James S was born 17 September 1805 in Templeton, Worcester, Massachusetts and married 24 September 1833, in Le Roy, Genesee, New York, Naomi Roxanna HOLMAN the daughter of David LeBARON and Azuba KING. She was born 7 October 1815 in Le Roy, Genesee, New York and died 11 August 1881 in Holden, Millard, Utah. James S died 21 June 1873 in Holden, Millard, Utah.
Susan Adeline Holman was born October 7, 1841 at Nauvoo, Illinois. She was the fifth child of James Sawyer and Naomi Roxana LeBaron Holman.
Her parents were early day members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her father was born September 17, 1805 at Templeton, Worcester, Massachusetts and her mother October 7, 1816 at LeRoy, Genesee, New York. They were married March 24, 1833. Six children were born to them before the exodus from Nauvoo and one child in Iowa. Five more children were born after coming to Utah.
The Holman family suffered persecution as did other faithful Latter-day Saints of that day. They experienced mob violence and were driven from place to place. They were living in Nauvoo at the time the Prophet was martyred. To escape further trouble, they moved to Mt. Pisgah in Iowa where the father stayed long enough to throw a log house together, get his family settled, and then he left the wife and six children and started in the summer of 1847 with first herd of sheep, to cross the desert and reach Salt Lake. He walked the entire way, and was assisted by a young boy who rode a horse.
During that summer Naomi Roxana and some of the children were sick with chills and fever. In the summer of 1848, with the help of the good brethren and sisters, she prepared to start with the Saints to cross the plains. They traveled in the Franklin D. Richards Company and arrived in Salt Lake in October safe and well, despite the many hardships and constant threat of Indian attacks.
On her first sight of "The Place" Susan Adeline later wrote, "I was only seven years old the fall we arrived in Salt Lake and how well I remember as we came over the mountains, what a barren looking place it was with the little Fort down in the valley and perhaps a few houses." Then came the real test for Susan as she and her young brother herded their father's sheep over the hills in their bare feet, glad to have a bucket of Sego Lilly bulbs for their supper when they got home. She never forgot seeing her father go off to work in the morning to be gone all day, with nothing to eat but a drink of milk to do him until he returned at night. She vividly remembered seeing her mother trudging up and down on her spinning wheel all day and often into the night with the tears streaming down her cheeks because of her fatigue and hunger.
Around the year 1850, Susan's father built a house on a city lot in the Sixteenth Ward belonging to Benjamin F. Johnson. The two men joined their interests and labors together. This was the beginning of a close association of the Holman and Johnson families as three of the Holman daughters became the wives of B. F. Johnson. In the summer of 1852 the Holman family moved to Summit, (later called Santaquin), along with Benjamin F. Johnson, his brother George W. Johnson, and others, to colonize that place.
In the summer, Santaquin, was like a paradise, The landscape included broad smooth lands sloping away to the West mountains, with rose and willow patches here and there; morning sun upon a clear sky, air fragrant with spring odors, and trees alive with singing birds. It was a place of beauty where the air was pure, with plenty of firewood at hand.
Here in this lovely situation, Susan Adeline grew and developed into a capable and beautiful young woman, making herself very useful among older members of the family whenever the occasion arose. Susan's father, James Sawyer Holman, was the first Bishop of Santaquin. Susan was living much of the time with her two married sisters, Harriet Naomi and Sarah Melissa, and the rest of the Johnson family.
On February 8, 1857, she was married to Benjamin F. Johnson in Salt Lake City. They lived at Santaquin until after her two oldest children Susan Celestia and Zina Suzetta, were born. Here Susan was a real pioneer, having all the experiences that went with frontier life. She spent time working in the fields and putting up the cane that grew naturally in that place. All were called on to help. Wool was the only thing at hand for clothing and she pulled the wool from the bags of wool that had been sheered from their own sheep and washed it, picking out all the knots, specks, and burrs until it was nice and fluffy. Next, she carded it into rolls, spun the yarn, and sat up late at night in a cold room to spin or weave cloth for her family's clothes. She made candles from tallow, and all the family wore shoes that her husband made for them.
