Biography of Ezekiel and Julia Hills Johnson

Ezekiel Johnson’s Early Years

Ezekiel Johnson was born in Uxbridge, Massachusetts.1 The precise date is not known, but it is
practically certain that his birth occurred in January or February, 1773.2 His infancy and
childhood were spent largely in the home of his grandmother, Bethiah Guernsey Smith, with
whom his mother lived, probably until her marriage to Jonathan King early in 1776. His mother
was Sethiah (sometimes written as Bethiah) Guernsey. Little is known about Ezekiel’s father.
Family tradition is that he was also named Ezekiel and that he marched away with the
Continental troops and was killed in the Revolutionary War. The date of Bethiah’s marriage to
Ezekiel’s father also is not known.
By 1779, Sethiah, young Ezekiel, and Jonathan King were living in Ashford, Connecticut.
Family tradition has it that Ezekiel ran away from the home of his stepfather when he was about
14 years old because of unkind treatment by the latter. “The tale is that Jonathan King sent him
to collect some money that was due from a neighbor and gave him an old rawhide wallet in
which he was to bring back the cash. The amount was not large, but Ezekiel probably figured
that it was large enough to finance him until he got on his own. So he vanished from the family
scene with the wallet, and as far as is known, he never saw either Sethiah or Jonathan again.”3 It
appears that little more is known of his early life although there is evidence that for a time he
acquired tracts of land, cleared them and built cabins which he sold to the new settlers who were
beginning to come into the new western lands.
One of Ezekiel’s Sons, Benjamin, later described him. “As a husband and parent he was by
nature tender and affectionate. As a neighbor and friend he was most obliging and true and was a
man of truth and honor among men. Never was a question known to be raised as to his integrity,
for his word was his bond; in all things he was a gentleman in the fullest sense, except only in
the habit of intemperance, which at times seemed to change his whole nature. He was a man of
full middle stature, about 5 feet 10 Inches in height, of solid build, fine light brown hair, mild but
piercing blue eyes, with light, smooth skin and of natural personal attractions. He was beloved
and sought after by his friends, and for his words only he was feared, for with no other blow than
words was he ever known to strike anything living.”4
1 The basic information in this sketch on Ezekiel and Julia is taken from the book, J.E.J Trail to Sundown:
Life Story of Joseph Ellis Johnson, by Rufus David Johnson, copyright 1961, Joseph Ellis Johnson Family
Committee, printed by Deseret News Press. For a much more extensive history of Ezekiel, Julia, and their children
the readers are referred to this book. As other information is added to this sketch from other sources, these sources
are noted by the compiler, Larry D. Washburn. This information was compiled in March 2000.
2 When Ezekiel married Julia Hills on January 12, 1801, he gave his date of birth as January 12, 1776. The
Johnson family still believes based on the extensive research that they have done that he was born in 1773 not 1776.
3 J.EJ Trail to Sundown, p. 17.
4 Apparently taken from Benjamin ’s “My Life’s Review,” quoted in J.E.J Trail to Sundown, page 19.
2


Julia Hills’ Early Years

Julia Ellis Hills Johnson was born 26 September 1783 in Upton, Worchester County,
Massachusetts, the first daughter and second child of Joseph and Esther Ellis Hills.5 The family
belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Letters and other expressions suggest that the Hills were a
religious family, and that they held a strong belief that what they did in this life would affect
them in the hereafter. It appears that she and her siblings were given a good education for the
time. One of her father’s prize possessions was his small, welt-used dictionary, which infers that
he was an educated man. Letters between family members also indicate education and an ability
to express themselves well in writing.
Her father, Joseph died6 at age 29 of tuberculosis when Julia was four. Just over five years later,
her mother, Esther, married Enoch Forbush.7 At least one writer suggests that there were children
born to this marriage.8 Little is written about Julia and her early years except for the following.
“Julia was an attractive girl of eighteen years old of a substantial New England family, intelligent
and reasonably well educated…”9
It was a historic time. George Washington was elected President of the United States when Julia
was age 6. One writer observes that it was also a time of cultural and religious advancement.
People could worship as they pleased. Public education was becoming more available and was
ncouraged to a greater extent.

