Maria Margaret Miller

27 October 1863–6 January 1939

Born 27 Oct. 1863 at Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete Co., Utah Territory.[1] Daughter of Hans Peter Miller and Caroline Margaret Christina Nielson.[2] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Jorgen Smith, 10 Dec. 1871.[3] Worked as a telegraph operator in Richfield, Sevier Co., Utah Territory, by June 1880.[4] Married William Johnson, 21 Oct. 1881, in St. George, Washington Co., Utah Territory; seven children.[5] Corresponded with EBW.[6] Contributed poetry and articles for EBW and the Woman’s Exponent.[7] Composed the words for two hymns in the 1889 and 1903 hymnals.[8] Author of “Times and Events of the Middle Ages” in the Contributor, 1893.[9] With EBW, entertained women attending the Federation of Women’s Clubs meeting in Salt Lake City, 23 May 1897.[10] Proponent of women’s suffrage.[11] EBW visited her while she was in St. Mark’s Hospital for surgery, 20 Jan. 1898.[12] Moved to Venice, Los Angeles Co., California, by 1910.[13] Compiled a volume of poetry, The Soul’s Language, 1925.[14] Died 6 Jan. 1939 at Venice.[15]

 

[1] Record of Members Collection, 1836–1970, Circleville Ward, Record of Members, Part 1, 1907–1942, p. 35, line 2, Maria M. Johnson, CR 375 8, box 1265, folder 1, image 68/433, CHL. “Endowments of the Living, 1877–1956; Indexes, 1877–1956,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, St. George Temple, vol. B, 1878–1880, pp. 400–401, no. 934, Maria Margaret Miller, microfilm 170577 (restricted access), FHL. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 20 Feb. 2019), Marie Margaret Miller (KWVG-TS6). 

[2] Record of Members Collection, 1836–1970, Circleville Ward, Record of Members, Part 1, 1907–1942, p. 35, line 2, Maria M. Johnson, CR 375 8, box 1265, folder 1, image 68/433, CHL. “Endowments of the Living, 1877–1956; Indexes, 1877–1956,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, St. George Temple, vol. B, 1878–1880, pp. 400–401, no. 934, Maria Margaret Miller, microfilm 170577 (restricted access), FHL.

[3] Record of Members Collection, 1836–1970, Circleville Ward, Record of Members, Part 1, 1907–1942, p. 35, line 2, Maria M. Johnson, CR 375 8, box 1265, folder 1, image 68/433, CHL.

[4] 1880 U.S. Census, Richfield, Sevier Co., Utah Territory, ED 69, p. 9, Maria M. Miller. “Former Resident Dies in California,” Richfield (UT) Reaper, 12 Jan. 1939, 1.

[5] “Sealing of Living Couples, 1877–1956,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, St. George Temple, vol. A, p. 79, no. 1342, Maria Margaret Miller, microfilm 170579, DGS 4033910 (restricted access), FHL. Record of Members Collection, 1836–1970, Circleville Ward, Record of Members, Part 1, 1907–1942, p. 35, line 2, Maria M. Johnson, CR 375 8, box 1265, folder 1, image 68/433, CHL. “Former Resident Dies in California,” Richfield (UT) Reaper, 12 Jan. 1939, 1.

[6] EBW, Diary, 18 Nov. 1890; 6 July 1891; 2, 3, 5 Jan. 1898.

[7] “Woman’s Sphere,” Woman’s Exponent, 15 Mar. 1893, 1. “Woman Suffrage,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 June 1895, 6–8.

[8] Sacred Hymns and Spiritual Songs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: George Q. Cannon and Sons, 1899), 416–417. Sacred Hymns and Spiritual Songs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Liverpool: George Teasdale, 1890), 416–417. Sweet Friend of the Needy, Kind Helper of Youth, Hymnary.org (https://hymnary.org/text/sweet_friend_of_the_needy_kind_helper_of, accessed 19 Feb. 2019). Spirit of Heaven, All Pervading Love, SingPraises.net (http://www.singpraises.net/text/5289/spirit-of-heaven-all-pervading-love, accessed 19 Feb. 2019).

[9] “Times and Events of the Middle Ages,” Contributor: A Monthly Magazine 14, no. 10 (Aug. 1893): 490–496.

[10] EBW, Diary, 23 May 1897.

[11] “Woman Suffrage,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 June 1895, 6–8. “Former Resident Dies in California,” Richfield (UT) Reaper, 12 Jan. 1939, 1.

[12] EBW, Diary, 20 Jan. 1898.

[13] 1920 U.S. Census, Venice Township, Los Angeles Co., CA, ED 624, p. 23A, Marie Johnson.

[14] Ruby Lamont, The Soul’s Language (Jamaica, NY: Beach Printing, 1925). “Former Resident Dies in California,” Richfield (UT) Reaper, 12 Jan. 1939, 1.

[15] Los Angeles, Co., CA, State Board of Health, Index of Deaths, 1877–1962, and Death Records, 1930–1963, Death Certificates, 1939, no. 893, Marie Miller Johnson, 6 Jan. 1939, microfilm 2380431, DGS 5599585, image 1861/2784, FHL. “Former Resident Dies in California,” Richfield (UT) Reaper, 12 Jan. 1939, 1.