1. family and parenting
2. children

Issue 48
1
Benjamin Franklin Johnson Family Newsletter
B. F. Johnson
Family Newsletter
Presidency Message
In This Issue
“So much to Celebrate!!” I can imagine Benjamin telling his children,
grand children, and great grandchildren something like that. “To think, a
temple, so near the Spring Lake Villa! What a blessing! ” Of course, I am
only imaging what he might say, but I am sure he would be pleased that
there now stands a House of The Lord a “stone’s throw” away from where
Grandpa Benjamin watched the sun rise and fall, where he worked and
planted, raised his family and served the Lord. The new Payson Temple Open House will
begin on April 24th and soon after will be dedicated. This beautiful edifice will be a holy place
where families can be sealed together forever. That’s what Benjamin’s life was all about. We
hope that you will feel a special connection to this temple and the work that will be done
there.
Extend the Pioneer Day Celebration by joining the Johnson family
on July 25, first with a hike and then a fair.
A Hike! Something to celebrate--Join with descendants of Ezekiel and
Julia Hills Johnson to hike to Ensign Peak and sing “High on a Mountain
Top”. This activity is sponsored by the Joel Hills Johnson family organization. What a fun way to celebrate our pioneer heritage!
A Fair is something else to celebrate. Also, on July 25 the Johnson Heritage Fair will be a
special day for all who attend. A few years ago, I had never heard of such a Fair and couldn’t
even imagine what it would be like. Then I attended one and was so surprised by how fun and
interesting it was. There were displays, presentations, visiting with cousins, and so many
things to see and do. Please join us at this year’s BFJ-JHJ Heritage Fair, you won’t be sorry!
As a young man I never imaged myself being involved in a family organization or enjoying
family history. But I have changed. I have enjoyed learning about my ancestors and relatives.
I am grateful for all of them, living and deceased. I am grateful to Fathers, Wives, Sons and
Daughters that were strong and vibrant-- patriotic-- righteous-- wonderful people. They have
truly made us what we are today.
Brad Johnson
P.1- Presidency Msg.
P.2 - Heritage Fair
P.3- Payson Temple
Open House
P. 4-5 Report from the
Genealogy Research
Committee.
P.6-Relative Finder
New on FamilySearch
P. 7–Notes from Website and Newsletter
P.8 - Officers Names,
Addresses, Order form.
Childhood Memories
of Life in the Colonies
of Old Mexico
Fred was born in Chuichupa, Chihuahua, Mexico
on 8 Nov 1905 to Francis
Lee Johnson and Sarah
Josephine Williams. His
Johnson grandparents
were Benjamin Julius and
Isabella Russell. They all
lived in “Chupi” as they
called it, high in the Sierra Madera Mountains.
(Cont. p. 7)
2015 Dues
1st Counselor
Don’t Miss the
Heritage
Fair
BFJFO Family Newsletter *** Issue 48
** * Spring 2015 ***
Suggested donation is
$20.00 per year.
We appreciate your
support to help finance
the BFJFO efforts.
Mailing Address BFJFO, P.O. Box 1810, Orem, UT 84057
Issue 48
Benjamin Franklin Johnson Family Newsletter
Johnson Heritage Fair
Sponsored by Joel Hills Johnson and Benjamin Franklin Johnson Family Organizations
When: Saturday July 25, 2015
Where: Ensign Chapel, 155 North Sandrun Road, Salt Lake City, Utah (at foot of Ensign Peak)
Activities Begin: With a hike to the top of Ensign Peak for all the “young at heart.”
Ensign Peak Hike: Will start at 8:30 AM with a hike up Ensign Peak to commemorate Joel Hills Johnson’s
hymn, “High on a Mountain Top”. This is an easy one mile round trip hike from the church. Non-hikers can
spend the time visiting. If you don’t wish to do the hike, just come for the Heritage Fair.
History: Ensign Peak is a prominent small mountain peak at the
north end of the Salt Lake Valley, above the State Capitol building. Two days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young
and seven other pioneer leaders climbed the mountain to survey
the valley. From its summit they laid out in their minds the city
they intended to build. A small monument now sits on the summit. From the top, you have marvelous views out over the Salt
Lake Valley and Great Salt Lake.