Ezekiel and Julia Marry

By 1801, Ezekiel had met and courted seventeen-year-old Julia, who was then living with her
mother and stepfather in Grafton, Worchester County, Massachusetts. The notice of their
intention to marry was recorded in Grafton December 18, 800 and also in Upton, a village a few
miles southeast of Grafton. Ezekiel and Julia were married January 12, 1801. It is believed that
he was 28 years of age.
The newly married couple remained in Grafton for something over a year, during which time
their first child, Joel Hills, was born March 23, 1802. Joel was named for Julia’s brother of the
same name. They were to move often over the next several years. Their next place of residence
5 Joseph and Esther were married 17 December 1780 in Wrentham, Norfolk, Massachusetts. It appears that
their first child was a son, Joel, born 1 September 1781 in Upton. Julia was the second child. A sister, Nancy, was
born 16 July 1785, also at Upton.
6 The death date is reported to be 21 October 1787 in Union.
7 Enoch Forbush was born about 1756 in Upton. He serviced as a private in the 3rd Worcester Regiment and
was discharged 21 January 1977 (Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, VoL 5, p. 852).
The marriage date of Esther to Enoch is reportedly 28 May 1793 in Upton (another source reports 27 January 1793).
This was his second marriage, having married Mary Batchelor (or Molly Batchelder), 18 August or September 14,
1780 (Early Massachusetts Marriages Prior to 1800, Worcester County, Grafton, p. 77).
8 Apparently the children born to Esther and Enoch include, Enoch, Joseph F., Seneca, Diadamia, and
Stephen. This writer has seen a letter written from Julie to Diadarnia Forbush following the death of their mother,
Esther.
9 Rolla V. Johnson, Ezekiel Johnson,” p. 37.
3
was Northboro, a village northeast of Grafton. Here a daughter, Nancy Maria, was born August
1, 1803. The name of Nancy was to honor Julia’s sister, Nancy Hills Taft. Apparently their stay
in Northboro was not long as their third child, a son, was born in Royalston, still in Worchester, a
small town close to the border of New Hampshire. His birth was February 14, 1805, and he was
named Seth Guernsey, after Ezekiel’s maternal grandfather. They stayed in Royalston long
enough to permit Ezekiel to purchase and clear a piece of land and build a house. This was soon
sold.
They next moved to Westford, Chittenden County, Vermont. It was situated on a branch of the
Lamoille, not far from the east shore of Lake Champlain. Little is known of their stay here
except that Ezekiel continued to pursue his trade as carpenter, first clearing land, then building
cabins to shelter the incoming settlers. A daughter, Delcena Diadamia was born here November
19, 1806. They remained in Westford for seven years during which time three more children
were added to the growing family. Julia Ann, named for her mother, was born November 9,
1808; David, so called for Julia’s cousin, David Partridge, arrived September 10, 1810; Almera
Woodward came as a seventh child October 12, 1812. She was also named after one of Julia’s
cousins.
In June 1813, Ezekiel and his family continued the move west, traveling across New York by
wagon. Sometime toward the end of September 1813, they stopped at the small settlement of
Canadaway, Chautauqua County, some twelve miles from Lake Erie. The family has a copy of a
letter written by Julia to her mother describing the trip. Her letter suggests strong spiritual
leanings and a foundation in the scriptures as she talks about not wanting to settle among
“sabbath breakers” and concluding that, “. . . the Lord knows what is best and I hope I shall be
reconciled to His will. All things shall work together for the good of those who love Him.”10
While it appears that Ezekiel was not particularly interested in religion, Julia was devout and
well versed in the scriptures. The Johnson family professed to be Presbyterian and attended
services each Sunday. They eventually settled in Pomfret, Vermont,
Joel Hills, Julia’s older brother, visited Ezekiel and Julia when passing through Vermont from
Canada, He was expecting to settle with his wife in Cincinnati, Ohio. On the trip through
Vermont, he took his namesake, young Joel Johnson with him and his family to Cincinnati.
Ezekiel was to later visited Cincinnati to look at moving there and to retrieve Joel. Years later
Joel wrote, “I cannot recall many incidents of the journey, being small, but recollect passing the
Al1eghany mountains in Pennsylvania and coming to Pittsburgh, where my uncle bought a
flatboat. We descended the Ohio to Cincinnati which was than a small town. My uncle located
at Newport on the Kentucky side, where I lived with him until the spring of 1815, when my
father came to look a the country. . . and not liking it concluded to return to New York.”11 Upon
the return home to Pomfret, they were welcomed by family and a new sister, Susan Ellen, born
December 16, 1814. Their next child, Joseph Ellis, was born April 28, 1817.
The writings of several of the Johnson children suggest that the family was exceptionally close
and loving in spite of Ezekiel’s occasional intemperance. “While gathering forest twig, wild
fruits and flowers with the tender care of, to me, a beloved and beautiful mother, loving elder
10 The letter is included in J.E.J. Trail to Sundown, pp. 21-22.
11 J.E.J Trail to Sundown, pp. 23-24.
4
sisters and companionship of my almost twin brother [Joseph Ellis], these were to me the happy
features of my childhood and early youth.”12
Sometime in 1829, the local paper told of a young man named Joseph Smith from Palmyra, New
York who claimed that under the direction of an angel he had obtained a set of golden plates
upon which were engraved strange characters which had now been translated into a book. This
story naturally aroused great interest in the surrounding areas and the Johnsons, living about 100
miles from the events, were as curious as others. Within a year, the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints was established.

