John Lycurgus Johnson b. 25 Aug 1844 Brenham, Washington, Texas, USA d. 29 Jun 1908 Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States: My Family Online

1844 - 1908 (63 years)

Name	John Lycurgus Johnson
Born	25 Aug 1844	Brenham, Washington, Texas, USA
Gender	Male
Lived	Salt Lake, Salt Lake, Utah, USA
	from 1855 to after 1860
Lived	Laketown, Rich, Utah, USA
	from the mid 1860's to 1870
Lived	Washington County, Texas, USA
	until 9 years old
Died	29 Jun 1908	Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States
		Death Certificate for Lycurgus Johnson
Buried	1 Jul 1908	Rockpoint Cemetery, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States
		Lycurgus Johnson Headstone Find A Grave Memorial# 5527639
Person ID	I11	My Family Tree \| Collett-Williams, Raynor-Armstrong
Last Modified	15 Dec 2015

Father	Willis F. Johnson, b. 1 May 1806, North Carolina, USA , d. 20 Dec 1853, Brenham, Washington, Texas, USA (Age 47 years)
Mother	Nancy Reddick Greer, b. 9 Aug 1805, Hillsboro, Jasper, Georgia, USA , d. 9 Oct 1878, Fairview, Lincoln, Wyoming, USA (Age 73 years)
Married	Abt 1825
Family ID	F5	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Cora Isabella Davis, b. 25 Oct 1847, Bolton, Warren, New York, USA , d. 10 Feb 1926, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States (Age 78 years)

Married 1 Mar 1867 Saint Charles, Oneida, Idaho Territory, United States

Notes

Lycurgus Johnson was born in Brennam, Washington County, Texas, August 25, 1844 to Nancy Reddick Greer and Willis Johnson. His father died when Lycurgus was about 8 years old. Mormon missionaries converted his mother and some of his older siblings in 1854 and the next year most of the family traveled by wagon to Salt Lake, Utah. Lycurgus lived with his mother, brother Alfred, sisters Victoria and Nancy, and cousin Adeline York in the Greater Salt Lake 6th Ward until after 1860. The family then moved to the Bear Lake area of northern Utah and lived there for about 10 years. Lycurgus married Cora Isabella Davis 1 March 1867 and had their first child Willis Lycurgus in St. Charles, Idaho on the northwest end of Bear Lake. The family moved to the south end of Bear Lake and there Willis died in September 1870. The couple had seven children in the Bear Lake area but only Warren, Alfred, and Snellen lived past the age of 2. Lycurgus was appointed Constable of the Lake Precinct of Rich County on August 1, 1870. Having been asked by Church leaders, in 1878 they moved along with his brother Alfred Summers Johnson, Joseph Hardy Sr., and Allen Davis families to Ashley Valley or the area of present day Vernal, Utah. Nancy Reddick Greer Johnson Sprouse, the mother of Lycurgus, was killed in a tragic accident on the way to Ashley Valley. In 1879 excitement with the Indians forced families to move their cabins to Ashley Town which was located 2.5 miles northwest of Vernal. Lycurgus was about 35 years old at this time. He opened one of the first stores in Ashley Town. He became the second postmaster of the valley in September 1879 and was also elected the first sheriff on August 2, 1880 and served for two terms. He served three terms as Selectman, 1882 to 1888 while acting as Deputy United States Marshal. Four children were born in Ashley Town including Clarence, Nancy, Cora and Hazel. They lived in Ashley Town for nine years. Lycurgus built the 2nd flour mill in Ashley Valley in 1885 which operated for over 20 years. After 7 years he finished building the ?Rock House? in 1888 from large stones cut from Ashley Canyon. The home stood on 19 acres complete with excellent irrigation and built close to the flour mill. The family then moved to Maeser and lived there for twenty years. He moved his store from Ashley Town to Vernal and sold general merchandise and furniture under the name L. Johnson & Sons as all his sons participated in his business ventures. Lycurgus represented Ashley Valley in the Territorial Assembly in 1890 and also in the Constitutional Convention in 1894 and became one of the 99 signers of the Utah constitution in 1895. In the late 1890?s Lycurgus won vast contracts including duty to supply the government with wood at $3.50 per cord and 80,000 pounds of bran at $1.30 per hundred. He was appointed the general contractor for the building of the Stake Tabernacle in Vernal in 1900 and completed that work in 1907. In 1905 Lycurgus was elected Mayor of Vernal and filled the office January 2, 1906. By the end of this life he had acquired considerable real estate and wealth through vast enterprises including commerce, stock, water interests, and mining. He died June 29, 1908 and is buried at the Rockpoint Cemetery in Vernal.

