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Joseph Ellis Johnson papers, 1831-1964
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Johnson, Joseph Ellis, 1817-1882
- Title
- Joseph Ellis Johnson papers
- Dates
- 1831-1964 (inclusive)18311964
- Quantity
- 9.5 linear feet, (12 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
- Collection Number
- MS 0110
- Summary
- The Joseph Ellis Johnson papers (1831-1964) consist of the personal and family papers of Joseph E. Johnson (1817-1882), a writer, politician, and businessman who settled in St. George, Utah, during the latter nineteenth century. Included are diaries, correspondence, receipts, deeds, news articles, and other papers. Click here to view the digitized items from the collection.
- Repository
-
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860
Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The following autobiography was written by Joseph Ellis Johnson on the eve of his departure from St. George, Utah, in a company of Mormon saints to begin new settlements in Arizona.
J. E. Johnson. Was born at pomfret, Chautauqua Co., New York, on the 28th of April, 1817. Moved to Kirtland, Ohio in 1832. Baptized as a Latter-day Saint in 1833. Went with the Kirtland Camp in 1838. Taught school in Springfield, Ill. in 1840. Went to Nauvoo, Ill. in 1840. Married to Harriet Snider by Joseph Smith in 1841 [Note: marriage to Harriet was actually Oct. 6, 1840]. Accompanied Joseph and Hyrum Smith on their way to Carthage jail. Was taken prisoner when mob entered Nauvoo. Went to Miller's Hollow, now Concil Bluffs, in 1848. Built the first house in Pottawattamie county (other than log cabin). Was postmaster at Council Bluffs for five years and obtained a change of name from "Kanesville" to Council Bluffs. Was a member of the first city council for several years. Established the Council Bluffs Bugle in 1852. Office and store destroyed by fire in 1853. Restored and published until 1856. The Bugle had much to do in getting the capital of Nebraska located at Omaha.
Was elected to the Nebraska legislature but was too much of a Democrat to get a seat. Opened the first store on the site of Omaha and sent the first train of goods to the Denver, Colorado (Cherry Creek) mines. In '54 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. Wrote the first article published favoring the North Platte route for the Pacific Railroad, and contended for the same until so located. Crossed the plains to Utah and back in 1850. In 1857 started the Crescent City Oracle and laid out the town of that name. In 1858 published the Council Bluffs Press. In 1858-'60-'61 published The Huntsman's Echo at Wood River, Nebraska. In 1861 moved to Utah. In '63 established the Farmer's Oracle at Spring Lake Villa, Utah county. In 1865, removed to St. George and began a supply garden and nursery. In 1868-'69 published Our Dixie Times, afterward the Rio Virgen Times. In 1870 published the Utah Pomologist and Gardner, monthly for several years. In 1876 went to Silver Reef and put up a store and printing office but sold part of office before paper was fairly started. In 1879 was burned out, with others. Restored store immediately, on larger scale.
Joseph Ellis Johnson died on 17 December 1882 after an illness. He left behind three wives--Harriet Snider, Hannah Goddard, and Eliza Saunders. He was the father of twenty-eight children.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Joseph Ellis Johnson papers (1831-1964) consist of the personal and family papers of Joseph E. Johnson (1817-1882). Johnson was a prolific writer, leaving a legacy of seven original diaries written, at broken intervals, between 1850 and 1876. The diaries give detailed accounts of his various travels. The collection also contains his daybooks, account books, and record books.
Correspondence between members of the Johnson family makes up a great part of the collection. From his travels, Johnson wrote many letters, sending his love and instructions to his wives and children, and also wrote to his hired help who were running his business establishments. Johnson and his third wife, Eliza, corresponded most frequently as conditions prevented them from living in the same locality until they arrived in Utah.
Deeds, receipts, documents, newspapers, and recipes for Johnson's patent medicines are in the collection. Other memorabilia include advertisements, invitations, theater programs, and family bulletins. An original manuscript and research correspondence for the book J.E.J.: Trail to Sundown by Johnson's son, Rufus, are also in the collection.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Preferred Citation
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Separated Materials
See also the Joseph Ellis Johnson photograph collection (P0110) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Processing Note
Processed by Della L. Dye, Dorothy G. Rasmussen, and others in 1977-1990s.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
I: Joseph Ellis JohnsonReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Diaries |
|||
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 1 | Diary No. 1 and 1A |
1848 July 5-1850 August 14 |
1 | 2 | Diary No. 2 |
1852 January 1-October |
1 | 3 | Diary No. 3 |
1859 April 28-July 1 |
1 | 4 | Diary No. 4 and 5
For diary no. 6, see diary no. 1A in folder 1.