Mormon Missionaries

The older children were beginning to move away from home. In 1830, twenty-eight year old Joel
sold his farm and moved to Amherst, Lorain County, Ohio where he established a sawmill and
cut shingles. While here he invented and patented a machine for cutting shingles. His brother,
David, went to Amherst to visit him. A new religious sect, Cambellism, was beginning to be
established in that region, and Julia wrote to caution her sons about this new religion and
warning them of false prophets that were to arise in the last days. Amherst was on the route from
Kirtland to Missouri, and the Mormon elders who frequently passed through were successful in
converting some and establishing a branch there. Both Joel and David were among those who
were baptized. This was a shock to the Johnson family and the news was not well received.
There are two versions of the coming of the Book of Mormon to the home of Ezekiel. One
reports that Joel walked from Amherst, carrying a copy in his pack. The other merely states that
the book “soon followed” the news of the boys’ conversion to the Church. Probably the book
was received dubiously. However, soon a little group of family members and some of their
religious neighbors were meeting in secret to study and discuss the book. There is some
indication that many of the group were favorably impressed. In the autumn of 1831, Joel, David
and a young man named Almon W. Babbitt came from Amherst to visit the family and to bear
testimony that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of God (Almon later married Julia, daughter
of Ezekiel arid Julia). Later that fall, two Mormon elders visited the family. One, James
Brackenbury, was a “forceful preacher and logical reasoner who seemed to possess the spirit of
truth that swept away their lingering qualms.”13 Mother Julia was the first to ask for baptism,
followed by daughter Delcena’s husband, Lyman K. Sherman. Shortly thereafter, all the children
who had reached majority were baptized. Ezekiel had not accepted the new religion and he
firmly refused permission for the younger children to join the Church. He apparently also felt
that Julia had been baptized without consulting him and asking his permission.
Almost immediately as the news that the Johnsons had joined the Mormons was learned in the
community, the family became the recipients of ridicule and strong opposition from neighbors
and the local ministers. During the ensuing summer, Ezekiel, though apparently dubious, was
persuaded to take a look at Mormonism as it was at Kirtland, Ohio. With Seth, Susan and
perhaps other family members, he visited Kirtland and became acquainted with Joseph Smith. At
first he seemed impressed and the family had hopes of his joining the Church. He then visited
12 Writings from Benjamin’s autobiography quoted in JE.J Trail to Sundown, p.35.
13 J.E.J Trail to Sundown, p.40.
5
Joel at Amherst, where Joel was president of a Mormon branch of nearly 100 members. But upon
his return to Pomfret, he reverted back to his opposition. While other family members were
rejoicing in what to them was a new life of truth and religious understanding, he was stewing in
angry resentment at his almost complete dethronement as head of the family.”14

