Item Detail
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Johnson, Elizabeth Johnston
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1825-1908
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MSS SC 873
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Biography
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Elizabeth Johnston Johnson was born 1 October 1825 in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, England to Joseph Johnston and Elizabeth Clark Johnston. She knew Robert Johnson from her youth and they were married on 12 January 1845. Together they had four children in England two of which died early. This may have been why the young family showed interest in the Mormon missionaries and in 1848 were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elizabeths parents were stanchly opposed to this new religion and urged her to leave her husband and stay with them instead of emigrating to America and gathering with the Saints in Utah. However, Elizabeth was converted to her new beliefs and her family, so on 6 April aboard the ship Camillus they departed from their home country and started their trip to Zion. During the voyage Elizabeths only daughter became very sick, but with constant attention she nursed her frail child and kept her alive. Upon arrival in America, Elizabeths family along with another family of four shared a wagon and traveled across the plains to Salt Lake City, Utah. Not long after their arrival the family was called to help settle Manti, Utah. They moved several times during the next few years from house to house in Manti, finally settling in a large two story house one block from main street. Elizabeths husband, Robert, worked hard and farmed the land. Elizabeth gave birth to fourteen children only six of which survived to maturity. She was a devoted mother and faced the trials and difficulties of pioneer life with faith. She told her grandchildren that many a time she was afraid of Indian troubles, but never let them see her fear. In later life Elizabeth declined in health and her youngest daughter joined her and Robert in the big family house. Finally, after she had become bedfast and very ill she passed away on 25 January 1908.
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This collection is a compilation of Henrie family biographies. There is a six-page typewritten history of the five children of William and Myra Mayall Henrie, followed by a typewritten manuscript of a letter written by Myra Henrie to her only daughter, Margaret, and a photocopy of said letter. There is a full page copy of a photograph of Robert and Elizabeth Johnsons family, one of Daniel Henries sons, then one of the women in the Henri family and a photo of William Henries sons. There is also a sketch of the life of Daniel Henrie followed by the nine-page typewritten biography of Elizabeth Johnston Johnson and her husband which covers all the major events of her life from birth, marriage, her journey to Utah and pioneer life. The history was written be Elizabeths granddaughter, Alice Johnson Neilson in April 1976. Following this biography there is a brief four-page biography of Amanda Bradley and a five-page history of the same Amanda Bradley and her husband Daniel Henrie.
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1825-1908