Johanna Eliason Worthington
by Nona Worthington Shibley

Johanna Eliason, also known as Joan, was born December 13, 1843, in Alingsås, Alvsborg, Sweden, a daughter of Erick and Anna Nielson Eliason. The Eliason's had a lovely home in Sweden located near a beautiful lake surrounded by a forest with crystal clear streams of water running all around it. The Gospel message reached the Eliason family in 1861. They were soon to leave for America. After selling their property and paying tithing on the money received, they made plans to come to Zion. They left Sweden in the latter part of April 1863 for Liverpool, England.
Elder George Q. Cannon was in charge of the group on their journey from Sweden to England. The Eliason family united with 644 Scandinavians and 13 British Saints. They crossed the Atlantic on the ship, B.S.Kimball. Elder Hans Christian Lund was in charge of the group. They left Liverpool May 8, 1863, and arrived in New York, June 14, 1863. The company of Saints continued their journey to Albany, New York, and then by rail to Florence, Nebraska.
They stayed in Florence until July 17, when they began their journey across the plains to Zion. The company was in charge of Captain John R. Young. They left Florence with 40 wagons drawn by oxen. On July 28, the cattle stampeded and much damage was done. One man and two women were killed. The company arrived in Salt Lake City September 12, 1863. The Eliason family brought many treasurers with them such as dishes, silver, linen, brass and elegant clothing. The family, dreaming of another home as lovely as the one they left in Sweden, headed for the shores of the Great Salt Lake and settled in Grantsville, Tooele County, Utah. Here they were near a lake again, but it was a salty one. Zion had grown since 1847 but even in 1863 it was a hard place to live. There were times when they were homesick and longed for the old life and more gentle scenes. The family consisted of the following members beside Johanna and her parents: Andrew, Betsy, Charles, John Alfred, Frederick and Augusta. Johanna remained in Grantsville, but other members of the family moved to Cache Valley, Utah, and Oakley, Idaho.
The Eliason house was located on Clark Street in Grantsville. Later it was used as the Grantsville Post Office.
Johanna was married to Stephen Staley Worthington December 30, 1867. The marriage was performed by Bishop John Rowberry at the old Fish and Dairy Building near the Mill Pond in Tooele County. Eleven children were born to them. Ten of them grew to maturity and six are still living. (December 1954) They were Johanna Cecelia, Sarah Ann, Rachel, Birdie Eliza, Julia, Phoebe, Stephen Hampton, Fred (who died when 10-years-old) James, Charles and Samuel Worthington.
Johanna's husband, Stephen, was engaged in the freighting business and in stock raising. The freighting business took him away from home much of the time so she was left to care for the family. Stephen acquired a tract of land in the northwestern part of the Grantsville settlement and here a comfortable home was built. (This is where Jack Worthington now lives.)
As the home was out of town and outside of the Old Fort, Indians were always a threat to their safety and peace of mind even though the family wanted to be friendly toward them. The Indians usually came out the better after a visit to the Worthington homestead by getting food, clothing and other items, either by stealing or as gifts.
The family home was destroyed by fire March 17, 1907. All the family belongings except a piano were burned. Many valuable records and items of interest such as heirlooms were lost. The family moved to a two-room house from town to the farm and lived in it until a home was built on the foundation destroyed by fire.
Staphen passed away August 18, 1911, and Johanna died March 15, 1931.