|
1859 August 3-October 1; 1860 January 1-June 2 |
1 | 5 | Diary No. 7 |
1876 February 24-May 4 |
Daybooks and Account Books |
|||
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 1 | Books 1-2
Merchandise account book and account and record book.
|
1854; 1856 |
2 | 2 | Books 3-4
Account book and John Snider, Crescent City, Iowa, account book.
|
1857-1858 |
2 | 3 | Books 5-6
Brief accounts of shareholders for Council Bluffs, Boyer Valley & Minnesota Railroad Co. and general account book.
|
1859-1865 |
2 | 4 | Books 7-8
Horticulture Association and Garden Club account book and general account book.
|
1865-1869 |
2 | 5 | Books 9-10
Garden record book and customer account book.
|
1867 |
2 | 6 | Books 11-12
Customer account book and record book of plants.
|
1867-1869 |
2 | 7 | Books 13-14
Account book and business record book.
|
1869-1975 |
2 | 8 | Books 15-16
Account book and produce account book.
|
1870-1872 |
2 | 9 | Books 17-18
Prescription drug list book and medicine purchase list book.
|
1873 |
2 | 10 | Books 19-21
Daybook, Jessie Johnson account book, and Pierce's memorandum account books.
|
1875; 1877 |
II: Charles Ellis JohnsonReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Journals, Family Record Book, Autobiography |
|||
Box | Folder | ||
3 | 1 | Journal |
1870 January 30-March 9 |
3 | 2 | Journal |
1871 |
3 | 3 | Family Record Book
Includes biographical information, notices of deaths, notes, news articles, a part guest list, and a detailed description of the building of the St. George temple.
|
|
3 | 4 | Autobiography of Charles Ellis Johnson |
1857-1926 |
III: CorrespondenceReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Correspondence, Johnson Family and A-Z |
|||
Box | Folder | ||
4 | 1 | Correspondence
|
1850 |
4 | 2 | Correspondence
|
1851-1860 |
4 | 3-7 | Correspondence
|
1857-1965 |
4 | 8 | Correspondence
|
1859; 1864 |
4 | 9 | Correspondence
|
1850-1852 |
4 | 10 | Correspondence
|
1844 |
4 | 11 | Correspondence
|
1851-1905 |
4 | 12 | Correspondence
|
1883-1926 |
4 | 13 | Correspondence
|
1903 |
4 | 14 | Correspondence
|
1897-1903 |
4 | 15 | Correspondence
|
1896-1903 |
4 | 16 | Correspondence
|
1880-1897 |
4 | 17 | Correspondence
|
1904? |
4 | 18 | Correspondence
|
1905; 1912 |
4 | 19 | Correspondence
|
1855-1880 |
4 | 20 | Correspondence
|
1851 |
4 | 21 | Correspondence
|
1905-1925 |
4 | 22 | Correspondence
|
1831 |
4 | 23 | Correspondence
|
1852-1900 |
4 | 24 | Correspondence, Almon W. Babbitt
|
1851-1856 |
4 | 25 | Correspondence, Julia Ann Babbitt
|
1853 |
4 | 26 | Correspondence, George C. Bartlett
|
1903 |
4 | 27 | Correspondence, Perry E. Brocchus
|
1852 |
4 | 28 | Correspondence, Robert S. Campbell
|
1873 |
4 | 29 | Correspondence, David Candland
|
1854 |
4 | 30 | Correspondence, B. Darby
|
1865-1868 |
4 | 31 | Correspondence, E. H. Den
|
1877 |
4 | 32 | Correspondence, George F. Evans
|
1903 |
4 | 33 | Correspondence, M. J. Finch
|
1853-1854 |
4 | 34 | Correspondence, Rosemary J. and Jesse Fox
|
1892-1944 |
4 | 35 | Correspondence, L. A. Godey
|
1856 |
4 | 36 | Correspondence, Heber J. Grant
|
1904 |
4 | 37 | Correspondence, Thomas Gregg
|
1879 |
4 | 38 | Correspondence, Martha Spence Heywood
|
1856 |
4 | 39 | Correspondence, Benjamin F. Hills