Children

	1. Willis Lycurgus Johnson, b. 18 Mar 1869, St. Charles, Bear Lake, Idaho, USA , d. 14 Sep 1870 (Age 1 years)
+	2. James Warren Johnson, b. 25 Oct 1870, Laketown, Rich, Utah, USA , d. 22 Jun 1905, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States (Age 34 years)
	3. Nathan Johnson, b. 2 Apr 1872, Laketown, Rich, Utah, USA , d. 15 Mar 1873, Laketown, Rich, Utah, USA (Age 0 years)
	4. Alfred Nathaniel Johnson, b. 2 Apr 1872, Laketown, Rich, Utah, USA , d. 19 Jun 1958, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States (Age 86 years)
+	5. Snellen Ichabod Johnson, b. 3 Sep 1874, Laketown, Rich, Utah, USA , d. 28 May 1939, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States (Age 64 years)
	6. Allen Eugene Johnson, b. 28 Feb 1876, Laketown, Rich, Utah, USA , d. 15 Mar 1876, Laketown, Rich, Utah, USA (Age 0 years)
	7. LeRoy "Roy" Johnson, b. 18 Sep 1877, Laketown, Rich, Utah, USA , d. 20 Apr 1879 (Age 1 years)
	8. Clarence Irwin Johnson, b. 23 Mar 1879, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States , d. 8 Jan 1958, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA (Age 78 years)
	9. Nancy Pearl Johnson, b. 16 Apr 1881, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States , d. 21 Jan 1946, Long Beach, Los Angeles, California, USA (Age 64 years)
	10. Cora Myrtle Johnson, b. 21 Apr 1883, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States , d. 13 Mar 1948, Long Beach, Los Angeles, California, USA (Age 64 years)
	11. Hazel Johnson, b. 23 Sep 1886, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States , d. 17 Nov 1918, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States (Age 32 years)

Last Modified 25 Aug 2015

Family ID F2 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Event Map

	Born - 25 Aug 1844 - Brenham, Washington, Texas, USA
	Lived - from 1855 to after 1860 - - Salt Lake, Salt Lake, Utah, USA
	Lived - from the mid 1860's to 1870 - - Laketown, Rich, Utah, USA
	Lived - until 9 years old - - Washington County, Texas, USA
	Married - 1 Mar 1867 - Saint Charles, Oneida, Idaho Territory, United States
	Died - 29 Jun 1908 - Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States
	Buried - 1 Jul 1908 - Rockpoint Cemetery, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States

= Link to Google Earth

Photos » Slide Show		John Lycurgus Johnson Caption: Sheriff Lycurgus Johnson, 25 August 1844 Source: Uintah County Library Regional History Center
		The Children of John L. and Cora I. Johnson in 1890 Pearl, Clarence, Myrtle, and Hazel Johnson
		Lycurgus and Cora Johnson Source: Book Title: Johnson - Greer - Davis Connection Author: June Belcher Roberts Page: 10 Notes: Includes Johnson, Davis, Greer, Belcher, King, and related families
		Lycurgus and Cora Johnson Family About June 1886 in Maeser - Utah From left to right; Warren, Julia Dillman, Alf, Snell, Pearl, Cora (Hazel not born yet), Myrtle, Lycurgus, Clair (sitting in front), Pete Dillman and Joe Hardy (standing in back).
		Lycurgus Johnson Home in Maeser circa 1889 Source: Book Title: Johnson - Greer - Davis Connection Author: June Belcher Roberts Page: 23
		L Johnson & Sons Consolidated Implement Company Main Street in Vernal, Utah Circa 1905 - the Johnson home is the home left of the County Building Source: Book Title: Johnson - Greer - Davis Connection Author: June Belcher Roberts Page: 30
		Lycurgus Johnson's store on east Main Street in Vernal Oxen resting in front of Lycurgus Johnson's store on east Main Street in Vernal before pulling a wagon back to the mill.
		Lycurgus Johnson Big Elephant Store Lycurgus Johnson Store or the Big Elephant Store was located on the corner of Vernal Avenue and North Main Street
		Portrait of Lycurgus Johnson, Vernal City Mayor, 1906-1907 Photographer: Arnold Baker
		Chellus Hall and Lycurgus Johnson Portrait of Chellus Hall (left) and Lycurgus Johnson Identifier: 0924.tif
		L Johnson & Co Furniture & General Merchandise & Machinery Lycurgus Johnson's store, advertised as selling furniture, general merchandise and machinery, was located on the southeast corner of the Main Street and Vernal Avenue intersection. Standing in front of the building are Rube Collett, Mrs. Cora Johnson, Roy Colton, and other unidentified men.
		Lycurgus Johnson's Flour Mill in Maeser, Utah Also located at the Uintah County Library, Vernal, Utah Photographer: Thorne, L.C. Identifier: 1488.tif Courtesy of Lyle and Orilla Johnson
		Elephant Store early 1900's Lycurgus and his sons operated this store located on the Northeast corner of Uintah (now Main Street) and Vernal Avenues. Unidentified persons stand in front of the store. The image is also located at the Uintah County Library http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/VE_Photos/id/9503/rec/45 Courtesy of Lyle and Orilla Johnson
		Johnson Store in Maeser, Utah Unidentified people stand in front of a local business located on the corner of 2500 West and 500 North in the Maeser area. The business had been owned by Lycurgus Johnson. See also: http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/VE_Photos/id/9396/rec/2 Courtesy of Lyle and Orilla Johnson
		Main Street Vernal, Utah before 1915 Looking west from the Vernal Avenue intersection. This photo was taken prior to 1915, as that was when the Coltharp building became the Bank of Vernal, the Ashley Co-op can be seen across the street from the Coltharp store. Courtesy of Lyle and Orilla Johnson
		Warren and his father Lycurgus Johnson about 1882 Courtesy of Lyle and Orilla Johnson
		Portrait of Lycurgus Johnson Courtesy of Lyle and Orilla Johnson
		L. Johnson & Sons Store in Vernal, Utah about 1910 Businesses from left to right: L. Johnson & Sons "Elephant Store", Lycurgus Johnson's office building (county court sessions held here before courthouse was built), Grew and Marin Hides (Previously Pieronnet Saloon from 1898), Harvey Woods Restaurant, Uintah Saloon, Dick Veltman's Home, Lycurgus Johnson Home