Julia Moves to Kirtland

At age 62, Ezekiel determined to sell his holdings in New York and move, probably in hopes of
removing his family from the influence of the Church. In the autumn of 1832, Ezekiel sailed
across Lake Erie, through the Detroit River into Lake Huron, through the strait of Mackinac into
Lake Michigan, going to Chicago, then called Fort Dearborn. Before leaving, he told the family
that he would secure land, build a structure in which the family could live, and send a letter for
them to join him. They were to come as soon as possible. Apparently Julia had no intention of
following Ezekiel, According to two of her sons15 before the letter arrived, she took most of the
family and moved to Kirtland.
Arriving in Kirtland, Julia traded some of their teams and wagons for a house. When there was
no response to his letter, Ezekiel returned to Pomfret to find the family gone. He followed them
to Kirtland, giving up his plan to locate in Chicago.
Ezekiel’s son, Joseph, later wrote of his father’s decision to remain in Kirtland, which was
reportedly made under protest, [he] “bought some property which he improved, besides doing
considerable at his trade, carpentering.” His drinking increased, and he became an “embittered,
unhappy man.”16 Later he and Julia separated, and he bought property at Mentor, a small town
close to Lake Erie and not far from Kirtland. His daughters took turns staying with him to care
for him, and other family members visited him often.
After settling in Kirtland, Joel built a sawmill. Joseph and Benjamin assisting him by helping to
clear the land, tap the maple trees, make sugar from the sap, haul logs and run the mill. Back in
Pomfret, Nancy, oldest of the Johnson girls, had fallen off a horse and broken her hip in such a
manner that doctors told her she would never walk again. Thereafter she used crutches. In the
summer of 1834, Jared Carter, an elder of great faith, visited the Johnsons in Kirtland. After
talking with Nancy, he asked her if she believed that he was a man of God. When she replied in
the affirmative, he commanded her in the name of Jesus Christ to drop her crutches and walk,
which she did. She never again used crutches.
Joseph Smith had announced the revelation commanding the saints to erect a temple in Kirtland,
Joel was appointed to oversee the making of bricks for the temple. He was offered the use of the
brickyard belonging to Joseph Smith and Thomas Hancock. Seth and David worked with him,
and later Joseph and Benjamin joined them. David was assigned to procure the wood for baking
the brick. Being energetic and enthusiastic, he worked long and hard, finally failing ill,
apparently to tuberculosis. During his illness, his intimate Mend, Don Carlos Smith, brother of
14 J.E.J Trail to Sundown, p 41.
15 J.E.J Trail to Sundown, p. 42. Which two Sons is not stated.
16 JE.J Trail to Sundown, p. 44-45.
6
the prophet, sat at his bedside. He died 30 October 1833. Sometime later, the use of brick was
abandoned in favor of using stone. The cornerstone if the temple was laid in the spring of 1834.
All of the family witnessed the event and Joel, Seth and brother-in-law Lyman Sherman took
part in the ceremonies.
As persecution against the saints in Missouri increased, Joseph Smith announced the
organization of an armed force called Zion’s Camp to go to the aid of the embattled members.
Each man who joined Zion’s Camp was required to furnish his own arms and to have at least five
dollars cash. Although a force of 500 was requested, only 200 appeared at the rendezvous in
New Portage, fifty miles west of Kirtland. When Zion’s Camp left Kirtland, Seth, Lyman
Sherman and Almon Babbitt marched with it. Under the hardships of the march, many of the
group became emaciated from fevers and cholera, and some questioned what was accomplished
through the experience.17 Seth was among those sick. Returning to Kirtland, he as still ill and in
need of rest. Despite this, he accepted a position as schoolteacher at Willoughby, Ohio, a few
miles from Kirtland. His declining health eventually compelled him to resign from teaching and
return home. On 19 February 1835, he died of tuberculosis, the second family member to
succumb to this illness. Joseph Smith noted his passing in this statement, “The council adjourned
to the day following, March 1, after attending the funeral of Seth Johnson.”18 On 16 March 1836,
Susan Ellen also died of tuberculosis.19 On 30 October, Nancy, who had been miraculously
healed two years earlier, died of tuberculosis (which they called “quick consumption”), causing
the family much concern. All four were buried in Kirtland “in the little orchard on the bill above
the house we then owned.”20
