Goshen, Utah - Utah County: a Graphic Account of Its Foundings, Its Wonderful Growth

Utah County: a Graphic Account of Its Foundings, Its Wonderful Growth

At the time the first settler chose his residence at Goshen Field it was covered with a dense growth of greasewood, which required a vast amount of time and labor to remove and make the land fit for habitation and cultivation.

Although Phineas Cook and his companions are the first settlers of whom we have any authentic record, excepting, of course, the Indians who roamed throughout the whole country, yet Goshen must date back to the pre-historic ages and to a class of p?ople of a certain grade of civilization, as their works testify to a knowledge of the fine arts.

Immense mounds were found upon this field, formed of a sandy composition, whereas the native soil is black, which naturally suggests the queries: From whence did this dirt come? By what means was it transported? How long is it since these mounds were erected, and by whom?

It is possible that in remote ages this place was the home of a race of beings whose existence is clothed in obscurity; whose name has been lost in the depths of time. Were they

These are problems which will doubtless never be solved. When the last of them passed away their history died also. Their manner of living, religion, appearance, style of dress, even their language have been drowned in the sea of the forgotten past. The archeologist may delve into the archives of antiquity, or pore over the chronological records of bygone ages, yet will he fail to answer these questions. What hopes and fears they had we shall never know. That they were possessed of some skill is beyond a doubt, as pieces of pottery in great quantities have been discovered, the designs showing taste and fine workmanship; but then again the thought arises, to whom did they dispose of their wares? At the bottom of one of the mounds was found the skeleton of a man in a petrified condition, a change which probably required the work of centuries to effect. His skull, which was in a good state of preservation, from a phrenological standpoint, showed him to have been a man possessed of great powers of veneration which, admitting to be the case, we ask ourselves, Wnat was this man's idea of a deity? Was his religion born of fear or love? What motive swayed this man's impulses for good or evil? Unanswered they are, and doubtless will be for countless ages to come, unless it be in that great eternity when all things shall be made known unto us.

The Indians bitterly opposed the early settlers locating at Goshen, and many and fierce were the fights which ensued while contesting for what they (the Indians) claimed to be their rights.

These attacks necessitated the construction of a fort, which was built of sods taken from a patch of land about half a mile from its site, and of cedars. Some of the residents dug cellars under the fort, but at times the water would leak into them so bidly that it became necessary to move everything out; in fact, as Mr. Mikkell Poulson, an old resident, aptly expresses the situation: "It was a very good place for a boat ride."

William Pries, appointed by President Brigham Young, was the first bishop of Goshen, and William Maxwell, justice of the peace. Among the early settlers now living there are Mikkell Poulson, Mrs. John Rouse, Mrs. Paul Gurley (one of the handcart brigade) George Taylor, William Price, Mrs. Eliza Job and David L. Evans.

Goshen from the first has been a farming district, and around the town for miles can be seen in contiguous succession, farm after farm bearing their silent testimony to the industry of its people.

At the present time there is no regularly organized city government. The ecclesiastical and municipal officers are, Bishop Peter Okelberry, ordained July, 1896, upon the resignation

The Rio Orandc Western Railroad passes t hrough (loshen to the 'l'intie mining district, affording the inhabitants an easy method of crossing the mountains, and at the same time placing Utah's largest cities within easy distance. Its population is nearly 600.

John B. Johnson

In the town of Warrington, Lancashire county, England, the subject of this article first saw the light of day on July 16, 1824. His parents, Josiah and Elizabeth Johnson, were people in moderate circumstances, belonging to what is known in that country as the middle class, and as is the usual custom there, they contrived to give their sou the best education possible with the limited means at their disposal. The boy availed himself of every opportunity afforded to him, applying himself diligently to his studies, until in the usual course of events it became necessary for him to select some trade which would enable him later to earn his own living.