Documents » Slide Show		1850 US Census for Willis and Nancy Johnson Willis Johnson 45 North Carolina Farmer $2,500 N R Johnson 44 Georgia S M Johnson 18 Georgia S A Johnson 15 Georgia M W Johnson 13 Alabama A S Johnson 11 Alabama James Johnson 9 Alabama H V Johnson 8 Alabama Nancy Johnson 7 Alabama L P Johnson 11 Texas W S Johnson 3 Texas J C Parker 36 Texas 29 October 1850
		1856 US Census for Nancy Reddick Greer Johnson Sprouse Hometown in 1856: Greater Salt Lake 6th Ward, Utah Territory John Sprouse Nancy Sprouse Victoria Johnson Nancy Johnson Lycurgus Johnson Eleanor Johnson (Unknown) James York (Widower of Mary Willmirth Johnson) Adaline York (Daughter of James York) Note - page 9 lists Nancy Greer, widow of Nathaniel Hunt Greer and 7 children
		Allday case 2332 vs Johnsons - Suit over slave named Allen of Willis Johnson Texas Ranger. (Brenham, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 37, Ed. 1, Friday, February 25, 1859 Lancaster, J., editor. Texas Ranger. (Brenham, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 37, Ed. 1, Friday, February 25, 1859, Newspaper, February 25, 1859; digital images, (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48854/ : accessed March 11, 2013), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, Austin, Texas.
		Washington County, Texas District Court Minutes for Sarah Allday vs Thomas Irvin 8 October 1858 - 13 October 1860
		1860 US Census for Nancy Reddick Greer Johnson Sprouse Hometown in 1860: 6th Ward of Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, USA N R Sprouse 54 (Nancy Reddick Greer Johnson Sprouse) Albert S Sprouse 25 (Alfred S. Johnson) Deborah Sprouse 18 (Deborah Elizabeth Hardy Johnson, wife of Alfred S.) Lycurgus Sprouse 15 (Lycurgus Johnson) Adeline Sprouse 6 (Adeline York) Alfred Sprouse 1 (Alfred Johnson, son of Alfred and Deborah Johnson)
		1870 US Census for Lycurgus and Cora Johnson Home in 1870: Laketown, Rich County, Utah Territory Lycurgus Johnson 25 Cora Johnson 21 Willis L Johnson 1 Nancy Johnson 65 Adeline York 17 Living next door to Snellen Marion "Cub" and Sarah Hunt Greer Johnson family
		Lycurgus and Cora Johnson - 1880 US Census Lycurgus Johnson 35 Cora Johnson 32 Warren Johnson 9 Alfred Johnson 7 S. Johnson 5 Clarance Johnson 1 Charlie (Laborer) 31 Home in 1880: Ashley, Uintah, Utah Occupation: Stock Raiser
		General View of Salt Lake City, Utah Territory Antique wood-cut engraving entitled "GENERAL VIEW OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TERRITORY" was published in "Harper's Weekly" May 1858
		L Johnson Company Stock Certificate Dated: 21 August 1893 Source: Book Title: Johnson - Greer - Davis Connection Author: June Belcher Roberts Page: 33

