Dr. Luke S JOHNSON ²⁴

  General Notes:

History of Luke Johnson
Part 1 Page 1 Deseret News 1858-05-19

HISTORY OF LUKE JOHNSON
(BY HIMSELF.)

My grandfather, Israel Johnson, lived In Chesterfield, New Hampshire; and was much respected by his neighbors for his honesty, integrity and industry.

My father, John Johnson, was born In Chesterfield, New Hampshire, April 11, 1779. He followed the occupation of farming on a large scale, and was noted for paying his debts and living independently. He moved from Pomfret, Vermont, to Hiram, Portage Co., Ohio. He was connected with the Methodist Church for about four or five years previous to receiving the gospel.

Soon after Joseph Smith moved from the state of New York, my father, mother and Ezra Booth, a Methodist minister, went to Kirtland, to investigate Mormonism. My mother had been laboring under an attack of chronic rheumatism in the shoulder, so that she could not raise her hand to her head, for about two years; the Prophet laid hands upon her, and she was healed immediately.

My father was satisfied in regard to the truth of Mormonism, and was baptized by Joseph Smith, jun., in the winter of 1830-1, and furnished him and his family a home, whole he translated a portion of the Bible.

In the fall of 1831, while Joseph was yet at my father's, a mob of forty or fifty came to his house, a few entered his room in the middle of the night, and Carnot Mason dragged Joseph out of bed by the hair of his head; he was then seized by as many as could get hold of him, and taken about forty rods from the Mine, stretched on a board, and tantalized in the most insulting and brutal manner; they tore off the few night clothes that be had on, for the purpose of emasculating him, and had Dr. Dennison there to perform the operation; but when the Dr. saw the Prophet stripped and stretched on the plank, his heart failed him, an he refused to operate; the mob then scratched his body all over, saying, "Damn you, this is the way the Holy Ghost falls upon you." And in attempting to force open his jaws, they broke one of his front teeth, to pour a vial of some obnoxious drug into his mouth.

The mob became divided, and did not succeed; but poured tar over him and then stuck feathers in it and left him, and went to an old brick yard to wash themselves and bury their filthy clothes. At this place a vial was dropped, the contents of which ran out and killed the grass. About the same time, part of the mob wept to the house that Sidney Rigdon occupied, and dragged him out, and besmeared him with tar and feathers, My father, hearing the outcry of the family, went to the door, but finding it held by some one on the outside, he called for his gun, when those who held the door left; he pursued, and was knocked down his collar bone was broken he was taken back to the house, and hands laid upon him by David Whitmer, and immediately healed. A few minutes after this accident, we heard the voice of Joseph calling for a blanket; some person handed him one, and he came in, the tar trickling down his face; his wife was very much alarmed, supposing it to, be blood, until he came near enough to see that it was tar. My mother got sire lard, and rubbed it upon him to get the tar off, which they succeeded in removing.

Waste, who was the strongest man on the Western Reserve, had boasted that he could take Joseph out alone; at the time they were taking him out of the house, Waste had hold of one foot, Joseph drew up his leg anti gave him a kick, which sent him sprawling in the street. He afterwards said that the Prophet was the most powerful man he ever had hold of in his life.

Soon after this persecution, Mason had an attack of the spinal affection. Fullars, one of the mobocrats, died of the cholera in Cleveland, Dr. Dennison was sent to the penitentiary for ten years, and died before the term expired.

[To be continued.]
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History of Luke Johnson part 2
Page 1 Deseret News 1858-05-26

HISTORY OF LUKE JOHNSONS
(BY HIMSELF.)
[Continued]

My father moved to Kirtland, and was ordained to the office of high priest, and was a member of the first High Council organized in the church. He died in Kirtland in 1843

I was born in Pomfret, Windsor co., Vermont, November 3rd, 1807. In the early life I assister my father in farming, and remained with him until I received the gospel, and was baptized by Joseph smith, May 10, 1831. Soon thereafter I Was ordained a priest by Christian Whitmer, and performed a mission to the southern part of Ohio, in the company with Robert Rathburn, where we baptized several and organized a branch in Chppewa.

In company with Sidnet Rigdon, I want on a mission to New Partage, where we baptized about fifty or sixty, and organized a branch; from thence we journeyed to Pittsburgh (in the vanity where Sidney was born and raised) where we preached the gospel to his oldest brother, also several others in the neighborhood, and we organized a branch.

At a conference in Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, I was ordained a high priest by Joseph Smith. At this conference the eleven witnesses to the Book of Mormon, with uplifted hands, bore their solemn testimony to the truth of that book, as did also the Prophet Joseph.