He panned this culling, engaging in the manufacture of decanters, wine glasses, tumblers, etc., in the towns of Warrington ami Liverpool until lie reached the age of twenty-six. On January 10, 1850, in order to be able to live better the life of a Latter-I)ay Saint, and also being stimulated by a desire to improve his financial condition, he left England on the ship Argo bound for New Orleans, at which city he arrived after a comparatively uneventful voyage March 8th of the same year, being just two days less than two months in crossing the Atlantic. He crossed the plains as a teamster, arriving in Utah in the fall of 1852, choosing Mill Creek, Salt Lake county, as his first place of residence.

June 23, 1854, he married Miss Mary Rock, a young lady from his native country, who came to America three years later than he did, and he has one daughter, Sulia Elizabeth, as a result of the union.

Mr. Johnson has always worked faithfully for the interests of the Church and is today holding the office of High Priest in Salt Lake City. In 1858 with his wife he removed to Goshen, where he now resides. At all times and places and under all conditions he has exhibited a desire to do his best, and has not only risen to the dignity of holding an ecclesiastical office, but has engaged in public life and enjoys the honored distinction of having been the postmaster at Goshen for several years, which office he still holds.

Warrington, situated as it is, in the manufacturing district of England, it is scarcely surprising to find him soon after leaving school learning the flint glass trade, which in itself shows some of the boy's forethought, as it is a trade for which there is ever a demand for skilled workmen, even at times when there is the greatest depression of business.

Her childhood was passed with her parents, James and Elizabeth Kock, at West Hyde, who gave her the customary common school education such as was befitting the daughter of a farmer and of which she availed herself as much as possible. Her girlhood ended, she removed to Birmingham until, in conformity with her desire to affiliate herself more closely with the Latter-Day Saints, she decided to join the colony then in Utah. She left Liverpool on the ship Falcon Marsh 26, 1853, when twenty-seven years of age, and arrived in New Orleans May 18, 1853. She croased the plains in company with her uncle and aunt, Edward and Mary Pugh, reaching Utah September 12, 1853.

Her first abode was in Mill Creek, where her husband commenced his life in Utah, and to whom she was married June 23, 1854. In 1858 Mr. and Mrs. Johnson removed to Goshen, where they still reside, and in which town Mrs. Johnson has shown that she still possesses the same interest and zeal in the welfare of the church which originally drew her from her native home, as is evidenced by the fact that when the Belief Society of Goshen was organized June 2, 1869, and of which she became a member at the time of its organization. June 4, 1874, when the society was five years old, Mrs. Johnson was elected to the office of president, a post she has so ably filled that she has retained until this day the duties and honors which were conferred upon her nearly twenty-three years ago, and that she could hold an office for that length of time speaks more for her ability and devotion to the cause than would all the adjectives of praise contained in the English language, and although she has passed that milestone in life which is generally supposed to be the age allotted to the human race, it is to be hoped that she will continue to preside over the affairs of the Relief Society for many years yet to come, and that the day when Goshen will be deprived of one of its oldest and most esteemed inhabitants is far distant.

William Finch

This former resident of Goshen, now deceased, was born May 19, 1819, at Witburne, in the county of Hereford, England. His parents were Joseph and Charlotte Freeman Finch, people engaged in agricultural pursuits, and of comparatively limited means.

