Joseph Ellis Johnson
Encyclopedia
Joseph Ellis Johnson was an American
Mormon activist as well as being a newspaper proprietor, councillor, and businessman who at various times had several enterprises across several states.
Johnson was born at Pomfret
, Chautauqua County, New York
, and moved to Kirtland, Ohio
, in 1832 and was baptized as a Latter Day Saint in 1833. He accompanied the Kirtland Camp in 1838. He taught school in Springfield, Illinois
in 1840. He went to Nauvoo, Illinois
, 1840, a center for Latter Day Saints, and when he married Harriet Snider on October 6, 1840, the marriage was performed by Joseph Smith
, founder of the movement.
He accompanied Joseph and Hyrum Smith on their way to Carthage jail and was taken prisoner when the mob entered Nauvoo. He went to Miller's Hollow, now Council Bluffs, in 1848, built the first house in Pottawattamie County (other than log cabin) and was postmaster at Council Bluffs for five years and obtained a change of name from "Kanesville" to Council Bluffs. He was a member of the first city council for several years. He established the Council Bluffs Bugle in 1852. The office and store were destroyed by fire in 1853. It was restored and published until 1856. The Bugle had much to do in getting the capitol of Nebraska located at Omaha.
Johnson opened the first store in the city of Omaha
and sent the first train of goods to the Denver, Colorado (Cherry Creek) mines. In 1854 he published the Omaha Arrow, the first paper published on Nebraska soil, and the same year accompanied the first party of explorers for a railroad crossing on the Missouri River and Loupe Fork of the Platte River. He wrote the first article published favoring the North Platte route for the Pacific Railroad and contended for same until so located.
Johnson crossed the plains to Utah and back in 1850. In 1857 he started the Crescent City Oracle and laid out Crescent, Iowa
. In 1858 he published the Council Bluffs Press. In 1858-1860-1861 he published The Huntsman's Echo at Wood River, Nebraska
.
In 1861 Johnson moved to Utah. He traveled in the company of Sixtus E. Johnson, which had about 200 people total. In 1863 he established the Farmer's Oracle at Spring Lake Villa, Utah County. In 1864/5, he removed to St. George
and began a supply garden and nursery. In 1868-1869 he published Our Dixie Times, afterward the Rio Virgen [sic] Times. In 1870 he published the Utah Pomologist and Gardener monthly for several years. In 1876 he went to Silver Reef and put up a store and printing office, but sold part of office before the paper was fairly started. In 1879 it was burned out, with others. He restored the store immediately, but on a larger scale."
In 1882, Johnson once again moved at his church's call, this time to settle what would become Tempe, Arizona
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Mormon activist as well as being a newspaper proprietor, councillor, and businessman who at various times had several enterprises across several states.
Johnson was born at Pomfret
Pomfret, New York
Pomfret is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 14,703 at the 2000 census.The Town of Pomfret lies in the north-central part of the county, south of Dunkirk, New York.- History :...
, Chautauqua County, New York
Chautauqua County, New York
-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
, and moved to Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
, in 1832 and was baptized as a Latter Day Saint in 1833. He accompanied the Kirtland Camp in 1838. He taught school in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
in 1840. He went to Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
, 1840, a center for Latter Day Saints, and when he married Harriet Snider on October 6, 1840, the marriage was performed by Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was founder of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement or Mormons.Joseph Smith may also refer to:-Latter Day Saints:* Joseph Smith, Sr. , father of Joseph Smith...
, founder of the movement.
He accompanied Joseph and Hyrum Smith on their way to Carthage jail and was taken prisoner when the mob entered Nauvoo. He went to Miller's Hollow, now Council Bluffs, in 1848, built the first house in Pottawattamie County (other than log cabin) and was postmaster at Council Bluffs for five years and obtained a change of name from "Kanesville" to Council Bluffs. He was a member of the first city council for several years. He established the Council Bluffs Bugle in 1852. The office and store were destroyed by fire in 1853. It was restored and published until 1856. The Bugle had much to do in getting the capitol of Nebraska located at Omaha.
Johnson opened the first store in the city of Omaha
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
and sent the first train of goods to the Denver, Colorado (Cherry Creek) mines. In 1854 he published the Omaha Arrow, the first paper published on Nebraska soil, and the same year accompanied the first party of explorers for a railroad crossing on the Missouri River and Loupe Fork of the Platte River. He wrote the first article published favoring the North Platte route for the Pacific Railroad and contended for same until so located.
Johnson crossed the plains to Utah and back in 1850. In 1857 he started the Crescent City Oracle and laid out Crescent, Iowa
Crescent, Iowa
Crescent is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 537 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Crescent is located at ....
. In 1858 he published the Council Bluffs Press. In 1858-1860-1861 he published The Huntsman's Echo at Wood River, Nebraska
Wood River, Nebraska
Wood River is a city in Hall County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,204 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Grand Island, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Wood River is located at ....
.
In 1861 Johnson moved to Utah. He traveled in the company of Sixtus E. Johnson, which had about 200 people total. In 1863 he established the Farmer's Oracle at Spring Lake Villa, Utah County. In 1864/5, he removed to St. George
St. George, Utah
St. George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Utah, and the county seat of Washington County, Utah. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George, Utah, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is 119 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and 303 miles ...
and began a supply garden and nursery. In 1868-1869 he published Our Dixie Times, afterward the Rio Virgen [sic] Times. In 1870 he published the Utah Pomologist and Gardener monthly for several years. In 1876 he went to Silver Reef and put up a store and printing office, but sold part of office before the paper was fairly started. In 1879 it was burned out, with others. He restored the store immediately, but on a larger scale."
In 1882, Johnson once again moved at his church's call, this time to settle what would become Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
.
External links
- Biography on Nebraska State Historical Marker, at ancestry.com (text) (photo)
- Bassett, Samuel Clay. History of Buffalo County and Its People. Vol I. Chicago: C.S. Clarke Pub. Co., 1916. Chapter V at ancestry.com.