In January, 1832, I was appointed by revelation, in the company with W. E. Mc Lellin, to go on a mission south. We preached several times, and, arriving at Middlebury, Portage Co., bro. Mc Lellin got a situation behind a counter to sell tapes, &c., and I, preferring not to proceed along, returned to the town of Hiram, and the Prophet appointed Seymour Brunson in his stead, with whom I traveled through Ohio, Virginia and Kentucky. We baptized over one hundred persons, and organized a branch in Lawrence Co., Ohio, and another in Cabal Co., Virginia, and returned to Hiram.

Dec. 28, 1832, in company with Hazon Aldrich I started and resumed my to the south county. On the 31st, at Worcester, we baptized two.

January 19, 1833, preach in Charleston, Jackson Co., where I baptized several of the Stoker family. On the 27th, met bro. Zerubbabel Snow, and baptized one. We visited the branches, preached and set the churches in order as we journeyed along. Feb. 24, returned to Hiram, and assisted my father on his farm during the summer.

In the fall of 1833, I visited the branches raised up in Lawrence Co., Ohio, and preached and baptized in that vicinity.

November 1st, I married Susan Harminda Poteet, in Cabal Co., Virginia.

Feb. 17, 1834, at the organization of the first High council, which was in Kirtland, I was chosen a member.

In May I started with Zion's camp for Missouri, on which journey I acted as pioneer, and went before the camp, marked the signs of the times, and the situation of our enemies. Having made a declaration before I started, that I would go into Jackson Co., or died in the attempt, in company with my brother Lyman and others I procured a boat, and rowed over the Mo. River and landed in Jackson Co., where we discharged three rounds of our small arms, and immediately got into the boat, and with all our energies rowed back. Meanwhile the mob in Jackson Co. lined the shore, and commenced firing upon us; after landing, I returned fire and shot across the Mo. River.

I returned to Kirtland, in Captain Heber C. Kimball's company, and received my blessing in common with the member of Zion's camp.

Feb. 14, 1835, I was chosen, and on the 15th ordained on of the Twelve Apostles, at the organization of the quorum; and with them traveled during the summer, through the Eastern States, holding conferences, preaching the gospel and regulating the churches, returning to Kirtland in September.

I attended Hebrew school during the winter, and received my blessing in the house of the Lord in the spring of 1836; after which I started on a mission to Canada, preaching through the state of New York on the way. I baptized many, and organized a branch in Canada, and returned to Kirtland in the fall.

A Baptist clergyman from the state of New York, who had been acquainted with the Prophet Joseph in his early life, called upon him and stayed all night. Joseph made the minister welcome, and treated him hospitable and respectfully; but, when breakfast was over next morning, he called Joseph a hypocrite, a liar, an imposter and a false prophet, and called upon him to repent. Joseph boxed his ears with both hands, and, turning his face towards the door, kick him into the street. He immediately went before a magistrate, and swore out a writ against Joseph for assault and battery. I saw the operation, and followed the minister into the Squire's office, and demanded a writ for his apprehension, for provoking an assault; the clerk filled up the writ I called for first-the minister, fearing trouble, paid for his writ and withdrew without it, and made his way post haste for Cuyahoga Co.; I followed him on horseback, making him travel pretty lively until he got a few rods over the line when I overtook him, and said, "Sir, you are lucky to have got over the line, and out of my jurisdiction, or I should have arrested you."

Jan. 12, 1838, I learned that Sheriff Kimball was about to arrest Joseph Smith, on a charge of illegal banking, and knowing that it would cost him as expensive lawsuit, and perhaps end in imprisonment, I went to the French farm, where he resided, and arrested him on an execution for his person, in the absence of property to pay a judgment of $50, which I had at the time, which prevented Kimball from arresting him. Joseph settled the execution, and thanked me for my interference, and started that evening for Missouri: this was the last time I ever was the Prophet.

Soon after, I was in Kirtland, and hearing that a vexatious writ had been sworn out by John C. White against Joseph Smith, sen., it being supposed he was liable to a prosecution in consequence of his manner of solemnizing marriages, I begged the privilege of serving the writ, and arrested the old gentleman, and took him to the magistrate's office. The court not being ready to attend the case, I put him in a small room adjoining the entrance from the office. I also allowed his son Hyrum to accompany him. I took a nail out from over the window sash, left the room and locked the door, and commenced telling stories in the court room, to raise a laugh, for I was afraid the would hear Father Smith getting out of the window; when the court called for the prisoner, I stepped into the room in the dark and slipped the nail into its place in the widow, and went back and told the court that the prisoner had made his escape. White and others rushed into the room, and examined the fastening and found them all secure, which created much surprise how the prisoner had got out. I had previously told John F. Boynton, to go and assist Father Smith out of the window. Hyrum got out first, then he and Boynton assisted the old man out, he thereby escaped bonds or imprisonment, and an expensive and vexatious lawsuit.