William's early life was passed in Hereford and the neighboring counties of Shropshire, Warwick, Stafford and Derbyshire. His education ceased at a very early age, as when only ten years old he was apprenticed for seven years to learn the shoemaking trade, after which he wanted two years longer under his teacher as a journeyman shoemaker. He had always been of a sober, industrious nature, dealing conscientiously with his fellow man, and therefore it is not surprising to find him possessed of strong religious tendencies. As years rolled on he heard the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints preached and accepted its teachings and for eight years labored in England as a traveling Elder. In 1853, having saved enough to enable him to accomplish his desire to join the colony in Utah, he left Liverpool for New Orleans, going from there to Keokuk, la., where he procured an outfit of two ox teams, a wagon and provisions to cross the plains. During the early part of that long journey the company of which Mr. Finch was a member was traveling under the escort of Elder Wellock, but the pasturage becoming insufficient for the cattle, it was decided to divide the company into two divisions, each taking different routes, Mr. Finch remaining with that division placed under the command of Vincent Shirtliffe. After many weeks of discomfort, attending at times by considerable suffering, he at one time becoming nearly blind, so that he had to take hold of horns of his oxen to find his way, he arrived in Utah in the fall, making his first home in the town of Pleasant Grove. Four years later he removed to Goshen, where he resided permanently, assisting in the development of the town. He was president of a little ward in Goshen known as "The Bend,,' and which at that time was included in the Santaquin district. He was married twice, first in 1840 to Margaret Edwards, and again in 1862 he espoused Eliza Fowler, and became the father of eighteen childreu, viz: William, Rosette, John. Hyrum, Sarah Ann, Rosella, Jane, Sarah Ellen, Mary, William, Ephraim, Joseph, Eliza Jane,

Bis life was one of activity unci enterprise, always ready to give liis assistance in any way which would benefit the town or the community in which lie lived, and among his other labors he cleared and cultivated three good farms in Goshen. Hospitality seems to have been one of his marked characteristics, and no case of sulfcriug or distress came to him in vein. Even the Indians knew that at his hands they would receive kindness and help, the spirit of brotherly love being bo strong within him that it wok

Black Hawk war it became necessary as a matter of self-defense for him to seek shelter within the fort ami take up arms against them. He died April 2i, IK* 15, being nearly seventysix years of age, attending to his business almost up to the last day. During his lifetime he had proven himself to be a loving husband and father, a loyal and generous friend, and his loss was keenly felt by all who knew him.

Mikkell Poulson

As one of the early inhabitants of Ooshen, the life of Mikkell Poulson, possessing as it does so much interest on account of the many incidents connected with his career, may be well deemed worthy of a place in these pages.

Both his father and mother had become so convinced of the truths contained in the gospel as preached by the Mormon missionaries, that they concluded to leave their home and unite their fortunes with those Saints already in Utah, a resolution they put iuto effect by embarking on the ship Benjamin Adams, bound for New Orleans, at which city they arrived after a voyage of forty-four days.

He was born at Jutland, Denmark, December 8, 1842, his parents being Mads and Dortea Christine Poulson, who owned a large place, upon which they raised stock and general farm produce. His education was somewhat limited, most of his knowledge being gained by personal study and experience. The earlier part of his life was passed either at school or helping his parents in their daily labors, until the time of their emigration.

During their passage up the Mississippi an epidemic of cholera broke out, attacking 154 of their company, all of whom died, with the exception of two, viz- Mikkell Poulson and a man named Anderson. From Kansas he traveled with his parents with ox teams to Utah reaching there in the fall of 18.54. Their first place of residence was at Fort Ephraim, where they stayed one year, removing from there to Provo for nearly two years, after which they went to

During his journey from Ephraim to Provo in company with his father and sister, they ran into a camp of Indians just at dark, who surrounded the wagon. They gave them food, which apparently satisfied them, but Mr. Poulson had only proceeded a little way down the Salt Creek canyon when about fifteen of these dusky warriors were heard following them, uttering those bloodcurdling yells for which they were famous, and Mr. Poulson to-day believes that he and his people owe their lives to being able to find a clump of willows off the road in which they secreted themselves until their enemies had passed, as it was only a few miles from that place that a party of emigrants were killed while sitting around their campfire, the massacre being accompanied by torture too horrible in their nature to relate.

