Julia Didamia (Johnson) Wilson (1845 - 1918)

Born 26 Sep 1845 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Wife of David Johnson Wilson — married 26 Jul 1867 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1918 at age 72 in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, United States

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Julia (Johnson) Wilson was a Latter Day Saint pioneer.

Biography

Julia Didamia Johnson Wilson BIRTH 26 Sep 1845 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA DEATH 9 Sep 1918 (aged 72) Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA BURIAL City of Mesa Cemetery Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA MEMORIAL ID 28501787

• Died of typhoid, contracted from contaminated water

Daughter of Benjamin Franklin Johnson and Melissa Bloomfield LeBaron

Married David Johnson Wilson, 26 Jul 1867, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah^{[citation needed]}

Children - Gladys Lovina Wilson, Mary Ellen (Maizie) Wilson, David Johnson Wilson, Martha Harriet Wilson, Julia Edith Wilson, Sarah Centenna Wilson, June Rose Wilson, George Benjamin Wilson, Esther Delcina Wilson, Pearl Melissa Wilson, Ruth Bloomfield Wilson

LIFE OF JULIA DIDAMIA JOHNSON WILSON BY ESTHER W. LEWIS

Our dear mother, Julia Didamia Johnson Wilson, was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Johnson and Melissa Bloomfield LeBaron. She was born on 26th of September, 1846, in the Prophet's mansion in Nauvoo, Illinois. She was the third child out of a family of six children, Frank and Melissa being older and Esther, Delcina and Albin being younger.

At the time of Julia's birth the Saints were being driven from their homes by the mobs who every day threatened to burn and destroy property and kill the Saints. After the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum had been murdered, the Church authorities asked Grandfather B. F. Johnson to keep the Mansion House open as a hotel for the Saints who were passing through the city.

Before the Prophet's death, Grandfather had been his private secretary, and they had held property together. Grandfather lived in Ramas, a small town twenty miles out of Nauvoo before coming to the Mansion House. Here in Ramas he was building a beautiful brick house but was forced to sell it at a great sacrifice due to the persecutions of the Saints.

When Grandfather and his family were driven from Nauvoo, Julia, our mother, was the baby. In crossing the river the ice commenced to crack, but the horses leaped forward with a great bound, which probably saved all from being drowned in the icy river, due to the mercies of the Lord. After they had crossed the Mississippi River and were camped on the other side in a grove of trees, their lives were threatened again. A tornado was headed toward their camp. Grandfather sent his family to a clearing to save their lives, he being too ill to go. But their lives were spared again, although the tornado caused much destruction and death.

As they traveled west with the Pioneer Saints on their way to the Rocky Mountains, they stopped from time to time to plant gardens, and built temporary homes. While they were stopped at Bonapart, Iowa, another daughter was born to our Grandparents. They named her Esther Melita, who was born on Grandmother's birthday and also great-grandmother Julie Hill's birthday.

As they traveled on their way, another frightening experience came to them. The three little girls were asleep on a bed made upon trunks in the bottom of the wagon, when suddenly the wagon tipped over and landed upside down. The parents despaired of saving the children but found them alive, although the baby was near smothering to death. And again through the mercies of the Lord no lives were lost.

They arrived in Salt Lake in 1848 after enduring many hardships. Their supplies of food and clothing were almost depleted, and their suffering was great. Mother said Grandmother kept a little can of honey on the mantle for medicine. She said it tasted to her like all the "Lovely flavors of Heaven." But Oh! The fear she suffered of Indians, wild animals, and Johnson's army.

Mother was always anxious to learn to do all kinds of work. She learned to knit and sew when she was very young, and learned spinning and weaving at the age of fourteen.

Her mother died when she was sixteen leaving her sorrow and responsibility. However, she grew to be a beautiful woman, tall, with dark hair and eyes, and was said to be the "belle of Utah County." Above all she loved the gospel.

She was married to David J. Wilson on July 26th, 1868 in Hillsdale, Utah. This was a grand occasion for family and friends. After her marriage she lived in Springlake, Utah, where four of her children were born: Edith, David, Mazie and Pearl. Then they moved to Hillsdale where Grandfather George Deliverance Wilson and Mother Martha Ann were rearing their large family. Here Centenna, Esther and Bennie were born.

Mother taught her children to live clean, virtuous lives. How thrilled we were listening to her tell Bible and Christmas stories at bedtime, then pray at her knee in unison. We moved to Arizona in 1882, where Mother's father, B. F. Johnson, had moved with his large families.

We lived in Tempe where Mother's family and Grandfather's family joined together in attending church activities and amusements. I remember Mother riding sidesaddle on "Old Bet," our pet mare to Relief Society. Here in Tempe Harriet and Rose were born. Edith died in Tempe with typhoid fever.