|
1853; 1861 |
4 | 40 | Correspondence, Joel Hills Family
|
1922 |
4 | 41 | Correspondence, Lew Hills
|
1861 |
5 | 1 | Correspondence, S. M. Keat
|
1892; 1895 |
5 | 2 | Correspondence, Joseph A. and Manerva Kelting
|
1852-1875 |
5 | 3 | Correspondence, Esther Melita J. and David T. Lee Baron
|
1852; 1855 |
5 | 4 | Correspondence, Joseph W. McMurrin
|
1904 |
5 | 5 | Correspondence, Frank Miller
|
1879-1882 |
5 | 6 | Correspondence, Malinda Jane Miller
|
1852-1853 |
5 | 7 | Correspondence, Clarence S. Paine
|
1905 |
5 | 8 | Correspondence, Horatio Pickett
|
1902-1903 |
5 | 9 | Correspondence, M. E. Potter
|
1880 |
5 | 10 | Correspondence, Albert K. and Josetta Johnson Ross
|
1890 |
5 | 11 | Correspondence, Charles and Elizabeth Saunders
|
1858-1906 |
5 | 12 | Correspondence, John Snider
|
1861 |
5 | 13 | Correspondence, T. B. H. Stenhouse
|
1869 |
5 | 14 | Correspondence, James E. Talmage
|
1911 |
5 | 15 | Correspondence, James D. Test
|
1856 |
5 | 16 | Correspondence, Florence Turnbaugh
|
1944 |
5 | 17 | Correspondence, Wheeler Family
|
1855-1857 |
5 | 18 | Correspondence, Ella Wheeler Wilcox
|
1903 |
5 | 19 | Correspondence, Emmie Saunders Young
|
1861; 1867 |
5 | 20 | Correspondence, Business Miscellaneous
|
1851-1864 |
5 | 21 | Correspondence, Indian Exhibition
|
1851-1852 |
5 | 22 | Correspondence, Politics Miscellaneous
|
1855-1860 |
5 | 23 | Correspondence, Medicine Miscellaneous
|
1855-1886 |
5 | 24 | Correspondence, Plants
|
1864; 1880 |
5 | 25 | Correspondence, Silver Reef
|
1879; 1882 |
5 | 26 | Correspondence, Miscellaneous
Collection of letters which deal with Joseph E. Johnson's interests and activities.
|
1855-1882 |
IV: Subject Files A-ZReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
6 | 1 | Account Book and Historical Club Ledger |
1873 |
6 | 2 | Accounts |
|
6 | 3 | Advertising Cards |
|
6 | 4 | Bicycling |
|
6 | 5 | Cooperative Stock Association, Johnson Brothers, Kane County |
|
6 | 6 | Council Bluffs, Iowa
Johnson's fire loss.
|
1853 |
6 | 7 | Crescent City Oracle |
|
6 | 8 | Deeds |
|
6 | 9 | Deseret Agriculture and Manufacturing Company |
|
6 | 10 | Desert Land Act, Salt River Valley, Arizona |
1894 |
6 | 11 | Documents |
|
6 | 12 | Inventories
Invoice of goods left by Almon W. Babbitt belonging to Joseph E. Johnson.
|
|
6 | 13 | Invitations and Dance Programs |
|
6 | 14 | Eliza Saunders Johnson, The Gem Album
|
|
6 | 15 | Ezekiel Johnson, Bulletin
|
1959-1976 |
6 | 16 | Johnson Family, Bulletin of the Johnson Pioneers of the West
|
1938 |
6 | 17 | George William Johnson vs. Jennie Johnson |
|
6 | 18 | Joel H. Johnson, Voice From the Mountains
|
1881 |
6 | 19 | Joseph E. Johnson, Brigade Surgeon Commission in Nauvoo Legion |
1866 |
6 | 20 | Joseph E. Johnson, List of Library Books |
|
6 | 21 | Joseph E. Johnson, Patriarchal Blessing |
|
7 | 1 | Johnson Pratt Drug Store, Promissory Note |
1894 |
7 | 2 | Rufus Johnson, Mission Farewell Speech |
|
7 | 3 | George W. Johnson, Jottings by the Way
|
1882 |
7 | 4 | Macedonia, Illinois, Board of Trustees Minutes |
1844-1846 |
7 | 5 | Miscellaneous |
|
7 | 6 | B. F. Johnson, " Mormonism as an Issue" |
1890 |
7 | 7-8 | News Clippings |
|
7 | 9 | Newspapers
Joseph Ellis Johnson's list of newspapers printed on his press.