Earlier, separated from Ezekiel, Julia found herself needing income to support the younger
members of the family. With Nancy and Susan to assist, she manufactured men’s neckwear and
palm leaf fans. The neckwear produced called “stock” was a wrap around necktie. Julia made a
comfortable living from these efforts as long as she had the two girls to help. With their deaths,
she discontinued the business.
The Kirtland Temple was dedicated 27 March 1836. At the dedication, “Sidney Rigdon read
from the scriptures, offered the invocation, and delivered the principal address on the text from
the words of the Savior, ‘The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of
Man hath not where to lay His head.” Referring the many places of worship throughout the
Christian world, he continued, ‘but not one except this, on the face of the whole earth, that was
built by divine revelation; and were it not for this the dear Redeemer might...say to those who
17 “Regarding the experiences of Zion’s Camp, Wilford Woodruff recorded, “We gained an experience that
we never could have gained in any other way. We had the privilege of traveling one thousand miles with him [the
prophet Joseph], and seeing the workings of the Spirit of God with him, and the revelations. . . Had loot gone up
with Zion’s Camp I should not have been here today [president of the Cburch]” Taken from Journal of Discourses,
13: 158.
18 History of the Church, Vol. 1, p. 204.
19 The Prophet Joseph Smith recorded in his diary on 18 March 1836, “At ten o’clock went to schoolhouse
to attend the funeral of Susan Johnson, daughter of Ezekiel Johnson. She was a member of the Church of Latter-day
Saints and remained strong in the faith until her spirit took its departure from time into eternity. May God bless and
contort her afflicted parents, family connections and friends, President Rigdon delivered a fine discourse on the
occasion and much solemnity prevailed.” As recorded in J.E.J. Trail to Sundown, p. 49-50.
20 Autobiography of Joseph Ellis Johnson.
7
would follow Him’ that He had no place ‘to lay His head.’”21
Miracles attended the dedication of the temple. During a priesthood meeting in the temple later
that evening, George A. Smith was addressing the meeting when, “Immediately the room was
filled with the sound of a violent motion of wind, and the vibration seemed to lift the men
simultaneously to their feet…The Prophet beheld the temple filled with angels and informed the
brethren of what he saw.”22 ‘The people living near the temple, hearing an unusual sound and
seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the steeple, ran in fearful astonishment and
gathered around the building.”23
All members of the Johnson family (with the possible exception of Ezekiel) had contributed in
some way to the temple’s completion. Joel in particular had practically provided the roof. He cut
all the shingles with his ingenious patented shingle cutting machine that he had invented years
earlier, and it is probably that he laid a fair share of them.
Concerned about the financial circumstances of the Church, in November 1836, Joseph Smith
announced the establishment of the Kirtland Safety Society organized to make capital out of idle
land through the process of housing subdivision. It had its beginning in January 1837. It was not
a good year to begin a bank. The entire country was far extended on credit. The saints joined in
the spirit of speculation and greed which was prevalent throughout the nation. Almost everyone
seemed determine to get rich including members of the priesthood. Joseph expressed serious
concern, but finding his counsel generally ignored, he resigned as treasurer and withdrew from
the organization. Disaster struck the nation in May, and within a single month, 800 banks
collapsed, The depression of 1837 is considered one of the worst the country has ever known.24
Many held the Prophet Joseph responsible, and many members of the Church apostatized.
The Johnsons were hard hit by the panic and struggled financially as did others. Joel’s valuable
saw mill became worthless. It was well understood that Kirtland would be abandoned. The
exodus to Missouri began in the spring of 1838. The challenge was to obtain transportation for
the family. Benjamin had returned from Missouri a sick man a few months earlier. Julia had
nursed him back to reasonable health, and he was able to provide some help. Through planning
and trading, they managed to obtain teams and wagons enough to transport the two families. The more valuable items of furniture and fixtures were sent to St. Louis to be shipped up the Missouri River to Richmond, Missouri where they would be picked up later. In fact, the Johnsons were never to reach that destination and these shipments were a total loss.

