Alma James Johnstun

A. J. JOHNSTUN SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES RECEIVED IN ACCIDENT

MADE A BRAVE FIGHT WITH DEATH BUT AGE WAS AGAINST HIM. PIONEER OF ASHLEY VALLEY ALWAYS ACTIVE IN CHURCH AND CIVIC AFFAIRS

After more than two weeks of intense suffering, caused by being crushed in an automobile accident on December 3, A. J. Johnstun the aged and respected pioneer of Ashley Valley passed to his great reward on Saturday, December 18, at 1:45 p.m.

Death occured at the Uintah hospital in Roosevelt where he was taken after the accident east of Gate Canyon in the oil shale fields. A full account of the accident was given in the Vernal Express on December 10.

A. J. Johnstun or Al, as he was known to all his associates was one of the early pioneers of Ashley Valley being called here on a mission to help build up this country by President John Taylor in 1878 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to which mission he spent his useful and active life. His was not a life of outward show but rather one of every day Christly deeds.

Loved by a_______________________ he passed to his reward with a testimony of a truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mr. Johnstun was born 67 yerars ago in South Cottonwood, Salt Lake County, Utah July 23, 1853, a son of Jesse W. and Betsy Ann Snyder (Johnstun). His early life was one of the early pioneer hardships which gave him the schooling for the hardships he was to endure in his latter life. His father before him, being one of the now famous "Mormon Battalion" who was killed in an accident in a saw mill in Parley's Park when Al was only a small boy.

May 31, 1875, he married Lauretta Henry in the old Endowment House in Salt Lake City and a few years later was called on his mission for building up the frontier, his lot being to come to Ashley Valley (Vernal).

To this union were born 12 children, 10 are living and also the widowed wife and mother, Minnie Atwood, Vernal; Emma (Emily Lauretta) was born September 2, 1878 and died January 21, 1880, was the first child born on what was known as the bench and believed to be the first girl born in Ashley Valley; A. J, Jr., St. George; William J., Roosevelt; Rody (Rhoda) Eugene (Eugenia) Marshall, Lewiston, Idaho; Elizabeth P. Hodson, Portland, Oregon; Jeremiah, (born and) died Janaury 31, 1890; Joseph, Vernal; Darrell Ray and Delpha May Neilson, twins, Vernal; George, Vernal and Owen H., Vernal.

There are also 22 grandchildren. All of the children were present at the funeral except Mrs. Hodson who could not get here. Seventeen of the grandchildren were present.

The first threshing machine was operated in Ashley Valley by Mr. Johnstun. He was also the second blacksmith in the valley. When he went to build his home on the homestead he had taken a part of which he still owned at death, there was need for lumber. He went to Salt Lake City and purchased a sawmill which was placed at the upper end of Deep Creek near where the Thorobred Ranch is located.

This was in 1881. Since that time he has been interested in sawmill and lumber business. Owning and operating the first planer in this section. The big Red planer being on his property. His saw mill is now at Brush Creek Mountain near Kane's cabin.

He also promoted and had an interest in the first steam roller flour mill which was located just opposite where his beautiful home was burned two years ago. The mill was also burned.

Israel Clark and Mr. Johnstun plowed the first furrow for the starting of the Ashley Central Canal. He also helped to open the first coal mine which was near the Pardon Dodds Sr. homestead.

During the hard winter of '78-'80 all were in the old fort Thornburg to seek protection from the Indians at the time of the Meeker massacre. In the spring all went back to their homes and to subduing the soil.

At this time Bill Reynolds the old miller of the Farmer's Mill in Maeser and Mr. Johnstun fashioned some burs out of rock and with machinery owned by Mr. Reynolds and the horse power of Mr. Johnstun's thresher ground the wheat into graham flour for the settlers.

In civic duties he ever took an active part and served several terms as county commssioner.

The closing of his active life by an accident and out in the hills and mountains he so loved seems only fitting. Surely no person has had more accidents, from broken fingers to the one that caused his death. Several different times he has thought to have been dead. Only last September he and his wife were in an auto accident near Logan which caused him to be laid up for a long time.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 21, at the First Ward meeting house with Bishop officiating. The speakers James Hacking and President J. B. Colton. Beautiful music was furnished by a quartet consisting if Anton Strebel, H. Bether, Jessie Hislop and Mrs. Pearl Johnson which sang, "Till the Resurrection Day," "I Have Read of a Beautiful City," "Wanted on the Other Side", and "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go Dear Lord."

Bishop H. B. Calder dedicated the grave.

Interment was in the Vernal cemetery by the side of his two children and near his mother who was the first person buried in the Vernal cemetery.

-Vernal Express, December 24, 1920, transcribed by Rhonda Holton

Alma James Johnstun is the son of Betsy Ann Snyder and Jesse Walker Johnstun.

He married Lauretta Maria Henry May 31, 1875 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Alma James Johnstun was the son of Betsy Ann Snyder and Jesse Walker Johnstun. He married Lauretta Maria Henry May 31, 1875 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah. His death was the result of a car accident.

Siblings: Laura Johnstun Jenne, Maria Johnstun Workman, Elizabeth Johnstun Blankenship, Joseph Alonzo Johnstun and Amy Johnstun Toone, Alma James Johnstun Jr.

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via sister Maria Amity Workman (born Johnstun) by SmartCopy: Feb 24 2015, 18:07:59 UTC