|
|
7 | 10 | Perpetual Emigrating Fund Receipt |
|
7 | 11 | Photographers, Sainsbury and Johnson Advertising Materials |
|
7 | 12-14 | Poetry and Other Writings |
|
7 | 15 | Recipes for Prescriptions and Pharmacy |
|
7 | 16 | Receipts |
|
7 | 17 | Silver Reef Purchase Agreement on Print Shop |
|
7 | 18 | J. Johns, "The Fugitive Law" |
|
7 | 19 |
The Sunflower Bud
|
1898 |
7 | 20 | Vignettes and Stories
By Rosemary Johnson and others.
|
|
7 | 21 |
Washington's Vision
|
|
7 | 22 | Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association
Address announcing the organization of the central committee.
|
1876 |
V: Family Records, Research Materials, and ManuscriptReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Family Records |
|||
Box | Folder | ||
8 | 1 | Almera W. Johnson Barton
Daughter of Ezekiel and Julia Hills Johnson. Family correspondence.
|
|
8 | 2 | Blanche Alpine Johnson Akins Akers Holmes
Daughter of Harriet and Joseph Ellis Johnson. Brief biographical sketch.
|
|
8 | 3 | Charles E. Johnson
Research material.
|
|
8 | 4 | Ezekiel and Julia Hills Johnson
Research information, stories, and correspondence.
|
|
8 | 5 | Ezekiel Johnson
Born in 1869. Son of Joel Hills and Margaret Threlkeld Johnson.
|
|
8 | 6 | Hannah Goddard Johnson
Research materials, correspondence.
|
|
8 | 7 | Joel Hills Johnson
Notes and entries from his diary.
|
1857-1867 |
8 | 8-11 | Joseph Ellis Johnson
List of wives and children, ranch marker, research materials, biographies, and letters.
|
|
8 | 12-13 | Lamont and Rufus Johnson
Research materials and correspondence.
|
|
8 | 14 | Rolla V. Johnson
Research materials and correspondence.
|
|
8 | 15 | Rosemary Johnson Fox Johnson |
|
Joseph Ellis Johnson |
|||
Box | Folder | ||
9 | 1 | Cherry Creek Gold Region |
|
9 | 2 | Correspondence with Historical Societies |
1957-1959 |
9 | 3 | Genealogy, Johnson Families |
|
9 | 4 | Newspapers Published |
|
9 | 5 | Pomfret Township Research Materials |
|
Joseph Ellis Johnson Manuscript |
|||
Box | Folder | ||
10 | 1 | Copyright Permissions |
1959-1962 |
10 | 2-3 | Manuscript |
|
10 | 4 | Rejects from Manuscript |
VI: Miscellaneous Documents and AddendumReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Miscellaneous Documents |
|||
Box | Folder | ||
11 | 1-2 | Advertisements
Johnson Pratt Drug Company, Valley Tan Medicines, and others.
|
|
11 | 3 | Documents |
|
11 | 4 |
Johnson's Usher
Incomplete.
|
1885-1893 |
11 | 5 | Map of Chautauqua County, New York |
|
11 | 6-7 | News Clippings |
|
11 | 8-9 | Newspapers Published by Joseph E. Johnson |
1856-1875 |
11 | 10 | Sainsbury and Johnson Photography Advertisement |
|
11 | 11-12 | Playbills
For a grand concert in Kanesville, Iowa, and Wild West Indian Show.
|
1850 |
11 | 13 | Printed Handbills, Salt Lake City |
1890s |
11 | 14 | Theater Programs |
1887-1895 |
Addendum |
|||
Box | Folder | ||
12 | 1 | Record Book
Includes name lists, lectures, and addresses.
|
1878 |
12 | 2 | Receipt Book
For Joseph E. and Charles E. Johnson.
|
|
12 | 3 | Charles E. Johnson Letterpress Book |
1906-1907 |
12 | 4 | Homestead Certificate |
1879 |
12 | 5 | Mound City Commercial College
Scholarship certificate.
|
1872 |
12 | 6 | John D. L. Pearce Notice of Mining Claim |
1876 |
12 | 7 | Newspaper Clippings |
|
12 | 8 | Receipts |
|
12 | 9 |
Manti Herald
|
|
map-case-folder | |||
1 | Broadsides |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Latter Day Saint press
- Latter Day Saints--Diaries
Personal Names
- Babbitt, Almon W. (Almon Whiting), 1813-1856
- Johnson, Rufus David, 1882-
Family Names
- Johnson family
Form or Genre Terms
- Diaries