Moving West

Early in July, 1838, the Kirtland Camp (sometimes known as the Kirtland Poor Camp because of
their circumstances and the group the Johnsons were in) were ready to head west. There were
nearly 60 vehicles and over 500 Saints. All money was pooled so that food and supplies could be
21 Joseph Smith and the Restoration, A History of the LDS Church to 1846, Ivan S. Banett, Brigham Young
University Press, 1977, p. 323.
22 Joseph Smith and the Restoration, p. 325.
23 Joseph Smith and the Restoration, p. 325. See also, History of the Church. 2:428.
24 Joseph Smith and the Restoration, p. 340-342, See also, Comprehensive History of the Church, 1:400;
and Latter-day Saints Messenger and Advocate, July 1837.
8
purchased in bulk and shared equally. There were food scarcities, malaria, and typhoid fever. In
some towns they passed through there was much hostility and the inhabitants attempted to
compel them to pay for the losses sustained in the Kirtland Bank failure.
For example, ‘Threats were made that we should not pass through Mansfield [Ohio] alive. We
started along, however, in close procession; the women driving the teams arid the men walking
alongside. On nearing the town we were met by two horsemen who rode down each side of our
column, seeming to count the number of wagons. They soon returned to town. Ere this our ears
had detected the beating of drums and firing of cannon, but we pushed on and were not molested.
We afterward learned that the horsemen had given the crowd which had assembled in front of the Court House, and who were firing the cannon, an exaggerated report of our numbers and
armament.”25
When they reached Dayton, Ohio, their funds were exhausted. Many of the men obtained work
on the construction of the Ohio section of the national turnpike. The group remained in Dayton
for four weeks to allow time to replenish money and supplies. During this time, Joel, Julia and
Benjamin traveled to Cincinnati, about 50 miles distant, to visit Julia’s sister Nancy Hills Taft
and her brother, Joel Hills. This is reported by family to have been Julia’s attempt to preach the gospel face to face to her family, but there is nothing to suggest that they were responsive.
The group crossed Indiana and when near Springfield, Illinois, two members of the company
died, Samuel Hale and his wife, leaving a ten-year-old-daughter, Mary Ann. Mary Ann was
subsequently adopted by Julia. In Springfield, they were informed of the Saints expulsion from
Missouri, leaving their destination uncertain. They decided to remain in Springfield until the
gathering place of the Saints could be determined. Joseph recorded, “Mother and other members of the family were taken sick, and with little means to help us we had a very hard time. I was forced to resort to any light employment I could obtain, and among other things chopped wood, sawed stovewood, made axe handles and washboards, and was finally induced to act as ‘yankee schoolmaster,’ which I did through the winter with much satisfaction and success, having 60 scholars, mostly small.”26

