W. H. Johnson

Submitted by Elizabeth Burns, Aug 2002

Arizona, The Youngest State, 1913, pg 206

W. H. Johnson, familiarly known as Billy Johnson by his many friends, is one of the well known men in mining circles of Cochise County. He has made his home in Arizona for more than thirty-six years and was the original locater of the Granite group of mines in Cochise County. He was born in Utah in 1875, a son of Lars M. and Hannah Johnson both of whom are natives of Sweden. Their marriage occurred in Utah where they lived until 1879 when they came to Arizona, locating in Apache County. The father was a blacksmith by trade but after his removal to this state engaged for five years in railroad contracting work, moving at the end of that time to Graham County where he followed farming and blacksmithing until his death in 1887. His wife died in the same year, leaving a family of five children, all of whom are still living.

W.H. Johnson acquired his education in Arizona, being only four years old when the family came to this state. When he was eighteen he conducted a small cattle business and after that turned his attention to mining. He is now considered a mining expert. In May 1913 he took up his homestead in the St. David country in Cochise County on what is called Curtis Flat and there he now resides. He is still interested in mining and mines and does prospecting from time to time.

Mr. Johnson married Miss Musetta Saline who was born in Arizona in 1882, daughter of John and Susanna Saline, the former a native of Finland and the latter of England. Both were devout members of the Mormon church and Mrs. Johnson's mother came over from England when ten year of age with the first band of Mormons who settled in Salt Lake City and established the church there. She made her home in Utah until 1880 and she and her husband came to Arizona and settled in Apache County. They afterward removed to Pima, where Mr. Saline engaged in farming and stockraising. He died in July 1900 and is survived by his wife. In their family were ten children, nine of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became the parents of five children: William H, who died in infancy, Louis Leroy, born November 26, 1908, Musetta Urilda, February 20, 1911; Lars M., April 7, 1913 and Susanna, February 3, 1915.

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