James Warren Johnson

1870 - 1905  (34 years)

• Name	James Warren Johnson
  Born	25 Oct 1870	Laketown, Rich, Utah, USA
  Gender	Male
  Died	22 Jun 1905	Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States
  Person ID	I32	My Family Tree | Raynor-Armstrong, Collett-Williams
  Last Modified	28 Nov 2012

  
  

  Father	John Lycurgus Johnson,   b. 25 Aug 1844, Brenham, Washington, Texas, USA ,   d. 29 Jun 1908, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States  (Age 63 years)
  Mother	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.
  Family ID	F2	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Minerva Melvina Wilkins
  Married	29 May 1895	Provo, Utah, Utah, USA
  Children	1. Warren Lycurgas Johnson,   b. 7 Apr 1896, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States ,   d. 21 Sep 1945, Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States  (Age 49 years)   2. Mary Venice Johnson,   b. 29 Dec 1899, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States ,   d. 20 Jul 1955, Stockton, San Joaquin, California, United States  (Age 55 years) + 3. Cora Isis Johnson,   b. 10 Feb 1902, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States ,   d. 19 Jul 1973  (Age 71 years)   4. Arvon Iril Johnson,   b. 16 Aug 1903, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States ,   d. 20 Aug 1954, Salt Lake, Salt Lake, Utah, USA  (Age 51 years)   5. Jessie Minerva Johnson,   b. 25 Aug 1905, Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States ,   d. 29 Jan 1976, Provo, Utah, Utah, USA  (Age 70 years)
  Last Modified	12 Mar 2013
  Family ID	F8	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 25 Oct 1870 - Laketown, Rich, Utah, USA Married - 29 May 1895 - Provo, Utah, Utah, USA Died - 22 Jun 1905 - Vernal, Uintah, Utah, United States  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		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
  		Cousins Picture about 1889 Standing - Don B and LeRoy Colton (brothers) Sitting - Warren and Snellen Johnson (brothers)
  		Warren and his father Lycurgus Johnson about 1882 Courtesy of Lyle and Orilla Johnson

  
  

  Documents » Slide Show		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
  		Vernal Express newspaper article "Visits of Stake Presidency and Home Missionaries" 13 July 1899 Vernal Express,Visits of Stake Presidency and Home Missionaries, 13 July 1899, pg. 1. Courtesy of the University of Utah.
  		Deseret Evening News "Notes and Personals" 10 July 1896 Warren Johnson visits relatives before leaving for the Southern States Mission. Deseret Evening News, Notes and Personals, 10 Jul 1896, pg. 5.
  		Deseret Evening News article "Political Pointers" 31 October 1900 James Warren speaks at Democratic rally in Vernal Deseret Evening News, Political Pointers, 10 Oct 1900, pg. 1. Courtesy of the University of Utah
  		Salt Lake Herald newspaper article "Deputy Registrars Appointed" 9 July 1893 Warren Johnson appointed deputy registrar for Ashley precinct Salt Lake Herald, Deputy Registrars Appointed, 9 Jul 1893, pg. 8. Courtesy of the University of Utah.

  
  

  Headstones		James Warren Johnson Headstone Find A Grave Memorial# 52540276 Plot: B103-S4
  		James Warren Johnson Headstone (back) Find A Grave Memorial# 52540276 Plot: B103-S4

  
  

  Histories		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."