About 1865, Benjamin sold his property at Santaquin and the family moved to Spring Lake. This was their home until 1882. Her life in Spring Lake was eventful and filled with joy as well as sorrow. Here her children -- Frank Carlton, Winnie Fredrica, Leofwin, Adeline Estella, Jestus, and Nancy Lillian -- were born. She again shared her nursing skills and helped supplement their income by caring for the sick, and those who needed her services, leaving daughters Zina and Winnie to care for the younger children.
She had the responsibility of looking after her own family. She was the third daughter of James Sawyer Holman to be married to Benjamin F. Johnson. Each wife had her own apartment and her own garden, cows and chickens, as well as a pig for butchering each year. Lush gardens, orchards laden with blossoms in the spring and ripening fruit in the fall, grapes on the vine and in the cellar, and spreading grain fields were a delight to see. Cattle, mutton, and wool gave the family meat and clothing to wear, and Benjamin F.'s ability to grow anything and everything was amazing. Preparing clothing, canning, spinning, making sorghum, brooms, running a sawmill -- everyday was a busy day and there was work for all, young and old.
Spring lake by 1868 was a prosperous looking place. Orchards were beginning to bear, children were increasing and with the help of industrious sons and daughters, the families were surrounded with everything in flowers, fruits and gardens that made their homes attractive and pleasant. Locusts were still a menace, but still they were blessed in their crops to the extent that a large tithing was paid to the Lord.
In this wonderful atmosphere of family life, Susan Adeline raised her children in close association with her sisters and their children, where there was never a mention of half sister or brother, and all the children played together and learned to share in the work as well as the fun and laughter; loyal to one another, loving each other, even dancing and singing together. There was probably some disagreement at times and disciplinary problems, which is always part of rearing a family. Come evening though, all the day's cares and problems were laid aside and all family members joined in special and fun times together.
Nothing was as wonderful as the Home Evenings, when the husband and father gathered his wives and sons and daughters together in the big downstairs room for stories by "Pa" as he was affectionately called. They would listen to "Pa" tell of his mission to Hawaii or of early persecution of the Saints; of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph whom he loved so dearly; or of his association with the great leaders of the Church. Then there would sometimes be dancing and singing together to their own music.
Susan's husband was Bishop, lawyer, gunsmith, missionary, lumberman, industrialist, author, and patriarch. Susan was convinced that he was also a prophet and conveyed this feeling to some of her daughters. She felt that certain things he spoke of concerning his family, did come to pass.
In the year 1882, the Johnson family received a call from the First Presidency to colonize in Arizona and open up the way for colonization in Mexico and Benjamin moved to Tempe, Arizona. Some of the family traveled to Arizona by team and wagon. With an invalid daughter, Susan came by train. She left Utah with her oldest and three youngest children on October 17, 1882. They were met at Maricopa by her husband. They lived in tents under the cottonwoods down by the Salt River until her son Carl made adobe bricks and built her a home. Because of the persecution against polygamy at this time, Susan was now on her own, with son Carl to look after her and the other children. Some were married by now, and those who could find work had to go to work, while the others attended school.
In 1886 she took up a homestead about three miles east of Tempe where she began pioneer life again. She and her youngest daughter Lillian lived at the homestead until about 1888. The rest of the family remained in Tempe to follow their education or work. Son Carl would come on Sunday and take them in to Tempe to Sunday school.
One Sunday, daughter Lillian was sitting on the back of the buggy. Due to the roughness of the road, she was bounced off the back. A sudden gust of wind caught her open umbrella and she was deposited in the soft dust of the road which was so deep, she just about smothered. She was barely distinguishable when the others came back to look for her. There was a large canal which ran along the edge of the homestead where they obtained all the water necessary for their every need.
In 1888, son Carl bought 40 acres near Mesa. Susan sold the homestead and she and Carl improved the ranch until she had orchard, vineyard, pastures, horses, cows, calves, pigs and chickens. She lived here quite happy until 1894, when a drought threatened to ruin the country.
In 1895 Susan went with other family members by team and wagon, to Provo, Utah where she lived in a home owned by her sister Emma Bennet and her husband. Here, she ran a boarding house for students of the University and made her living that way. Daughter Lillian went to school. The boarding house was run efficiently and Susan had strict house rules. Family prayers were held daily and all residents were expected to kneel and join in. A blessing on the food was always given. She raised a garden to help supply her table.