Settling in Ramus or Macedonia

In the summer of 1840, Julia and her family prepared to leave Springfield to travel to Nauvoo,
Illinois which had now been designated as the next gathering place for the Saints. It was a trek of about 100 miles. As they traveled, Julia was impressed by the large areas of vacant land which were available, and it occurred to her that her family might acquire land and establish a
settlement of their own. It appears probable that through Joel they learned of a hamlet called
Perkin’s Settlement twenty miles from Nauvoo, and they determined to settle there. Land was
purchased and the town named Ramus. In 1943, the name was changed from Ramus to
Macedonia. Ezekiel had remained separated from Julia and not baptized. In about 1843, Joseph
25 George Washington Johnson, no source cited, quoted in J.E.J Trail to Sundown, p. 62.
26 Joseph Ellis Johnson, no source cited, quoted in J.E.J. Trail to Sundown, p. 64. Joseph was about age 22 at the time and had no training in teaching school. It may be of interest to know that during this time Abraham Lincoln was a struggling young lawyer practicing in Springfield and it is possible that the Johnson family knew him since the town was relatively small.
9
Smith advised Julia to become sealed to Josephs’ uncle, John Smith, which she did.27
Almon and Julia Babbitt had remained behind in Kirtland. In June 1842, the Babbitts left
Kirtland accompanied by Ezekiel, his daughter Esther (now LaBaron), and Benjamin and his
new wife, Melissa LeBaron. They reached Ramus about 1 July 1842. Ezekiel remathed in Ramus for a time, later moving to Nauvoo.
It is assumed that once in Nauvoo, Ezekiel worked as a carpenter. He did not join the Church,
but worked alongside Church members and assisted them on occasion. He was well known by
the presiding brethren and many stories are told about him.28
Apparently, wielding his shotgun “Old Bess,” Ezekiel single handedly resisted the advance of a mob attempting to sneak into Nauvoo. Later, the mob obtained his identity and “gave him a terrific beating” that apparently ‘hastened his death.”29
One descendent reports, “I have heard my father [Sixtus Ellis Johnson son of Joel] tell of his
grandfather Ezekiel. He was there when he was whipped by a mob, which later caused his death. I heard father and President Wilford Woodruff talk about it when I was only ten years old, but it made such an impression on me that I asked father about it when I was grown. I have often
wondered who did his temple work. Pres. Woodruff was very anxious about it and he told father to be sure and attend to it if it had not been done. Pres. Woodruff said to father, ‘I know your
father was one of the first martyrs of the cause of Christ in this dispensation.’”30

On June 24, 1844, Joseph Smith and Hyrum with a few Mends left Nauvoo for Carthage and
incarceration. Joseph Johnson accompanied them part way. A half-day distant from Carthage, the
Prophet proclaimed, “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am as calm as a summer’s
morning.”
Joseph Johnson wrote of the time preceding the Prophets martyrdom, “. . I was informed that
Joseph Smith and his brother would go to Carthage and deliver themselves on the charge of
treason under promise of protection from the governor, and that all troops should be disbanded
and sent home and that he wished us to wait until next morning to bear him company. I was so
ill from exhaustion that I scarcely left the house during my stay there and was barely able to sit
in the buggy. When Gen. Smith was ready, we accompanied him until arriving near Carthage,
when an officer sent by Gov. Ford met us with a demand for the state arms. After a short
consultation Gen. Smith thought it best himself to go back and in person attend to the delivery so all of the party except Bro. Babbitt and myself returned. Adieus were hastily said and we parted there—the last parting with these good and great hearted men who gave their lives to save their friends.”31
On the morning of 27 June 1844, Joseph and Hyrum were murdered. The next day, June 28, the
27 Eventually, this sealing was annulled and Julia was sealed vicariously to Ezekiel.
28 For a much more complete history of the Johnsons during this time period, the reader is referred to J.E.J.
Trail to Sundown, pp. 91-94.
29 J.E.J. Trail to Sundown, p. 93.
30 As told by David F. Johnson, son of Sixtus and related in J.E.J Trail to Sundown, pp. 93-94.
31 These incidents were described in a letter written to the Deseret News, and published on December 5,
1875.
10
bodies of the martyred prophets were taken to Nauvoo by Dr. Willard Richards, Samuel H.
Smith and a guard of eight soldiers. On the 29th, they were interred “amidst the deep mourning
of a stricken people.”32 The Johnson family suffered the grief, fear, and uncertainty experienced by all the Saints following the deaths of their beloved leaders. The Johnsons were present when Sidney Rigdon voiced his plea to be named “Guardian of the Church,” and when Brigham Young spoke, sounding and appearing to many to be the Prophet Joseph. Benjamin F. Johnson, then age 26, reported of this experience that he personally “jumped to his feet in amazement and awe.”33
On February 4, 1846, the first group of Saints left Nauvoo and crossed the Mississippi River.
Within a few days the work of ferrying the Saints to the Iowa side was continuing day and night.
The temperature dropped dramatically, and on the 15th day of February, President Brigham
Young, Willard Richards and George A. Smith with a large company of Saints crossed the river
on the ice.34 In the summer of 1846, hostilities were renewed against the members of the Church who still remained in Nauvoo. Most had left and only a remnant remained, composed mostly of the “poor, sick and afflicted, who where unable to get away.”35 Most of the Johnson family remained behind. In September, the mobs took possession of the city.

