The John Johnson Farm

The eruption of Mt. Tambora in 1815 (pix #1 & 2) caused crop failures in many parts of the world in 1816-1818.  Thousands of people migrated from Vermont and New Hampshire in search of a better climate and better farmland. The Johnson family in Vermont moved to Hiram Ohio in 1818 for this reason. They left in January, probably by sled, so they could arrive in time for spring planting.  Alice (Elsa) had given birth to nine children in Vermont, eight of which were still living, ages two to seventeen, when they arrived in Ohio. Five more were born in Ohio, of which only two survived.

They purchased one hundred acres of land from Amos Spicer for three dollars an acre. The going price in the area was two dollars an acre but this land had been partially cleared and cultivated and had several small outbuildings and a cabin already on the property.  They moved into the cabin with their large family and didn’t build the home you see today for another ten years. (Pix #3)

The Johnsons became one of the wealthiest farmers in all of northern Ohio with the second largest dairy herd in the area. They used their surplus milk to make cheese and butter, which they sold to the eastern markets thanks to the Erie Canal.

John and Elsa waited until 1828 to build their New England style farmhouse. The home they finally built is not “Little House on the Prairie.”  Counting the basement and two upper floors, with extended sleeping quarters above the carriage house, there is well over 4000 square feet of living space, wonderfully furnished and designed. (Pix #4, #5, #6, #7, #8)

When four missionaries arrived in Mentor, late in 1830, and taught the gospel to Sidney Rigdon, a local minister in the area, he became a believer and converted to Mormonism. Lyman Johnson was the first of the Johnson family to become a Latter-day Saint when he was baptized in February 1831 by Sidney Rigdon. Concerned by their son’s seemingly hasty conversion, the Johnson’s turned to their minister, Ezra Booth, for guidance. Reverend Booth brought a copy of the Book of Mormon to the Johnson’s home. They sat up all night reading it and became convinced it was true. Elsa Johnson became convinced that the Prophet Joseph Smith could heal her lame arm. As soon as they heard that Joseph Smith had arrived in Kirtland, the Booth’s and the Johnson’s went to see him.

With the Johnson family physician, they met the Prophet at the home of Newel K. and Ann Whitney. Elsa asked Joseph to heal her arm. Joseph asked her if she believed the Lord was able to make him an instrument in healing her arm. She said she believed the Lord was able to heal her arm. The next morning, with eight person’s present, Joseph took her by the hand, prayed in silence a moment, pronounced her arm whole, in the name of Jesus Christ, and turned and left the room. Ezra Booth asked her if her arm was whole, and she straightened it out and replied it was as good as the other. They asked if it would remain whole. Joseph hearing this, answered it is as good as the other, and as liable to accident as the other. The doctor remained skeptical and explained away the miracle as a result of the power of Elsa’s own mind. The Booth’s and Johnson’s were convinced that Joseph was indeed an prophet and were baptized in Kirtland before returning to Hiram in late March of 1831.

At the invitation of Father Johnson, Joseph and Emma Smith moved to and lived at the Johnson farm from September, 1831 to September, 1832, after Isaac Morley planned to sell his farm in response to the Lord’s commandment to move to Missouri. Sidney Rigdon had also move out to the farm to assist Joseph as scribe during the translation of the bible. Sixteen sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were revealed at the Johnson farm along with much of the Joseph Smith translation of the bible.

Joseph Smith asked the Johnsons to sell their home and give much of the proceeds to the Church, which they did in 1833 and 34. The farm was sold to the Stevens family whose descendants kept the farm in the family until Wilford Wood purchased the farm in behalf of the Church in 1956. It was used as a welfare farm until President Hinckley directed a restoration of the home in 1996 and dedicated it in 2001. Approximately 85% of the home is original with furnishings authentic to the period.

Like Ann Whitney’s home, Elsa Johnson had a Summer kitchen. Her kitchen was unique in that she had a hand pump which provided running water directly to her kitchen sink (See pix #9) from rainwater collected in a cistern underneath the kitchen. A courting candle (pix #10) The main kitchen (pix #11,  #12, & #13) had a pantry, (pix #14) a bedroom off the kitchen for expecting mothers to deliver babies (pix #15) and a separate entrance for Joseph Smith and brethren (pix #16). The actual door latch the Joseph Smith used (pix #17). The main parlor where John and Elsa Johnson along with their minister, Ezra Booth studied the Book of Mormon to determine if it was false (pix #18 & #19). The bedroom from which Joseph Smith was dragged to be tarred and feathered (pix #20 & #21). Stairs to the second floor (pix #22). John and Elsa’s bedroom (pix #23). Children’s bedroom (pix #24). Guest’s sleeping quarters (pix #25 & #26). Elsa’s loom room (pix #27 & #28). Revelation room where the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants was received (pix #29, #30, & #31). Bowery site from which Joseph Smith would preach to the people (pix #32).