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Ella Annettie Kerr Johnson by Wanda H. Burton, granddaughter
My grandmother always said that genealogy work was for older people who didn’t have anything else to do, and we could never get her to write a history or story. She used to say, I have never done anything important or that is worth being remembered. As I undertake this responsibility of writing a story, with the help of brief records and other family members, she was very important in my lite and we all have very fond memories of a lovely, gracious woman.
Ella Annettie Kerr was born of goodly parents, Robert Marion Kerr and Nancy Jane Rawlins on 10 March 1874 in Richmond, Cache County, Utah. Her father and mother were one of the first settlers in that county. Her mother was a young girl of 15 when she married and left a comfortable home in Draper to go to a very unsettled area. A story I remember hearing depicting her courage or desperation was one bright moonlight night after a particularly trying day with the Indians, and not feeling well because she was expecting a child and was homesick, she got out of the wagon and sat on the wagon tongue in full view, and said, "Here I am, you Indians. Come and get me if you want to." None of us can realize or fully appreciate what these people endured for the sake of the gospel by being obedient to church leaders. Through their efforts we have a beautiful, fruitful state.
She was the fifth child in a family of nine children. She often spoke of her sister Julie who died when she was four years old and Annettie was six. These two girls must have been very close because she spoke of how she missed her. She told me one experience she had which would be well for us to profit by. She and Julie were singing a duet for a family gathering and Annettie overheard someone say, "That would be much better if Annettie wasn't singing. From that time on she never sang again. I never knew her to sing any of the songs in church. We never know how an idle statement may hurt or influence a child. She always enjoyed good music and went to fine concerts and programs at the College whenever she could.
She always expressed a great love for her brothers and sisters and parents. Her father was a good provider. The home he built by a spring at the foot of the hills south of Richmond was the first to have water piped into the home. This home was still standing until an earthquake cracked it so badly that it had to be torn down in 1962.
She spent one or two winters living in Logan with her brother Will so she could go to school. Uncle Will was very good to her and she was always so proud of him and his accomplishments in the educational field. He helped Andrew and Annettie after their marriage by giving them work on a farm in Ora, Idaho and then in Fairview, Idaho, and finally a position at the USAC which lasted 40 years.
Aunt Clara's family, Aunt Olive’s family and Aunt Bertha’s family spent many happy times together. Each Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years were always spent together, and a camping trip to Redbanks in Logan Canyon in the summer. Her home in Logan on 467 North Main was always a stopping place for all family members, including nieces and nephews. They enjoyed spending a little time with Aunt Nettie. When I lived with her while I went to school in Logan, Aunt Olive and Uncle Roe would often come to Logan and stay a night or two and the four of them had such a good time visiting and playing Hearts. She loved to visit a week or two with her sister Bertha at her home in Salt Lake. They would go to luncheons, shopping, community and cultural events, and had such a good time together.
She was married to Andrew Feltman Johnson 29 January, 1895 by Bishop William Skidmore. They later received their endowments and sealing in the Logan Temple on 2 October 1901. They lived in Ora. Idaho and in Fairview, Idaho working for her brother Will and also her brother Joe. She didn't have very good health during those years and was very happy when they could move back to Logan in 1905. The remainder of their lives were spent in Logan except for a year or two they lived in California and Grandpa did carpentry work on a chapel. Their son Kenneth and family lived there at that time. Their first child, a girl, was stillborn on 19 April 1896. My mother, Arvilla, was born 21 June, 1897, and a son Andrew Kenneth 9 June, 1901.
She had miscarriages and other problems and was not able to have more children. Her children and grand children were a great joy and satisfaction to her. I well remember her visits to our home. Grandpa didn't come very often, only on Thanksgiving and Christmas and for awhile in the summer. When mother was busy canning fruit or cooking big meals, she would sit at the sink and keep the dishes washed up or fruit and vegetables cleaned. We always had big gardens and lots of fruit to take care of. She used to always say it was the only way she could be where the action was and still not be in the way. I can appreciate now what a big help that was.
Uncle Kenneth's work required him to move quite a bit and she would take care of his children until they could get settled. They could add some interesting experiences I am sure. She told me how she nursed Dee through the whooping cough. At one time he was not able to breath and she took him outside and laid him in the snow, and the shock forced him to catch his breath.
I just can remember the home they had on 5th North, just east of the church. We used to ride our wagons and tricycles on the church sidewalks. It was there I broke my collar bone. The home on north Main was Grandma's home. They took an old wreck of a place on the inside and made it into a nice comfortable home where we always loved to go. Grandma was an excellent manager. At times money was meager but she always was able to save for the things she needed. I remember when she had an operation. Grandpa was worried about the bill. Grandma told him to go home and look in a certain place and there it was enough money to pay for it. Grandpa was one surprised man.
She kept herself as neat and clean as she did her home and her kitchen curtains. She was a very proud woman and always looked just right for the occasion. I can't remember seeing her without her girdle and hose on, unless she was sick. I lived with her one winter while going to school in Logan, and we used to sleep together. During those evenings and nights I got to know her and love her dearly.
She was a good cook, and my favorite foods she fixed were curry with rice, green tomato pickles and lemon pie. She made wonderful bread and rolls.
Reading and crocheting were her hobbies. We used to tease her because she could never read a book without reading the last chapter first. Her pieces of crocheted work are numerous. She made several beautiful Afghans, some of which won prizes at the County Fair. Her tablecloths, doilies. dresser scarves, pillow cases and Afghans were given as gifts, and each grandchild was given a lovely piece when they were married. I have the priceless afghan she made for my mother.
She was a teacher in the Primary in the Logan 5th Ward from 1906 1913, relief society class leader in the 2nd Ward 1913 1918, secretary 1918.20, president of relief society 1920 28, class leader of YWMIA in the 9th Ward 1928 30, second counselor relief society 1930 33, secretary of relief society 1933 35, and again served as relief society president 1935 37. She also served as a visiting teacher during these years. She was a member of the county board of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers for two years, and captain of the Zina D. H. Young Camp for four years.
During World War I she was a member of the committee in social work. I'm sure countless hours were spent in compassionate service and many, many more in which no recognition was given. It gave her joy to serve others.
My grandmother must have been a woman with a lot of faith. I would like to relate two experiences in which she and my mother were involved. I don't remember the exact cause, but mother's legs were affected when she was a girl, and she could hardly walk. They felt if she could get to the temple she could be healed. The two of them struggled up the hill to the temple, Grandma encouraging and saying it is just a little farther. As soon as they shut the temple doors behind them the pain left mother's legs, and she ran all the way home. It was a miraculous healing.
In the fall of 1930 when Mother and Dad were living in Grover, Wyoming, mother became very ill with pneumonia and Grandma came to help out. As mother’s situation became worse, they called for Dr. J. W. Hayward to come and he came all that way under very poor travel conditions just to care for her. As Grandma sat by Mother’s bed holding her hand she prayed, "Dear Lord, let this cup pass her by and let her live to raise her children." Mother said she felt someone turn her head to the other side so she could see Grandma, and she knew that she would be made well. Their faith and prayers and the skill of a wonderful doctor performed a miracle. Many times Grandmother cared for the sick and these same loving people cared for her in her later years.
She died peacefully at mother's home in Afton, Wyoming 13 February 1957 at the wonderful age of 83, and was laid to rest very beautifully in the Logan City Cemetery 16 February. Much more could be added to this history and other members of the family are encouraged to add their contributions. |