In Mesa, where we moved next, Gladys was born. In 1888 we moved to Old Mexico. Here in Diaz father built us a big adobe house with a spacious living room and sent for our Hammond organ.

They started our sister Mazie taking music lessons and had her teach us all the songs in our song book. We would gather around the organ in the evenings and sing while Mother knit stockings and Father sat by the fire. Many parties were held in our home and dances, too, with cousin Stephen Wilson playing the violin while Tennie or Mazie accompanied on the organ. Mother was a lovely singer herself. I thought I never heard such sweet music as when she sang while preparing breakfast in the mornings.

Here in this home in Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico, Mother's last daughter was born, her ninth. Ruth Bloomfield was born the third of December 1889. Harriet, Rose, and Galdys were born in Arizona. Edith had died in Tempe in 1882 at the age of sixteen. "Too pure and good for this life," they said.

Mother had nine girls and two boys. Three days after sister Ruth was born, Grandfather Johnson came to Mexico to our home. He had many wives and must escape the officers of the U. S. Government. He and many others who came to Mexico for this purpose stayed at our home and were made welcome.

Some of the Apostles who came to visit the Colonies stayed for a time in our home. Mother gave them her bedroom with its lovely carpet and warm fireplace. Among them were George Teasdale, John Henry Smith, and Brigham Young Jr. I remember how he did enjoy our good fresh buttermilk, churned every morning.

While living in this home, sister Pearl was married (sealed) to George M. Brown by Apostle Teasdale, brother David to Olive Merrill, and my sister Mary Ellen (Mazie) to Orson LeRoy Cluff, and sister Sarah Centenna to Earnest Turley. And last but not least with the consent of our dear mother, Father was sealed to a sweet young woman, Mirian Adelia Cox.

Mother taught us to honor this high principle of marriage with the right to practice polygamy only when sanctioned by the Church Authorities. Now thankful we are for our noble parents who taught us the Gospel and suffered so much for us; for Aunt Delia and her fine family!

While living in Diaz, Father took seriously sick with mastoid and came near death's door. He became so thin he looked like skin and bones. They decided to move to Sonora, Mexico where the climate was mild and unlike the cold winds that blew in Diaz. They settled in the small Mormon Colony of Oaxaca, where Aunt Delia took good care of Father, she being naturally a good nurse. We fasted and prayed for Father's recovery and from that time on he commenced to improve and was soon able to establish a home. Father set up a grist mill, grinding whole wheat flour for the people, besides taking care of his bees.

Here in Oaxaca, Father started raising another family by his second wife, Aunt Delia. Mother came to Oaxaca with the remainder of her family after settling affairs in Diaz. Brother Ben was the main stay in helping Mother and Father in moving, and in running the mill. There were five of us unmarried girls and Ben there in Oaxaca with Mother where we built another home. My sister Pearl came to Oaxaca with Father and Aunt Delia as her husband had died leaving her with a small daughter, Pearl Melissa. Brother Haymore came courting her later, he also being left with a small family. They were married soon after our arrival.

Most of us girls went to Juarez to school and attended the Juarez Academy, also brother Ben. When the floods came to Oaxaca, the whole town had to move. Most of the people went to Colonia Morelos, ten miles west. Mother built another brick home in Morelos. As there was not enough lumber for floors, she made enough hooked rugs to cover the floors.

At the time of the Exodus, Mother's daughters had all married and were rearing families of their own. Sister Pearl had died; also my brother David. Mary Ellen's husband had also died leaving her with one son, LeRoy Cluff. She then married Franklin D. Haymore, helping him to raise his many children, as well as her own.

Mother and Father and Aunt Delia and her family, myself and two children all left Morelos before the rest of the colonists were driven out. Mother came to Mesa first, then spent her days and years living with or near her daughters. Brother Ben went with Father and Aunt Delia and her family to Utah. Here he met a cousin of Aunt Delia, Susan Cox. They were married sometime later.

Mother went to Utah later with Father and Aunt and had their second annointings done. Then she returned to Mesa. She died in Mesa, Arizona on the ninth of September 1918 at the age of 72.

Sources

• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 07 October 2018), memorial page for Julia Didamia Johnson Wilson (26 Sep 1845–9 Sep 1918), Find A Grave Memorial no. 28501787, citing City of Mesa Cemetery, Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA ; Maintained by SMSmith (contributor 46491005) .
• Mesa City, Arizona, U.S., Cemetery Records, 1885-1960 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2021. Arizona, Maricopa, Mesa City Cemetery Records, 1885-1960. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: FamilySearch, 2020.
• Ancestry.com. Arizona, U.S., Death Records, 1887-1968 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Arizona Department of Health Services; Phoenix, AZ; Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates. She passed away from an Abdominal Tumor.
• Ancestry.com. Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1848 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.