Interim Content

Johnson, Benjamin F.

Biography

28 July 1818–18 Nov. 1905. Brickmaker, merchant, tavern keeper, leatherworker, farmer, nurseryman, beekeeper. Born at Pomfret, Chautauque Co., New York. Son of Ezekiel Johnson and Julia Hills. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Lyman E. Johnson, spring 1835, at Kirtland. Moved to Adam-ondi-Ahman, Daviess Co., Missouri, 1838. Ordained an elder by Heber C. Kimball, 10 Mar. 1839, at Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri. Moved to Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois, 1839. Served missions to eastern states and Upper Canada, 1840–1842. Married Melissa Bloomfield LeBaron, 25 Dec. 1841, at Kirtland. Settled at Ramus (later Webster), Hancock Co., Illinois, 1842. Member of Masonic lodge in Nauvoo, Hancock Co. Served as business agent for JS, 1842–1844. Ordained a high priest by John Smith, 1843, at Ramus. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 26 Mar. 1844. Moved to Nauvoo, 1845; to Bonaparte, Van Buren Co., Iowa Territory, 1846; and to Salt Lake City, 1848. Moved to Summit Creek (later Santaquin), Utah Co., Utah Territory, 1851. Served in Utah territorial legislature, 1855–1867. Delegate to constitutional convention, 1856, at Salt Lake City. Moved to Spring Lake, Utah Co., 1862. Moved to Tempe, Maricopa Co., Arizona Territory, 1882. Moved to Colonia Díaz, Chihuahua, Mexico, 1890. Moved to Mesa, Maricopa Co., 1892. Died at Mesa.

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1866, photograph by Edward Martin (Church History Library, Salt Lake City).

Benjamin F. Johnson 1866, photograph by Edward Martin (Church History Library, Salt Lake City).

Gender
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