Directions to Location: The trailhead is at the top of a residential
area above the Utah Capitol building. From downtown Salt Lake
City, drive State Street north to the capitol, fork right and follow
the road around to the northeast. It becomes East Capitol Boulevard. Follow it up the hill to the north and
then turn left onto North Sandrun Road. Follow that road west to the LDS Church house. The trailhead is in
the back of the church parking lot, where it abuts Ensign Vista Drive. There is plenty of parking for the hike
and Heritage Fair. Cross the road at the back of the church and walk up the hill to the trailhead entrance.
Registration and instructions for the hike will be available at the trailhead.
The Heritage Fair presentations will start at 9:30 AM with a keynote address. Presentations will continue
into the afternoon with a lunch time break featuring a heritage play staged by the children.
Please bring your own sack lunch. A $5 per person or $10 dollar per
family donation is suggested to cover the
cost of the Fair.
Volunteers Needed:
We need family history displays.
We need people to help with set up and
clean up.
We need people to help for an hour in the nursery
We need people to help with the children’s activities.
If you would like to volunteer or provide a display,
Please Contact:
Steven Brimhall at [email protected] or
Loni Gardner at [email protected].
BFJFO Family Newsletter *** Issue 48
** * Spring 2015 ***
Mailing Address BFJFO, P.O. Box 1810, Orem, UT 84057
2
Issue 48
3
Benjamin Franklin Johnson Family Newsletter
Payson Temple Open House and Dedication
The Payson Utah Temple was announced by President Thomas S. Monson on Jan. 25, 2010 and
ground was broken on Oct. 8 , 2011.
And……..Did You Know…….
The land on which the temple now stands is very
near to Springlake Villa and the land which was
assigned to Benjamin Franklin Johnson as part of
his stewardship after he returned from his mission
in Hawaii and was instructed by President Brigham
Young to colonize Summit Creek area.
The Open House for the Payson Utah Temple will open
to the public on Friday, April 24, and run through Saturday, May 23. It will be available every day except
Sundays. The cultural celebration will be held Saturday, June 6, and the temple will be dedicated in three
sessions on Sunday, June 7. The dedicatory sessions
will be broadcast only within the Payson Utah Temple
District. Twenty-eight stakes are part of this temple
district consisting of over 93,000 people. Tickets to
the open house may be ordered starting April 13, at
www.templeopenhouse.lds.org
BFJ writes about receiving that grant:
“As our colony rights in hay, wood, and stock range at
Santaquin was being invaded by older settlements , a
grant of control was given me by the act of Legislature, of all the range and timber, from Spring Creek, &
extending west to Salt Creek or Goshen, and east to
the summit of the mountains;….in which to establish
herd grounds, build mills, open cañon roads into the
timber and to control the same….by my request Father Isaac Morley was associated with me in the
grant.”
My Life’s Review, p.182, 183.
BFJFO Family Newsletter *** Issue 48
In connection with the Open House, the BFJFO is
planning to get a block of tickets for April 25th
for those who are interested in going as a group.
We would then plan to go the Monument area
and the Spring Lake Pavilion for a picnic and visiting. If you would like to join us, contact Pam
Smith for tickets and further information.
[email protected]
** * Spring 2015 ***
801-756-9872
Mailing Address BFJFO, P.O. Box 1810, Orem, UT 84057
Issue 48
Benjamin Franklin Johnson Family Newsletter
4
Report from the Genealogy Research Committee
We need the participation of all Johnson descendants to speed our pedigree documentation process. The
work goes so much faster if we are working together in an organized way. The Johnson Genealogical Research Committee holds work sessions at 1 PM every Friday at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City
and we are going to begin holding a work session starting at 10:00 am on the second Saturday of each month.
You are invited. If that time does not work for you, or if you live too far away to come, you can still help by
calling me (801-375-2233) to get a copy of our current file and an assignment to research and document an
individual ancestor or his family. Send an email to me, Carol Walters, to let me know who you are researching or would like to research. The committee has been working for several months to document all the ancestors of Julia Hills back to the original immigrant. We hope to complete that project by the Heritage Fair
on July 25 with Ged.com copies available for family members at the Heritage Fair. Because of the diligent
work of the GRC, Julia Hills ancestral lines will be as accurate as is possible and a much truer record that
Family Tree currently has. If you would like to be included in this work contact [email protected]).