Another time he saw the gruesome sight of a scalp attached to the end of a long pole, as the result of robbery of the mail coach and the murder of its driver. During the period that Black Hawk was creating such terror and alarm by his marauding expeditions, he became involved with some of his band, and it was by the merest chance that Mikkell Poulson and party avoided a fight. During the spring of 1866 business called him to the State of Iowa, that year being the only time he has been absent from Goshen. He was for a brief period engaged hauling rock for the Salt Lake Temple, but most of the time he has devoted himself exclusively to the raising of his stock, attending strictly to his own affairs, although those who have had dealings with him have found him to possess a courteous, obliging manner, strictly honorable in his methods, and always ready to lend a helping hand to those in adversity or distress.

Jens Christian Christenson

In Nome Stenhoven, Aaste Sagen, Denmark, on the 23rd day of September, 1818, there was ushered into this world to partake of its joys and sorrows as circumstances might permit one whose life is well worthy of record.

We refer to Jens Christian Christenson, the son of Christenson Christenson and Karen Jens Dotter. His parents owned their house and farm and were engaged in the pursuits of farming and stock raising, at which Jens assisted them as soon as old enough to do so. Probably owing to his help being necessary to his parents, and possibly to the lack of opportunities in those days, his education as a child was neglected to a great extent, and like many other boys similarly placed, he grew to manhood a much better farmer than a scholar.

As a boy he evinced an aptitude for farming and house building, which he probably inherited, as like his parents he followed in their footsteps while in Denmark, engaging in farm life and raising cattle.

In this way he grew to manhood, leading a sober, industrious life, with marked religious inclinations, pursuing his chosen calling year by year, until, like most men, he eventually decided that he needed a companion to assist him to run the race of life successfully, and therefore on November 8, 1842, he married Miss Christina Marie Milo Dotter, and in due course of time they raised a family of eight children, whose names were: Niels Christen, Maren Katherine, Karen, Christen, Inger Maria, Elizabeth Katherine, Adolph Ferdinand and Neva Christine.

In 1861, owing to religious influences, he decided to come to Utah, and with his wife crossed the Atlantic, and after purchasing a team of two yoke of oxen and a wagon at Florence, they commenced with other Saints, their perilous journey across the plains. Besides those hardships incidental to such a trip, he had the additional worry caused by the illness of his loving wife. Yet notwithstanding all this they reached their destination in ten weeks, arriving in Utah on the 22nd day of September, 1861.

He located at once in Goshen valley, where he has since resided, still believing firmly in the religion which brought him here, and engaging actively in religious and benevolent work. He has held the office of Elder for thirty years, and in 1891 was ordained a High Priest, which office he holds today. Taking his life as a whole, even if not marked by great achievements, yet throughout it all, for nearly eighty years, there has been a firmness of purpose, with a steady determination to do rightly by his fellow man, together with an unswerving loyalty to his chosen faith which is well worthy of emulation and praise.

Richard Johnson

Perhaps if die liven (if nil t In* pioneers were luid open before us we should scarcely find one who worked against such disadvantages, whose faith was SO sorely fried, and yet achieved so much, as in the case of Richard Johnson, now deceased, and our pen seems almost too feeble to do justice to his untiring efforts to make a success of his temporal affairs, his loyal devotiontothe Church and its teachings, and the sad but heroic manner in which he lost his life, although his memory will live long in the minds of those who knew him when upon this earth. He was the son of Richard Johnson and Annliiddle, and was born June 15, 1842, in the

While but a mere child, at an age when he most needed the tender love and care of a mother, the inscrutable workings of Providence left him bereft of that parent, which while in itself perhaps the saddest calamity of his life, yet as it left him almost dependent upon his own exertions to obtain a livelihood, was possiply the means of stimulating him to greater efforts to succeed in life, as it brought to the fore any latent energy which the exigencies of the occasion demanded of him. His father, now a widower, with five children depending upon him for their daily bread, and only the pittance he earned each day by the sweat of his brow as town of Norton, county of Herefordshire, England, of humble parentage, and his labors began when scarcely more than a child by watching the poultry and geese upon his father's farm, which simple work he performed faithfully, until as each succeeding year brought to him additional strength, he was promoted to the post of farm boy, following the plough from early morning until dark, which laborious work he performed with often nothing but a crust of dry bread for his dinner.

