Joel Hills Johnson
submitted by: Brooke Hulet
By Brooke Hulet
North Elementary 3rd place
I love music. I have always known my great great great great grandpa, Joel Hills Johnson, wrote poems that were turned into songs. He was born on March 23, 1802 in Grafton, Massachusetts. Lots of his family wrote poems too.
My great great great great grandpa had around 6 wives. Sadly, around 4 of them had passed away due to unknown events. He is the oldest sibling in his family, which made him a loving caretaker to his younger siblings. For work, he was a brick mason, meaning that he would make bricks all day. He showed hard work, dedication, and strength through his work which everyone could see.
One thing interesting about him was that he always carried a pencil and a few pieces of paper in his back pocket so at any time he could pull it out and write a poem. He was very passionate about his work which made him an excellent poet. I think that is a cool idea.
Something I learned about him while researching for this report is that he married his first wife, my great grandma, Anna Pixley, on my birthday, November 2nd, in 1826. Which I think is very cool! Another thing I think is special is that he travelled with the Mormon pioneers from around Kirtland, Ohio t o the Salt Lake Valley. Something else is that he helped found Enoch City. Enoch was first known as Johnson's Fort and his last name was Johnson. I live in Enoch! I wonder if he ever walked in the same spot my house is? I have visited the site where Johnson's Fort was, and it isn't very far from where I live!
Me and him have both gone through hard things, like my house flooded, but I was strong. Lots of his family died, but he was strong. I love how brave he was. It gives me courage to know that I have ancestors that overcame hard things.
One thing I love is writing. I love writing books and Grandpa Joel loved writing poems. Even though I have never met him, we have a lot in common.
These are just a few things that made Joel Hills Johnson such an amazing problem. I though I already knew a lot about him, but I have learned so much more. I am proud to be his great great great great granddaughter.