Having partaken of the spirit of speculation, which at that time was possessed by many of the Saints and elders, my mind became darkened, and I was left to pursue my own course. I lost the Spirit of God, and neglected my duty; the consequence was, that at a conference held in Kirtland, Sept. 3^rd, 1837, in company with my bro. Lyman and John F. Boynton, I was cut off from the church, privileged with confessing and making satisfaction.

In the spring of 1838, Dr. Frederick G. Williams was arrested at Willoughby, as he was on his way to Missouri, on a frivolous and vexatious process; he sent to Kirtland for me to help him. On receipt of his message, I repaired fourth with to Willoughby, and learned that he was in the hands of an officer named Cranston, and that he was to have a trial before Esqr. Bates at early candle light. I immediately removed his horse and buggy out of the county, and went to him; he asked me if I could render him any assistance, as this was a vexatious suit. I told him I could, and that I had sent his horse and buggy out of the county, and I furnish him a horse which should be held in the street opposite the office, by Bradford W. Elliot, at the lighting of the candles. I sat at the door of the courtroom, the key being on the outside; Cranston and Dr. Williams were walking the room, and Cranston was observing that prisoner never made his escape from him. Just as the candles were lighting, I opened the door, the Dr. walked out, unobserved by Cranston; immediately followed him, and, locking the door, tosses the key a few rods from the office; the court hearing the door locked, jumped up, upsetting the table and candles, and mixed up in great confusion; the cry was, "Open the door yourself." At length Cranston succeeded in getting out by a hatchway through a hatter's shop below, and overtaking me (as I was quietly walking down the street towards Kirtland) slapped me on the shoulder, asking where Dr. Williams had gone to. I replied I am not his keeper; whereupon the gave me the second and third slap on the shoulder, and in a loud tone, demanded of me to inform him: I had my powder flask in my pocket, which I took out and told him, I would let him know where the Dr. was, and snapping the spring of my flask at him several times, he fell down, but kept running several rods upon his hands and feet: when he got back to the court, he reported that he had narrowly escaped with his life

From this time up to the death of Joseph Smith, I spent my time in teaching school on Cabal Co., Virginia, for about a year, devoting my leisure time in reading works on medicine. I returned to Kirtland and continued the study of medicine, and attended a course of lectures in the botanical college at Cincinnati, receiving a certificate from Professor Curtis; afterwards practiced in Kirtland, and engaged in various occupations to enable me to obtain a living; but did not officiate in any religious duties.
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1835
Feb. Sat. .14. At a special meeting held in Kirtland twelve Apostles were chosen by the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon according to revelation (Doe. and Cov., Sec. 18 : 37) , namely : Thos. B. Marsh, David W. Patten, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Wm. E. McLellin, Parley P. Pratt, Luke S. Johnson, Wm. Smith, Orson Pratt, John F. Boynton and Lyman E. Johnson. Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball were ordained and
blessed the same day.
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1837
September. Sun. 3.-At a conference, held at Kirtland, Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith, sen., Hyrum Smith and John Smith were appointed assistant counselors to the First Presidency. Luke S. Johnson, Lyman E. Johnson and John F. Boynton, three of the Twelve Apostles, were disfellowshipped.

Sun. 10.---Luke S. Johnson, Lyman E. Johnson and John F. Boynton made confessions and were received back into fellowship. ^163,164,165

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census, 1850, District 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa, USA. In 1850 he was a Physician.

2. Immigration, 1853, Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA. ¹⁶² Departing 1853 Council Bluff, Iowa. Travel Company: Wife-America Clark, Daughters- Emily Susan, Sarah Eliza Virginia, Panny Catherine, Vashtia Emily, Susan Marinda, Charlotte Elizabeth (infant); Sons - James Olmstead, Solomon Luke, Orson Albert, Mark Anthony. Traveling on the Mormon Trail, arriving 1853 Salt Lake City.

3. Residence, 1858, Saint John, Tooele, Utah, USA. ¹⁶⁶ In Tooele co., St John was founded in 1858 by Luke Johnson.

Luke married America Morgan CLARK, daughter of John Norman CLARK and Eliza SANDIFER, on 3 Mar 1847 in Winter Quarters.¹⁶¹ (America Morgan CLARK was born on 23 Feb 1824 in , Patrick, Virginia,^161,167 died on 12 Mar 1900 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, USA ¹⁶⁸ and was buried on 13 Mar 1900 in Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah, USA ^167,168.)

Luke next married Susan Arminda POTEET on 1 Nov 1833 in Huntington, Cabell, Virginia, USA.¹⁶²

  Marriage Notes:

Huntington, Cabell, Virginia is now in Huntington, Cabell, West Virginia. ¹⁶²