You may go to the Website bfjfamily.org to get a list of these names who need research. The website also
has an article from the last newsletter on exactly how to document all information you glean.
The GRC has, been successful in solving many mysteries and unraveling errors which have accumulated
through the research done by generations of descendants. All those dedicated researches did the best they
could with the tools they had. Too often they depended on the hearsay of others never checking for accuracy
and ending up with nothing but misinformation. Today with the miracle of technology, researchers are able
to have almost at their finger tips access to copies of original records and the sources for those records. This
is the goal of the GRC. The following is an example of one mystery being unraveled:
Filling in the Holes in Our Johnson Family History
Jabez Hills was born 4 Jun, 1699 in Malden, Massachusetts, to Samuel and Sarah Farrer Hills. Samuel was
the grandson of the legendary Joseph Hills Sr., the founder of Malden. Jabez and his brothers moved to
Wrentham, Massachusetts where he married Martha Metcalf, one of the daughters of Eliazer Medcalf and
Meletiah Fisher Mecalf, who was born 27 Aug 1699 in Wrentham. Jabez and Martha were the grandparents
of Julia Hills’ father, Joseph Hills.
We found documentation of Jabez and Martha’s births and marriage, and of Jabez’ death on 18 Jul 1742 in
Wrentham, but we couldn’t find a death record for Martha Hills. We realized that Martha was only 43 years
old when Jabez died, so she may have remarried. Wrentham marriage records revealed a marriage for a Martha Hills and John Fales on 3 Aug 1743, and a death record of a Martha Fales on 14 May, 1754 in the Wrentham Vital Records, but we had no certain confirmation that this was our Martha.
David Hills, (son of Jabez and Martha Hills) b. 24 Jan 1736/37 in Wrentham, married a Hannah Fales in
about 1770. David and Hannah moved to New Ipswich, New Hamshire and had four daughters before Hannah died in 1777. All the information we have about Hannah Fales seems to have come from The History of
New Ipswich, N.H. 1735-1914 by Charles Henry Chandler, which says, “HILLS….David m. 1) Hannah Fales
of Dedham, Mass. [b. Apr. 16, 1745; d. Sept. 12, 1777];” No parents are given, and we have not been able to
find her birth record in Dedham or Wrentham. (Hills Family in America gives a circumscribed version of the
same information which The History of New Ipswich gives.)
After Hannah’s, death, David Hills married Sarah Manning on 22 Apr 1778. David and Sarah named their
oldest son John Fales Hills; more evidence for a relationship between John Fales and the Hills family. We
wondered if Hannah Fales Hills could have been the daughter of John Fales by a previous marriage, but
could not clearly identify John’s parents, birth, death or any previous marriage. We did find a marriage for a
John Fales and Mercy Lawrence on 23 Dec 1754 in Wrentham, which would have been seven months after
Martha’s death. But again, we couldn’t verify that this was the same John Fales.
BFJFO Family Newsletter *** Issue 48
** * Spring 2015 ***
Mailing Address BFJFO, P.O. Box 1810, Orem, UT 84057
Issue 48
Benjamin Franklin Johnson Family Newsletter
5
That is as far as we got while we were working on documenting our Hills ancestors, but remembering that
Martha was a Metcalf by birth, we revisited the Metcalf family. Meanwhile, Loni Gardner, miracle worker
that she is, found John Fales' will for us and it confirms his marriages to both Martha Metcalf Hills and Mercy
Lawrence.
And the rest of the story is:
By coordinating the information in the will with the Wrentham Massachusetts vital records, we find that John
Fale/Fales died in Wrentham on 31 March1758 "in his 69th y." That means he is, in all probability, the John
Fale/Fales born in Wrentham to John and Abigaell Hawes Fale/Fales on 17 Apr, 1689. He would have been
54 at the time he married 44 year old widow, Martha Metcalf Hills. That is not an unreasonable difference in
age, for a second marriage, but it is unusually late for a first marriage. However, there is no earlier marriage
for him recorded in Wrentham, and his will does not mention Hannah, or any other children by an earlier marriage. John Fales gives bequests only to his second wife, Mercy, and to David Hill[s], his “son-in-law, who
receives all his land and buildings. However, there is no earlier marriage for him recorded in Wrentham, and
his will does not mention a daughter named Hannah, or any other children by an earlier marriage. He gives
bequests only to his second wife, Mercy, and to David and Samuel, his "sons-in-law" by his marriage to Martha Metcalf Hills. 21-year-old David Hills was named as the executor of John's will and given the responsibility to provide for John’s widow, Mercy. This indicates that John had no living children of his own. So the
marriage to Martha appears to be his first marriage.
