SAMUEL SMITH JOHNSON (Prepared by his nephew - - Udell Jolley) Samuel Smith Johnson, ninth child of Seth Johnson and Martha Jane Stratton Johnson, was born in Hillsdale, Garfield County, Utah, on April 8, 1885. When he was but six weeks old, his family moved to yellow Creek, thirty miles southeast of Hillsdale, where they lived on a ranch. His early boyhood days were spent in that vicinity, especially in Georgetown, a small settlement laid out by his father soon after moving on the ranch at Yellow Creek. His schooling was obtained in Cannonville and Tropic. At the age of eight, he moved to Tropic. His earlier years were spent in farming, stock raising, and various other occupations, which existed in that region. In 1903, Samuel went with some of his friends to Lowell, Wyoming. He helped to develop that section by building canals, working on a sawmill, and on the railroad, as it extended into the Big Horn Basin. After working in Wyoming for three years, he returned to his home in Utah, where he remained for a period of six months, during which time he was occupied in repairing a section of railroad which had been washed out by a flood. He then returned to Wyoming for the next six years. In 1907, he worked on the Huntly Canal in Montana, and then returned to Wyoming to continue his work there. During the summer of 1910 he labored on the railroad in Casper, Wyoming. In the fall of 1910, he came to Idaho, where his mother was ill at the home of his sister Lydia Jolley, near Shelley, Idaho. His mother died in October, and he returned to his home in Cannonville. During that winter, he met Thirza Riding, of Panguitch, who was teaching school in Cannonville. They were married on May 18, 1911. One and one-half years later, he and his wife took up a homestead in Heward Canyon, ten miles west of Cannonville. They remained on the homestead for ten years. After securing the deeds, they placed a mortgage on the place, and in 1919, he and his brother, Parley, invested in cattle to the amount of $4600.00. The next winter was the most severe they had experienced for many years. The deep snow and intense cold took a heavy toll of their cattle, and they suffered the loss of half their number. This heavy loss was a great burden, but with courage and stamina which has characterized Samuel throughout his life, they struggled on and were eventually able to clear up their obligations. They remained on their homestead, desperately trying again to build up their property but financial conditions in general became worse, and in spite of their hard labor and determination, they lost their place. In 1925, Samuel with his wife and family moved to Provo, Utah, where they reside at the time of this writing. (1933) Upon moving to Provo, they bought a small fruit farm. He has been active in church affairs of the Sharon Stake. He is at the present time serving as committeeman in the Scout Work, Secretary of the Elder’s Quorum, and is very active in Genealogical work. He has achieved distinction as a diligent worker in everything he undertakes in church affairs and private enterprise. Since his moving to Provo, he has worked in the Tintic Standard Mine at Eureka for two winters, and the Castle Gate No. 2 coal mine in Castle Gate for two winters, and in the Hiawatha mine for one winter. He has worked in the Pleasant Grove Canning Factory at different periods for three years. His extensive traveling in the west and his meeting and working with all kinds of men under varying conditions has served to create in him a keen appreciation and understanding of different people and different conditions and how to meet them. He is well known as a willing and helpful neighbor. Of particular interest is the fact that Samuel received his patriarchal blessing from his father, who was a Patriarch. In this blessing, he was promised that he should do a great work in Genealogy, and that he should be chosen to go to Jackson County, Missouri and serve the Lord in his work at that place. Samuel Smith Johnson is the father of 9 children