Mary “Polly” Lyman Johnson

• BIRTH 10 Oct 1811 Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA
• DEATH 7 Jan 1904 (aged 92) Monroe, Sevier County, Utah, USA
• BURIAL Monroe City Cemetery, Monroe, Sevier County, Utah, USA Show Map
• MEMORIAL ID 19609306 by Nick Fix & Kelly Johnson

Biographical Summary:

"...Mary Lyman was born on October 10, 1811, to Samuel Lyman and Hannah Mitchel. Mary was their sixth child. The Lyman family lived in Durham, Connecticut. In her tender years, Mary was deprived of the care of her loving mother Hannah. After Hannah died, the children were separated and lived with relatives and friends. While living away from home, she had to work hard and was taught to spin yarn..."

"...About 1830 Mary met, fell in love, and married William Johnson, an older brother to Lorenzo Johnson, on 9 Oct 1831, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.They lived in Perry, New York. The next year William and Mary had a precious baby daughter, Mary Ann, who came to bless their home on August 3, 1831.

Their happiness was short lived, for William was taken by death, leaving Mary a widow. Her fatherin-law, Didymus Johnson, sent for her and her baby bringing them back to Haddam, Connecticut. William’s younger brother, Lorenzo Johnson—even though he was only nineteen—married Mary, his brother’s widow, on December 30, 1832, and took on the responsibility of her and her baby. When Lorenzo and Mary had their first son, he was given the name of William Didymus in memory of Mary’s first husband...She died on 7 Jan 1904 in Monroe, Sevier, Utah..."

Chronology

10/10/1811 Born to Samuel Lyman and Hannah Mitchell
9 Oct 1831 Married William Johnson in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.
30 Dec 1832 Married Lorenzo Johnson, Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.

History

Mary, Lorenzo and their children joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in 1845 moved to Nauvoo, Ill. They left there with the saints, but remained in Winter Quarters and vicinity until 1852, when they left for Utah, arriving in the fall of the same year.

After leaving for Utah with their eight children, they lost their youngest child (a girl names Emily) to Cholera, she was just 2 1/2. Lorenzo had rescued a plank from the river and she felt that the Lord had provided it for the very purpose for which it was used. The plank was used to make a casket for the dear little child.

Mary drove a team of horses, with the help of her girls, the entire distance. They traveled in a high-bedded wagon made by Lorenzo.

After reaching Utah, they settled in Springville. Lorenzo later moved from Springville to Monroe, but in the spring of 1872, he was stricken and died. She gave her property to Lorenzo's other wives and children saying "I'll get along someway." This was characteristic of her kind, benevolent and generous disposition.

Mary did excellent and beautiful sewing, made dresses, suits, and underwear for her family, all by hand. She also did knitting of stockings, socks, and sweaters.

Mary was honored as "Utah" on the 24th of July at Springville when she was about eighty years old; and later was "Utah" at Monroe.

She lived to be ninety-two years old. She was a loving, courageous woman, enduring all the hardships of pioneer life and raising two motherless boys as well as her own children. She was known as "Aunt Polly".

Parents
Samuel Bliss Lyman 1764–1848

Spouse
William Johnson m. 10/9/831, Haddam, Middlesex, CT
Lorenzo Johnson 1813–1872 (m. 12/30/1832, Haddam, Middlesex, CT

Siblings
Calvin Lyman 1788–1875
Nancy Lyman Collins 1798–1870
Mitchel Lyman 1800–1875
William Lyman 1802–1857
Henry Lyman 1805–1877
Charles Lyman 1809–1882

Children with William*, Lorenzo**

• Emily Maranda Johnson 1831–1839
• Mary Ann Johnson 1831–1913
  • William Didymus Johnson 1833–1910
  • Sarah Mariah Johnson,
  • Harriet Fidelia Johnson
  • Eunice Lucinda Johnson 1835–1873
  • John Wesley Johnson 1839–1891
  • Julia Marie Johnson Curtis 1842–1915
  • Ellen Amelia Johnson Lisonbee 1847–1903
  • Emily Miranda Johnson 1849–1852
  • Eunice Lucinda Johnson,

References

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19609306/mary-johnson

Sources

Krauss, Dixie H; Perry & Lora; Their Roots & Branches; Deseret Pioneers; publication date 2003; pages 272-274. Retrived from: http://www.hancocklegacy.org/PDF/Lorenzo%20Johnson%20&%20Mary%20Lym...