David Hills did not marry Hannah Fales until about 1770 (their first child was born in 1772) which was twelve
years after John Fales’ death, so the designation of David as his “son-in-law” meant simply that David was
John’s step-son. David is also instructed “to give unto his brother, Samuel Hills, provided the said Samuel
Hills be living after my decease, the sum of 25 Pounds and 13 Shillings.” He further specifies that his clothing
is to be divided between David and Samuel. We have not yet found a death record for Samuel, but the wording indicates that Samuel may not have been well at the time the will was written.
At the time widow Martha Metcalf Hills married John Fales, her oldest son, Jabez, Jr. (our ancestor) was 16.
Joseph was 13. Benjamin was 11. Ebenezer was 8, David was 6, and Samuel was 4 years old. At the time of
Martha's death,11 years later, Jabez, was 27. Joseph was 24. Benjamin was 22. Ebenezer would have been 19
(though there are indications that he may have died previously), David was 17, and Samuel was 15 years old.
John Fales apparently continued to raise her minor children, David and Samuel. The fact that David named
his oldest son for his step-father indicates great regard.
Martha's older sons are not mentioned in John's will, but that may indicate that they had already been provided
for as they reached their majority.
We have not yet found Hannah Fales Hills birth record or parents in
Dedham or Wrentham. There is still a probability that she was related
to John Fales even if she was not his daughter.
Many people have mistakenly combined the records of the Jabez Hills
and Martha Metcalf with those of their son, Jabez Hills who married
Margaret Fisher; so be careful when you are looking at this family because family names repeat generation after generation. It is easy to
get confused.
Carol Walters,
GRC Chairman, brjfamily.org
BFJFO Family Newsletter *** Issue 48
** * Spring 2015 ***
Mailing Address BFJFO, P.O. Box 1810, Orem, UT 84057
Issue 48
Benjamin Franklin Johnson Family Newsletter
6
Relative Finder now certified with Family Search
“When it comes to family history many people enjoy
the thrill of discovering long lost ancestral lines. But
what about your friends, or your coworkers? Have you
ever been with a group of people and thought to yourself,
“I wonder if any of us are related?”
Thanks to an app called Relative Finder developed by
BYU and which is now officially certified by
FamiySearch.org - Family Tree, you can find out just how
closely related you are not only to past historical figures,
but also to your neighbor, your friends, even your boss at
work.
“This app allows you, in three minutes of time and effort, to discover how you are related to all these people,”
said computer science professor Tom Sederberg. “It is fun
and informative and can stimulate interest in family history work.”
Sederburg said, “People are often astonished to learn that
they are closely related to someone they live near or work
with. Suddenly they are “family” and they look at each
other a little differently, knowing that they share the
same heritage.
Professor Sederberg has been working on this project
with undergraduate students for nearly 15 years. Now
that the app has been officially certified with FamilySearch, the Family Tree database contains almost 10
times as much information—connecting you to even
more people. Once logged into Family Search and
Relative Finder, the user can start finding relatives
among pre-made groups including U.S. Presidents, LDS
prophets, European royalty, Constitution signers, and just
plain folks.
In order to access the app, users must have an account
with FamilySearch. LDS members can sign in with their
membership number, and non-LDS must have previous
genealogy completed on the website.
Is your neighbor
Your Cousin?
This information was taken
from a recent BYU news release.
See http://news.byu.edu/archive15-jan
BFJ—Thoughts on the Mormon Battalion and Patriotism
“I [Benjamin F. Johnson] was present at the arrival of Colonel Little and company at Garden Grove, with the
requisition, by Gov’t for five hundred volunteers for the American Army, served upon the fleeing Mormons
as a test to their loyalty and patriotism by Senator Benton of Missouri. It was well understood at the time, as
the subject was fully ventilated by the Council, and all comprehended it as a great sacrifice and that there was
no regard or benefit offered by the government in any degree.