Histories » Slide Show		Journal Excerpt of Edward Stevenson Source: http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneerdetails/1,15791,4018-1-17776,00.html
		Johnson-Greer-Davis Connection A genealogical book compiled by June Belcher Roberts showing the ancestry of Cora Myrtle Johnson and the connections to the Greer and Davis lines. Many photographs, stories, and histories are included in this book of 230 pages.
		Autobiography of Dickson Hamblin Greer Excerpt Source: http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneerdetails/1,15791,4018-1-17776,00.html
		Sylvester Henry Earl Diary Excerpt Source: http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneerdetails/1,15791,4018-1-17776,00.html
		William Brockerman Wright Diary Excerpt Source: http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompanysources/1,16272,4019-1-69,00.html
		John Lycurgus Johnson - Pioneers and prominent men of Utah Source: Book Title: Pioneers and prominent men of Utah Publication: Salt Lake City, Utah : Utah Pioneers Book, 1913 Subject Class: 979.2 D3 Page 971
		A History of Rich County by Robert E. Parson Johnson, Snellen M. "Cub" pgs. 104,328 Publication: Salt Lake City, Utah : Utah State Historical Society, Rich County Commission, c1996
		Builders of Uintah by Daughters of Utah Pioneers Excellent source for information on the Lycurgus Johnson family Publication: Springville, Utah : Art City Pub., 1947
		Land of sky-blue water by Dr. Russell R. Rich Snellon Marion "Cub" Johnson pgs. 173, 175 James Johnson pg. 186 "List of pioneers called in conference in October 1870 to help Charles C. Rich and Lorenzo Snow settle the "Northern" part of Utah."

Albums		Constitution of the State of Utah (2) Lycurgus Johnson was one of the 99 signers of the constitution of Utah on 8 May 1895
		Lycurgus Johnson Newspaper Clippings (42) Selected newspaper clippings related to Lycurgus Johnson
		John Lycurgus Johnson Ledger (29) 1900 Meadowville, Utah

Notes

"Lycurgus "Curg" Johnson was a Texan whose family had migrated to Bear Lake, Idaho. In 1878 LDS Church officials asked the Johnson clan to resettle in Ashley Valley. Besides operating several businesses in the valley, Johnson also served as the first elected sheriff of Uintah County, a selectman and a deputy U.S. Marshal. He represented the county in the 1890 territorial assemble, attended the Constitutional Convention in 1894 and was elected Vernal City mayor in 1905. Johnson also served as Ashley's second postmaster.1 "Johnson, a well-known entrepreneur opened a general merchandise store with two of his sons, Alfred and Snellen." About 1880 he purchased the Hatch store in Ashley Center, located on the southeast corner of the town's main intersection. He also owned and operated a flour mill, which he built in 1885...2 and one in Maeser in 1888.4 "In the fall of 1893 the Uintah Milling & Flume company was founded by Dry Fork and Ashley Valley water users. The company was begun with $26,000 in their coffers" and with Lycurgus Johnson as president.3

1 Burton, Doris Karren, Settlements of Uintah County: Digging Deeper, Uintah County Library, 1998, p. 41.
2 Ibid., p. 39.
3 Ibid., p. 158.
4 Ibid., p. 189.
2 Ibid., p. 39.

Pioneers and prominent men of Utah by Frank Ellwood Esshom, page 149:

JOHNSON, JOHN LYCURGUS (son of Willis Johnson and
Nancy Greer of Brennen, Tex.). Born Aug. 25, 1844, Brennen.
Came to Utah in 1854.

Married Cora Isabella Davis March 1, 1867, at St. Charles,
Idaho (daughter of Nathan Cutler Davis and Isabella
Wells, Bolton, Warren county, N. Y., pioneers to Utah Oct.
1857 with John Smith company). She was born Oct. 25,
1847, Bolton, N. Y. Came to Utah Oct. 1857. Their chil-
dren: Willis Lycurgus b. March 18, 1869, d. child; James
Warren b. Oct. 25, 1870, m. Minerva Wilkins; Nathan b.
April 2, 1872, d. infant; Alfred N. b. April 2, 1872, m. Mary
De Freeze; Snellen b. Sept. 3, 1874, m. Genevieve Sprouse;
Eugene b. Feb. 28, 1876, d. child; Le Roy b. Sept. 18, 1877,
d. child; Clarence Irwin b. March 23, 1879. m. Ada May
Rich; Nancy Pearl b. April 16. 1881, m. Brigham Chris-
tensen; Cora Myrtle b. April 21, 1883, m. Edward Harvey
Belcher; Hazel b. Sept. 23, 1886.

High priest; high councilor; ward teacher. Settled at
St. Charles, Idaho, In 1864; moved to Vernal, Utah, 1879.
Delegate to state constitutional convention; member of
state legislature in 1898; United States marshal several
years; county sheriff; county commissioner; mayor of the
city; school trustee. Farmer.