The Story of Father's Life
James Christian Johnson

By his daughter Clara Johnson Berntson
and his son Oliver Guy Johnson

On September 16, 1853 at Hojslev County, Denmark, a son was born to Christen and Helvig Jacobsen Johnson. The 3rd child in a family of eight. They named him James Christian. His childhood and youth was spent on the farm helping his father with the chores and errands connected with that life. He had the privilege of attending school regularly and graduated when he was 14 years of age and was confirmed a member of the Lutheran Church, which was the state church of Denmark.

Helvig Jacobsen had already joined the Mormon Church without her husband so she taught the gospel to her children from their early childhood days.

When James was old enough to reason things out for himself, Father (for that is the name we know him best by) began to study the gospel earnestly until he gained a testimony of it and was baptized in company with his older brother John, on the 10th day of June 1875. These two youths had a burning desire to come to Zion with the saints and the next month after, they said goodbye to their home and loved ones and set sail for America, to cast their lot with the despised Mormon people. They never regretted their move, nor were they very homesick. Grandpa Johnson (Christen Johansen) wrote and offered them money to come home on but they didn't care to go back. It seemed that they were the means of bringing their father into the church, for although he treated the Elders good and believed the Mormon doctrine he didn't join the church and emigrate to this country until after his two boys left, though he had ample means and could have come long before.

Father (James Christian) came to Logan July 24, 1875, a strange boy in a strange land to make his way for himself. The first work he did was on the Tabernacle, which was being built. That winter was spent doing farm work for Thomas E. Ricks at Cache Junction. One doesn't need to stretch his imagination far to feel that there were a few lonesome, long winter hours spent by that boy of 22, miles and miles away from all that was dear to him, trying to adjust himself to a new people, new customs and a new language. The following summer he again worked on the Tabernacle for a while and finally wended his way to Smithfield where he first met his future wife, Mary Hansen. He obtained work with Thomas Winn (Glenn Winn's grandfather). Father (James) became acquainted with Grandpa Hansen (Ole) and went to his home one day to chat awhile. His first impression of Mary was that she was a pretty girl but too young for further thought. She treated him to a glass of beer. Mother remembers that this boy had a beautiful pair of gauntlet gloves that were all beaded.

The second winter he worked in the Thatcher Mill for a bushel of wheat a day and paid board out of that. Even then he was able to save a little money and in the spring with the help of a loan from William Chugg, the miller, he bought a team and wagon and harness and started getting logs from the canyon and hauling lumber.

In the fall of 1877 James started doing grading and construction for the railroad at Franklin, Idaho. After the first year he decided that working for the other fellow wasn't getting him anywhere so he bought more teams and wagons and hired men himself to do grading under contract. He was very successful at this work and followed it until the year 1884, when circumstances made it necessary for him to give it up. In the mean time however, he had his eye on this dark haired Hansen girl and one winter was spent in unsuccessful attempts to take her out. One night she was to a dance at Plowmans, so toward the end of the party James got courage enough to ask Mary to go home with him. This was her reply, "No thank you, I can go alone. Is it any wonder that we children are all rather independent? James said there were lots of girls to be had but not wanted. We all appreciate anything more if we have to work for it. The next winter James was more successful however, for after one winter of real courting, he took his bride to be with him to Salt Lake City and on April 9, 1880 they were married in the Endowment House and have lived happily ever since. This should be the end of my story were it a fairy tale, but instead it is real true life so it must go on a little farther.

Mary went to Montana, railroading with James the first summer they were married and she cooked for the construction gang but she was not strong enough to stand the work so she only went once. James bought our home in Logan in 1878 for the sum of $400, for 15 acres so he built a little house there to live in and after 1884 he decided that home ties are strongest so he started farming once more. He traded some of his horses for more land and also bought a share in a threshing machine with Carl Nyman. Well do I remember as a child waiting on Saturday night for the sound of Fathers wagon coming down the lane.

Ten children were born to these worthy parents, seven girls and three boys. Grandpa Johnson, (Christen Johansen) thought that to have girls wasn't so very much to make a fuss about but Father was always equally proud of his boys and girls and has always enjoyed having his family around him. He also has been active in church and in public jobs. He was ordained an Elder the first year he came here and was counselor in the Elders quorum for 10 years. In 1902 he left his oldest boy, James, then 14 years old, to care for the farm and he went to Denmark for two years as a missionary. Ten years were spent as one of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy in his quorum and now he is a High Priest.

He was in the Scandinavian Organization Presidency for about ten years, seven years as counselor and three years as President. He also served as Ward Teacher for 25 years. Two of his sons, James Clarence and Milton LeRoy, have been on missions and the other son, Oliver Guy, served in the war.

------ Written by Clara Johnson Berntson

As I remember my Father, (James Christian) in his declining years after my Mother died, Father asked me if I would come and live with Him, for he felt that he could not live alone. I told him I didn't think he could put up with all the noise that my children would make. He told me that the children would make no difference, for he always liked his grandchildren around him. He also said he liked Vilate for she could cook things he liked and that she always talked with a voice that he could hear and understand. I talked it over with my family, we had our own home and were getting along fine, but we decided our place was with Father so we moved in with him.

He was pleased and we got along fine with him. He never got upset or angry at anything we did and told us how happy he was that he had us with him. We lived with him six and a half years and he was always the same good natured man that he had been all his life.

When Father passed away at the age of 93, on the 8 March 1947 at his home in Logan, Utah, I was at his bedside. He suffered no pain at the end, just passed away like he was in peace with his God and his family.

Funeral Services were held in the Ninth Ward chapel on the 12 March, 1947 at 1 P. M., with Bishop John Christensen of the Logan 15th Ward officiating.

Burial of James Christian Johnson was in the Logan Cemetery, 12 March 1947, in the family plot.

-----The above written by Oliver Guy Johnson