It was a test of the people’s and our Prophet’s loyalty and patriotism while under arrest and this patriotism
and loyalty was now to be placed upon the altar at a great disadvantage. And would we stand the test—even
as did our Father Abraham answer this great question?
At Garden Grove all of the enlistment was filled, and now, this was unequalled patriotism and valor of the
Sons of Zion, who sacrificed aged parents, wives, and children, sweethearts and other of dear ones, by leaving
them homeless, unprotected, and to the mercy of the wild and naked plains.
That such a privilege was sought for by the Mormons, should be stamped as a monstrosity in falsehood. But
that it was a great and far-reaching test of loyalty all will admit, which was to establish the truth of Mormon
love and loyalty to that heaven-inspired and God-given Constitution of the United States, which will yet
give guarantee of liberty and equal right to all people of the earth and nation shall “learn war no more,” and
shall learn to better comprehend that great principle of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man.”
Benjamin F. Johnson
Benjamin F. Johnson, friend to the prophets; appendix, p. 234
BFJFO Family Newsletter *** Issue 48
** * Spring 2015 ***
Mailing Address BFJFO, P.O. Box 1810, Orem, UT 84057
Issue 48
7
Benjamin Franklin Johnson Family Newsletter
Website
(Con’t from p.1)
http://www.bfj-family.org
http://www.bfjfamily.org
Please Note: There are two website addresses that are currently valid to
reach the website, but we prefer the lower one to be used as the upper
one will be phased out in the future. Please use the one without the
dash.
Take a look at the recently posted article that includes information on
how you can help our with our family genealogical research and how to
properly document the information that you find. Read the full article on
the website by clicking on the Genealogy item in the Main Menu on the
left side of the home page, and then following the path to Genealogical
Research/Documentation Guidelines.
Frank, as Fred’s father was known,
was a good fisherman. There were lots
of trout streams around. He could
walk just a short distance from the little two room house they lived in to the
nearby streams and catch ample fish
for the family. Fred says, his father
“would go early in the morning and
bring in a mess of trout” for our breakfast. Frank was also a successful
hunter, killing deer and other wild
game to provide for the family.
Fred’s Grandfather and his sons had
a
sawmill
a short distance away from
Don't forget that you can always get the latest newsletter, as well as sevwhere
he
lived.
At noon every day
eral of the previous newsletters on the website. See the front page of the
they would blow a whistle for the work
Website to find contents of the Legacy DVD of which includes a com-men to stop for lunch. Fred lived in
plete PDF copy of My Life’s Review. You can also purchase the Legacy mortal terror of that whistle.
DVD and other BFJ products online using a credit card or a PayPal ac“Grandfather, had a dog,“Pochatater”
count! On the home page, click the BFJ Store button. Please visit our
and it affected him the same way.
website occasionally as new articles and other information is posted
When the whistle blew, Fred and the
dog would take off over the hill to get
from time to time.
away from the sound.
Lane Johnson,
Webmaster
[email protected]
(801) 850-2910
Two Alternative Methods of receiving the Newsletter:
1. By regular postage.
Advantage: You get a printed hard copy of the newsletter in the mail.
Disadvantage: You receive it three weeks later than with email option.
Many people fail to send us an address change when moving and
end up on the lost sheep.list.
2. By email.
Advantage: You get it as soon as it is prepared and sent.
Some items are in color.
The BFJFO is saved lots of money in postage costs.
Email addresses usually do not change when a person moves.
Disadvantage: It is an electronic copy, so you have to print it yourself, if
you want a hard copy.
If we have an email address for you, you will receive the email version
of the newsletter unless you advise us otherwise. If you need to receive
a hard copy by mail, please contact:
[email protected] or call Lee Johnson at 801-434-8868
So…...In order to continue to receive your newsletters and
not end up on the “Lost Sheep” list:
PLEASE SEND US YOUR NEW MAILING AND EMAIL ADDRESSES ,
IF THEY CHANGE
BFJFO Family Newsletter *** Issue 48
** * Spring 2015 ***
Fred remembered that the extended
Johnson family, “the whole town”,
would often go to the creek somewhere
and go fishing and have a picnic and a
real good time. Once the kids wandered off and found some berries and
ate a bunch. Later they found out
those berries were called “deadly night
berries.” They thought they were all
going to die. Instead, the berries “gave
us all a good cleaning out.”
