Joseph was the son of Benjamin Johnson and Charlotte Budd. He was a prominent building contractor in Ogden. He was the father of eighteen children with two wives; ten children with Elizabeth Jane Rollins and eight children with Mary Ann Elizabeth Scott. Joseph died from cancer of the liver.

Ogden Standard Examiner, 10 October 1934

J.T. JOHNSON, BUILDER DEAD
End Occurs At Home of Fred G. Taylor in Harrisville

Joseph Thomas Johnson, age 87, died Tuesday evening at eight o'clock at the Harrisville home of his son-in-law, Fred G. Taylor.

Mr. Johnson was born Sept. 25, 1847, at Dell Farm, Whipsnade, Bedfordshire, England, a son of Benjamin and Charlotte Budd Johnson. At the age of 18 he went to sea and was captain's steward when he left the service and emigrated with the family to America. At New York they boarded a train and came as far as Laramie, Wyoming. From there they continued their westward journey with a company of LDS pioneers. Their wagons were drawn by horses, oxen and mules. They went through the hardships of such travel, even to the subduing of renegade Indians.

Five years after reaching America Mr. Johnson was married to Elizabeth Jane Rollins. They lived together sixty-one years.

Mr. Johnson had lived in Ogden the greater part of his life. He spent about two and one-half years in southern Utah and Colorado in helping to build up the San Juan valley. Later he spent about seventeen years in Bothwell, Box Elder county, engaged chiefly in farming.

PRINCIPAL STRUCTURES
Mr. Johnson was also a builder. He burned the lime as well as the brick for a number of the buildings he erected. He operated a brick yard between Jefferson and Madison avenue and between Twenty-eighth and Thirtieth streets.

His greatest activity was during the eighties and nineties when he erected a number of large buildings in Ogden, including the old First National bank building; the Utah National bank building which preceded the present First National, the Reed and Broom hotels and many public buildings and residences.

Mr. Johnson did the masonry work about the Taylor home, the posts and gates and flagstone walks. At the age of 85 he built the retaining wall and entrance gates at the Alvin Taylor home in Harrisville.

He had been an ardent L.D.S. church worker. He held many positions of trust and responsibility in the church. He was a member of the high priests quorum in the Seventh ward at the time of his death.

He is survived by a widow, Elizabeth Rollins Johnson and the following children: Dr. David R. and George Herbert Johnson of Twin Falls, Idaho; Frank D. Johnson of Los Angeles; Mrs. Karl J. Hawkins of Davenport, Iowa; Howard R. Johnson of Logan, and Mrs. Howell Slater and Dr. Clarence B. Johnson of Ogden.

His son Dr. Benjamin R. Johnson of Salt Lake City and his daughter Lottie (Mrs. Fred G. Taylor of New York) preceded him in death.

His is also survived by a widow Mary Ann Scott Johnson and the following sons: William, Moroni, and Arthur Johnson of Brigham City, Israel Johnson of Idaho, Miles Johnson of San Francisco, and Ralph Johnson of Ogden. There are also 41 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held in the Seventh ward chapel Saturday at two o'clock with Bishop Albert E. Read conducting. Relatives and friends may call at the Lindquist mortuary Thursday afternoon and evenings and Friday forenoon at the Fred G. Taylor home in Harrisville Friday afternoon and evening and Saturday until time of the service. Interment will be made in the Ogden city cemetery.