Johnson, Joel Hills

23 Mar. 1802–24 Sept. 1882. Miller, farmer, merchant. Born at Grafton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. Son of Ezekiel Johnson and Julia Hills. Moved to Newport, Campbell Co., Kentucky, 1813. Moved to Pomfret, Chautauque Co., New York, 1815. Baptized into Baptist church, 1825, at Forestville, Chautauque Co. Married first Anna P. Johnson, 2 Nov. 1826, at Canadaway (later Fredonia), Chautauque Co. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Sylvester Smith, 1 June 1831, at Amherst. Ordained a teacher, 24 Aug. 1831, at Amherst; an elder, 20 Sept. 1831, at Amherst; and a high priest, by Oct. 1831. President of Amherst branch, 1831. Served mission to New York, Jan. 1832. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Labored on Kirtland temple. Served mission to southeastern Ohio, 1835. Ordained a seventy. Helped organize Kirtland Camp migration to Missouri, 1838. Moved to Carthage, Hancock Co., Illinois, Jan. 1839; settled on west branch of Crooked Creek (eight miles from Carthage), 18 Feb. 1840. Appointed president of Crooked Creek stake, 1840. Wife died, 11 Sept. 1840. Married second Susan Bryant, 20 Oct. 1840, at Hancock Co. Moved to Ramus (later Webster), Hancock Co., Nov. 1840. Moved to Knox Co., Illinois, June 1846. Migrated to Salt Lake City, 6 May 1848–19 Oct. 1848. Elected member of House of Representatives for provisional state of Deseret, 1849. Moved to what later became Iron Co., Utah Territory, fall 1850; to Florence, Douglas Co., Nebraska Territory, 13 June 1857; and to southern Utah Territory, 1861. Died in Johnson, Kane Co., Utah Territory.