Fred’s family fled the colonies when
he was just six years old because of
the Mexican Revolution. One night
they planned to camp. Frank unhitched
the horses, Josie began unloading the
wagon. Suddenly, Frank told her to
put things back, because felt it was not
safe for them to stay. They drove on
across the border. They found later
that very spot had been severely raided
and they would have been harmed if
they had stayed.
Though he was but a young boy
living in “Chupi”, he remembered all
his life those happy childhood years in
the Colonies.
Taken from an interview with Fred G. Johnson,
Charles Redd Ctr. for Western Studies at BYU.
Mailing Address BFJFO, P.O. Box 1810, Orem, UT 84057
Issue 48
8
Benjamin Franklin Johnson Family Newsletter
BFJFO Presidency
*David Stapley, President
801-942-0403
801- 850-7092
[email protected]
*Brad Johnson, 1stCounselor
Cell: 801-440-7344
[email protected]
*Lee Pettit, 2nd Counselor
801-466-5459
801-792-2141
[email protected]
Michael Stapley, Secretary
801-942-0403 (home)
801-913-1098 (cell)
*Barry Brown, Treasurer
(801) 222-9326
[email protected]
Board of Directors
*Richard Vance
(801) 225-2224
[email protected]
*Ramon K. Johnson
(435) 668-6176
[email protected]
*Lee Johnson
(801) 362-8366
[email protected]
*Carolyn Johnson
801) 376-1446
[email protected]
*Joneen Johnson Matsen
(801) 451-8383
[email protected]
Committee Chairmen
Other Officers
Genealogy Chair
Carol Walters
801-375-2233
801-372-0597
[email protected]
Genealogy Data Base
Loni Gardner
(801) 292-4077
[email protected]
Membership Data/Orders
Lee Johnson
(801) 362-8366
[email protected]
Legal Advisor
Bill Hansen
801-465-2784
Webmaster
Lane E. Johnson
(801) 850-2910
[email protected]
Historical Sites
Pam T. Smith
801-756-9872
[email protected]
Archives and Memorials
Kerri Robinson
[email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Dianne Johnson
801-228-7550
[email protected]
Alberta Organization, Pres.
H. Lee Baker
403-223-2445
[email protected]
Arizona Organization, Pres.
Eric Johnson
602-615-1713
480-306-5679
[email protected]
*Indicates Board Member
Order Form
Name______________________________________________________________________
Date______________________ Phone Number_________________________ Email address_____________________________________
Shipping Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
City____________________________________________ State/Province _______________________ Zip Code_____________________
A Royal Legacy Book *
Regular Price $30.00 US per book (includes DVD*)
The DVD contains a treasure of Johnson Family information including: Articles, Histories, Books, Genealogy, Pictures, Letters, and copies of previous Johnson Bulletins. It is free with the purchase
of the Legacy book or $10 each for the DVD only (regular price ).
LEGACY BOOK (including DVD):
Number of Books Ordered _________
= $_____________ (Number of books
x $30.00)
Number of DVD* Only _________
= $ _____________ (Number of DVDs x $10.00 each)
Benjamin Franklin Johnson Life Locations - A beautiful pictorial account with text about places BFJ trod.
Number of Copies Ordered ____________ = $ ____________ (Number of Copies x $20.00)
Ezekiel and Julia Hills Johnson Story and Coloring Book - History and pictures designed for children to learn about Johnson heritage.
Number of Copies Ordered ____________
= $_____________ (Number of Copies x $5.00 each
A Principled Life - $10.00 each - A video portrayal of BFJ’s experiences by Raymond Johnson on DVD
Number of Copies Ordered ____________ = $_____________ (Number of Copies x $10.00)
Annual Dues
Number of years ___________
Total of all items Ordered
= $ _____________ (Dues are voluntary, suggested amount $20.00 per year)
= $ _____________ Note: Dues and orders also can be made using PayPal
on the website: www.bfj-family.org
Mail Orders and Dues mail to: BFJFO, P.O. Box 1810, Orem, UT 84057
BFJFO Family Newsletter *** Issue 48
** * Spring 2015 ***
Mailing Address BFJFO, P.O. Box 1810, Orem, UT 84057