Possessing scarcely any education, except that which he derived from a few weeks' instruction in the arts of reading and writing, a fact which would have discouraged most boys, he seemed to be imbued with that spirit of determination to succeed at any cost, which has a farm laborer to prov ide it, was unable to help the boy to any great extent, and therefore he took the responsibility upon his own shoulders, and by the work of his own hands undertook to secure for himself those necessaries of life which were indispensable to his existence, and in this way he passed year after year until he reached the age of fourteen.

At this accurred an important epoch in Richard Johnson's life, one which must from its very nature have changed the whole tide of his career, as his father, two sisters and himself emigrated to Utah, a journey attended by two sad events, viz: the death of his two sisters, one of whom died before reaching Utah, and the other upon the night of her arrival. His two elder brothers remained in England, they not having embraced the gospel. They crossed the plains by the usual mode of conveyance in those days - an ox team - suffering from a scarcity provisions, the ravages of cholera, and other hardships incidental to such a long and hazardous journey, arriving in Utah in the fall of 1856.

His father settled in Pleasant Grove, at that time known as Battle Creek, and the first year the boy worked in Mill Creek, his total remuneration for that period being a pair of pants and a calico shirt. He then lived with his father at Battle Creek for two years, and at the age of seventeen he removed to Goshen, where he remained the balance of his life. He labored there with the same persistency which seemed to be part of his nature, identifying himself prominently with the Church, and December 4, 1864, he married Johannah Jorgensen, to whom he was as loving a husband as he had hitherto been a dutiful son and by whom he had eleven children, viz: Hannah, Mary Melisia, Lydia Ann, William R., Yera, Antony, Eva, Josephine, Alice, Urban, Florence and Harold Thomas.

In August, 1883, he was seriously hurt by a bank of clay caving in upon him, breaking his leg and otherwise injuring him and confining him to his bed for eight weeks.

He was president of the Teachers' Quorum, president of the Elders' Quorum and was ordained one of the seven presidents of Seventies in the fifteenth quorum of Seventies January 12, 1893, by B. H. Roberts, in addition to which he was a member of the ecclesiastical board until his death and at different times was one of the school trustees and a member of the Goshen water board.

In the fall of 1888 he was appointed to labor in the British conference, remaining there from November 28, 1888, until December 5, 1889, when he was honorably released on account of his eldest son's illness, who died one month after his father's return.

It was in such a manner that this man passed his life, conscientiously performing the labors imposed upon him, always ready to offer the hand of help and sympathy to those in need, teaching his eleven children the lessons of obedience and independence, at the same time obeying the wishes of those in authority.

His death occurred in Eureka July 14, 1896, at the age of fifty-four. On that day he left home in the morning, being unusually cheerful, with a load of farm produce, which he disposed of before dinner, but on account of the threatening condition of the weather he started for home at once, refusing an invitation to dine, and proceeded as far as the Eureka courthouse when the storm began. Here he accepted the invitation of the city marshal to rest, as the water was already rushing down the streets in river-like torrents. The force was so terrific that it carried a boy with it through the city sewer, although the marshal and Mr. Johnson risked their lives in their heroic attempts to save him. Friends and strangers rendered all possible assistance to save them, and did by the aid of ropes bring his companion from the seething current, but before Mr. Johnson could seize the rope he was struck by a floating plank and was never seen alive again. Some three hundred men formed a search party and after much hard labor they found his body on the 15th, one day later, between 5 and 6 o'clock in the evening, buried ten feet under debris, having been carried through the sewer. Such was the end of the life of a man the memory of whose good deeds will never die, and who carved out for himself a successful career in spite of obstacles which might well have daunted any one.