Aaron Johnson (1806-1877)
22 June 1806–10 May 1877. Farmer, gunmaker. Born in Haddam, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Son of Didymus Johnson and Ruhamah Stephens. Joined Methodist church, early 1820s. Married Polly Zeruah Kelsey, 13 Sept. 1827, in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Daniel Spencer, 15 Apr. 1836. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, spring 1837. Ordained an elder, 8 Oct. 1837, in Kirtland. Moved to Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri, 1838. Ordained a seventy, 1838, in Far West. Moved to Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, 14 Mar. 1839. Elected justice of the peace, 1842–1846, in Nauvoo. Labored on Nauvoo temple. Served mission to eastern U.S., 1842. Ordained a high priest, 1842, in Nauvoo. Member of Nauvoo high council, 1844. Participated in plural marriage during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. Moved to Garden Grove, Decatur Co., Iowa Territory, May 1846. Served as counselor in Garden Grove bishopric, 1846. Served mission to Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois, 1847, and another to New England states, winter 1849–1850. Moved to Kanesville (later Council Bluffs), Pottawattamie Co., Iowa, 1849. Served as bishop of Kanesville branch. Migrated to Springville, Utah Co., Utah Territory, 18 Sept. 1850. First bishop of Springville, 1850–1870. Member of Utah territorial legislature, 1851–1868. Served as postmaster, 1851–1870. Served as judge in Provo, Utah Co., beginning 3 Mar. 1851, and as probate judge for Utah Co., Feb. 1861–Feb. 1863. Appointed major general of Second Division of Utah militia, 1866. Died at Springville.
Retrieved with permission from The Joseph Smith Papers.