The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-12

lots owned by the proprietor in con-
sideration of his caring for the rest.
At that time corn and vegetables were
worth 20 cents per pound, a pfow sold
for 1925. He traded a wagon for a
small ranch near town-which in time
was exchanged for one in Oregon and
this again for a place in North Mis-
souri,, on which one of his daughters
| now resides.
In the spring of 1865 his wife and
daughters returned to Omaha, going
! oy way of Portland, San Francisco,
Panama and New York With COM
pany of Is, including his son, he re-
turned overland. Although the In
dams and road agents were trouble
| some they got through safely, one man
carrying $4,000 in gold dust
SETTLED IN SALT LAKE.
He remained in Omaha from 1865 to
1869, when he was again taken with
the western fever, sold his interests,
which then included a large farm in
| the heart of the present city of Omaha,
and QUILTED for Puget Sound. In the
winter of 1869 he arrived in Salt Lake
and decided to remain here.
He at once took an interest in public
affairs, and began work along jcurna-
listic lines, which he continued to fol-
low at intervals for many years. con-
Quoting papers at Ogden and Nephi.
and for a time acted as editor of The
Herald
ORGANIZED THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
In 1872 he organized the Democratic
party in Utah and at its first meeting
was selected as one of the delegates
to the national convention, which met
at Baltimore that year. In the sage
brush movement QSSS) he took
prominent part and his council was
ever wise and conservative. In 1872 he
was chosen as one of the delegates to
the territorial constitutional convention
and was prominent among the list of
noted and influential men who COM
posed that body.
In 1855 Mr.. Johnson was strongly en-
dorsed for the position of Indian agent,
but upon the announcement by the
president of his famous policy as to
Office holders, he promptly withdrew
his application in "A strong and char
acteristic letter TO Secretary Lamar.
Upon the reorganization of the Utah
commission in 1894 he was prominently
mentioned for a place on that board.
CARRIED UTAH'S FIRST VOTE.
When the first state convention of
his party was held, in 1896. he was en-
dorscd by resolution as its choice for
messenger to convey the first electoral
vote to the capital of the nation, and
he performed this honorable trust in
the winter following the election, hav-
ing been designated by the electors of
the new state.
During the latter years he was a
great correspondent and letter writer,
being well acquainted with many pub
lie men and having access TO the col
umnS of our best journals.
1t had been his purpose to attend a
celebration of the last national birth
day at his native place on the occa-
sion of a celebration in which all ma
tive sons and daughters of Franklin
county, Indiana, were expected to par
ticipate, but his enfeebled condition
made it only possible to transmit an
address delivered by him a half century
ago at the same place, and on a like
occasion. His first wife having died,
Mr.. Johnson was again married in 1877
to Eliza Atkinson of Salt Lake, for
merly of Doncaster, England, who sur
wives him.
He was a member of the Nebraska
and also of the Utah Historical society. /
BY his first marriage he had q fam
lily of 10 children, five of whom reached |
maturity. Ann K. married Clark r. |
vine and resides at Oregon, Mo. Mary |
Eta married Richard McMurray and |
died in Colorado; Ada H. married |
Frank Kelly and resides at Helena, |
Mont; Douglas Raymond his only son, |
resides at South Omaha Indiana |
Louisiana married Hampton Price and |
resides at Oregon. Mo. OF these only |
his third daughter, Mrs. Kelly. was
able to be with him in his last illness. |