Sr. was ordained a Patriarch by Francis M. Lyman on 22 Dec 1895 in Colonia Diaz. He died a year later 13 April 1896 in Diaz and is buried there. Jane died 19 Jan 1908 in Diaz. William D.,Jr's sister Jennie Ann and her husband William H. Laws (my great-grandparents) also followed the family to Colonia Diaz. My Grandmother Wilma Hills Laws Galbraith was born there. William Laws served as the ward clerk for many years. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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GoldnSteve |
6. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
Apr 10 2009, 2:10 PM EDT
Fantastic family information... Thank you! That is how I understand thing too- WD Jr was Bishop of Colonia Diaz. My grandmother is Phyllis Johnson, daughter of Abia Johnson, who was son of WD Sr. and Jane C. Brown. Grandma was born after the family moved back to the USA. Did any of you see the pictures I posted of the Family of William Derby Sr.? It show pics of his children and their spouses....
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InnyAnny |
7. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
Apr 10 2009, 10:51 PM EDT
Thank you! I was pretty sure but glad to have the facts.
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susan001 |
8. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
May 2 2009, 12:27 PM EDT
I have always known that I was a descendent of Joel Hills Johnson, but have never taken the opportunity to research details of his history. As the stake YW president for my stake, we are preparing to take over 100 youth to Nauvoo for youth conference and to enrich their experiences while there, we have asked the youth to prepare a project reflecting something about the time period, lifestyles, food, dress, journals, geneology, sacrifices that the people might have experienced. This has proved to be an amazing experience and my project is to learn more about my ancestors and their experiences there. While researching on-line, I came across this site and was thrilled to find names familiar to me. I am descended from Ezekial & Julia Hills Johnson through son, William Derby Johnson, who married Jane Cadwallader Brown. Their son, Elmer Wood Johnson had 2 wives-Mary Jane Little & Julia Anna Orton. I am Ggrandaughter of Julia Anna Orton & Elmer Wood Johnson thru their daughter, Tessa. Tessa married Rue Buchanan Lemmon, son of Peter K. Lemmon & Sarah Elizabeth Buchanan. Tessa & Rue's oldest child, Geneal, was my mother. Since everyone named their offspring after relatives, I am finding a few discrepancies in siblings that differ from my childhood stories, but none-the-less, am thrilled to find out more about our amazing families. My direct descendancy from Joel Hills Johnson comes through Jullia Anna Orton. Her mother was Julia Ann Johnson, whose parents were Joel Hills Johnson & Susan Bryant. So looks like William Derby Johnson, Sr (my maternal gmother's father's father) and Joel Hills Johnson ( my maternal gmother's mother's Ggrandfather) were brothers? Confusing? Glad I don't have to sort this all out. Any history of my ancestors in the Mormon Colonies would be welcomed. I'm not sure where to start. I have the geneology, but journals, letters etc. are missing.
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ruelynng |
9. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
May 2 2009, 4:05 PM EDT
Susan,What a wonderful experience to go to Nauvoo. Our Johnson relatives for a time, lived there prior to and after the exodus. If you get a chance go to Ramus, Ill, not far from Nauvoo, it is in Ramus that the Johnson family lived, Joel Hills was Stake President there, and the Prophet Joseph would visit the Johnson family there. I like you am related to Joel Hills and William Derby, (see my connection) Elmer Wood would be my ggrandmother's ( Jennie Ann Johnson Laws) brother. Please contact me as I have stories and copy of Joel Hills. I would be more than happy to share the information and knowledge I have of the Johnson family. Do you find this valuable? |
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InnyAnny |
10. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
May 2 2009, 6:55 PM EDT
Hi Susan,I am descended from Wm. Derby Johnson, Sr too. My great grandfather was Joseph Hills Johnson, Sr. and his son was Joseph Hills Johnson, Jr. He married Eliza Roxy Norton and my mother was their second daughter.You really need to read A BANNER UNFURLED. There are currently three volumes and another on the way. Do you find this valuable? |
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GoldnSteve |
11. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
May 3 2009, 12:00 AM EDT
InnyAnny is so right...read Banner Unfurled and you'll know all the Johnson's you've mentioned. And remember, Joel H Johnson has two hymns in our current hymn book at church. I love hymn no. 5 the best. Susan, we must be almost cousins.. My grt Grandmother Vivian was Peter and Sarah Lemmon's daughter, who married Abia Johnson at Colonia Diaz. Abia was one of William Derby Johnson Sr.'s sons. Thier daughter, my grandmother still lives over in Califronia... great to hear your story. Thank you so much for contributing to this thread and this site too. By the way, Peter K Lemmon's heritage in the Church has some interesting stories too, if you hadn't heard already. I have old hand typed stories that say his father John Lemmon was on a high priest at Caldwell county Missouri. Driven from place to place, he finaly made it back to Kirtland where he died from poor health due to so much winter exposure through the proceeding years, and is listed as a martyr for the cause. It is also said that he was a body guard to the Prophet at some point too.....fyi (we need to look some of that stuff up somewhere)
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GoldnSteve |
12. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
May 3 2009, 8:33 PM EDT
Have you all seen this photo of he Johnson's?http://mormoncoloniesinmexico.wetpaint.com/page/William+Derby+Johnson+Sr. Do you find this valuable? |
AngelaCalhoon |
13. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
Jun 19 2009, 1:47 PM EDT
| Post edited: Jun 19 2009, 1:48 PM EDT
My Grandmother is the last living child of Abia E and Violet Beven Johnson My grandmother is in Utah and just turned 95. She was the only child in that family to be born in the states.
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GoldnSteve |
14. RE: Julia Hills Johnson and more
Jun 22 2009, 11:43 AM EDT
"My Grandmother is the last living child of Abia E and Violet Beven Johnson My grandmother is in Utah and just turned 95. She was the only child in that family to be born in the states. "Hi Angela, From what you say here, your grandmother is my grandmother's half sister. I visited my grandmother on Mother's Day and asked her how well she knew Violet or her family. She said she did not know that side of the family at all. My grandmotehr is around 85 years old and is the last living child of Abia and Vivian Lemmon Johnson. Small world. Glad you posted. Too bad or grandparents never knew each other. We have very little family stories about Abia. If you have any, it would be great to see them. Do you find this valuable? |