About 1907, at the age of 66, she went to California and worked in the Gridley Cannery, then came to Mesa to make her home with her daughters. She lived in Mesa until 1910, when she went to Provo to visit her sons Leofwin and Jestus, and their families and to do Temple work with her sister Emma in the Salt Lake Temple. In this way she spent her last years.
All who knew her looked on her as a wonderful mother, neighbor and friend to all and, to the writer of this sketch, she was a lovely, sweet grandmother. She helped many aspiring youth to find careers and keep straight in their actions and attitudes. Self-sacrificing and unselfish, she reared her children according to the Gospel teachings. Her exemplary influence was felt for good among all her associates. She constantly maintained her personal standards and great qualities of character.
She was a fine seamstress, having one of the first sewing machines to be had in the pioneer days of Utah. She did a lot of sewing for grandchildren, and sometimes took in sewing to earn a little money. Her daughter Lillian says she was an immaculate housekeeper. Everything she did was perfect, beautiful, and neatly done.
She passed away at Mesa, Arizona after a short illness, February 5, 1918. She is buried in the Mesa City Cemetery.
Died:
At Holden, Millard County, June 21st, 1873, of disease of the heart, James S. HOLMAN, aged 67 years, 9 months and 4 days.
James S. Holman was the son of Jonathan and Zilpha Holman, and was born in Templeton, Worcester Co., Mass., September 17th, 1805. He embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ, in Crawford Co., Pennsylvania, in 1838, moved to Nauvoo in the spring of 1840, and shared with the Saints the trials and persecutions they passed through in their journeyings and privations. Arrived in Salt Lake Valley in the year 1847. Being of a pioneering disposition he helped to start several new settlements south of Salt Lake. Was unostentatious and inoffensive, lived the life of a faithful Saint. Leaves a wife and several children and grandchildren. He was worn out by hard work and exposure.
J. S. G..
CHILDREN of James Sawyer HOLMAN and Naomi Roxanna LeBARON:
+ 1. HARRIET NAOMI b: 29 Jan 1834; Stafford, Genesee, New York.
md: 17 Mar 1850; Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
Benjamin, Franklin, JOHNSON
d: 1 Aug 1914; Raymond, Alberta, Canada.
2. JAMES ALONZO b: 1 Sep 1835; Beaver, Crawford, Pennsylvania.
md: 30 Nov 1855; Payson, Utah, Utan.
Sarah Ann MATHIS
d: 24 Sep 1920; Lindon, Utah, Utah.
+ 3. SARAH MELISSA b: 18 Nov 1836; Kirtland, Lake, Ohio.
md: 3 Feb 1856; Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
Benjamin Franklin JOHNSON
d: 5 Oct 1901; Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona.
4. ZILPHA b: 16 Feb 1840; Kirtland, Lake, Ohio.
d: 9 Oct 1840; , Hancock, Illinois.
+ 5. SUSAN ADALINE b: 7 Oct 1841; Nauvoo, Hancock, Illisnois.
md: 8 Feb 1857; Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
Benjamin Franklin JOHNSON
d: 5 Feb 1919; Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona.
6. SANFORD b: 18 Jun 1844; Crooked Creek, Hancock, Illinois.
md: 6 Oct 1863; Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
Elizabeth Hannah ALLREAD
d: 15 Oct 1938; Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
7.SILAS WILLIAM b: 7 Oct 1846; , , Iowa.
d: 1 Jun 1862; , , Utah.
8. EMMA JANE b: 14 May 1850; Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
md: 17 Sep 1969; Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
Benjamin BENNETT
d: 29 Sep 1927; Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
9. DAVID ELLIS b: 30 Dec 1852; Santaquin, Utah, Utah.
d: 21 Mar 1854; Santaquin, Utah, Utah.
10. CHARLES SCHOLLY b: 7 Jan 1854; Santaquin, Utah, Utah.
d: 7 Jan 1855; Santaquin, Utah, Utah.
11. LYDIA BATCHELDER b: 27 Sep 1857; Santaquin, Utah, Utah.
12. ISSAC LESTER b: 21 Sep 1859; Fountaon Green. Sanpete, Utah.
md: 21 Feb 1884; Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
Phoebe KENNEY
d: 29 Oct 1940; Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
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