Ezekiel’s Death

Ezekiel remained in Illinois and died 13 January 1848 in Nauvoo at age 72. He died at the home
of his daughter, Esther LeBaron and was buried in the old Mormon cemetery. Benjamin F.
recorded in his history, “It was the first of January, 1848 and Brother Babbitt, with some others, was going to visit Winter Quarters, and I arranged to go with them. On his arrival, which was about the 20th of January, he brought the sad news of the death of my father, but with this great grief, there was such consolation, for during the last year of his life, he had ceased the use of ardent spirits, and realized the great wrong he had done to himself and his family by his
opposition. He knew the gospel was true and had asked for baptism, of which his sudden death
deprived him, leaving all his [temple] work for his children.”36
On 14 June 1846, President Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt and others
arrived on the banks of the Missouri, not far from Council Bluffs. The next day a council
meeting was held and it was decided to move back onto the bluffs where spring water could be
obtained, and they would be protected from the Indians. The season was late for planting, but
preparations for fencing, plowing and planting were begun. A ferry boat was built and on the
29th the companies of Saints began crossing the river.37
In July, a site across the river into Nebraska and a short distance above Council Bluffs was
selected as an additional permanent camp and designated “Winter Quarters.” Even though free
32 For the full account of Joseph Smiths martyrdom, see Joseph Fielding Smith, Essentials of Church
History, pp. 327-384.
33 J.E.J Trail to Sundown. p. 90.
34 Essentials of Church History, p.401.
35 Essentials of Church History, p.413.
36 Written by Benjamin Franklin Johnson, ‘Life Review,” p. 15 and quoted in “Ezekiel Johnson” by Rolla
V. Johnson, p. 35.
37 Essentials of Church History, p. 409-410.
11
from persecution, these were still difficult times. “Weakened by the long trek from Nauvoo and
the lack of sufficient vegetables in their diet, people became easy victims of malaria, scurvy, and
other little known rnaladies.”38

Julia’s Death

Julia in company with her daughter Delcina “and other relatives and friends” arrived in Council
Bluffs 11 July l849.39 There has been some question as to where Julia lived from the time most
Saints left Nauvoo until her arrival in Council Bluffs. Benjamin Franklin remained in Nauvoo
until the spring of 1847, when he received a letter from “the Presidency, requesting me to be at
Winter Quarters...” He continued, “Brother Babbitt [Julia Ann] and family still remained in
Nauvoo as agent for the Church, and my mother and sisters were there…”40 Almon Babbit and
Julia Ann built a home near Nauvoo where she assumed the care of her mother, Julia, and may
have maintained that home there as late as 1849.41 George Washington recorded, “During the
year 1848, David T. LeBaron and myself were engaged in exhibiting the Nauvoo Temple to
visitors.”42 It is reasonable to assume that Julia remained with family in Nauvoo until Delcena
and other family members left that city.
Julia died 30 May 1853 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. “[A] Few details of her passing are in the letters
to her son Benjamin F. where he was serving a Church mission to the Sandwich Islands. She was scarcely seventy years old. She was truly a matriarch, a benevolent one and the entire family was under her sway.”43 On October 28, 1853, Julia’s daughter, Julia Ann, apparently residing in Kanesville, wrote to Benjamin. “Oh Benjamin, I cannot describe my anxiety to see you or my
joy to hear of your prosperity. We are still here in comfortable health, though we have been sick
much of the time. . . .1 suppose you have heard of our dear mother’s death before this. She is
gone and we are left to mourn her loss, no not her loss but ours. We know she cannot meet with
loss; she has gone to receive the crown that was prepared for her, which must be glorious. Oh if I had but one short hour to see you, how much more could I say than with this slow pen of
mine.”44
38 William F. Berrett, The Restored Church, p. 245.
39 A statement attributed to her daughter, Delcina, Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. IS, p. 251.
40 Pioneer Heritage, Vol 15, p. 211.
41 Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. II, p. 560.
42 George Washington Johnson Autobiography, typescript, Brigham Young University, p. 5.
43 Recorded in “Ezekiel Johnson” by Rolla V. Johnson.