Clifford E Johnston
Clifford E Johnston, 70, was the husband of Sarah A Johnston; father of Robert A Johnston, Mrs Vera Wells, Mrs
Nelda Booras, and the late Fay R and Elwood J Johnston. He was a native of Utah.
Clifford E. Johnston
(Excerpts from his story as written by Vera Mary Johnston Wells)
"My father Clifford Elwood Johnston, was one of three sons born to Adam Johnston and Mary Esther Harris
Johnston in Coalville, Summit County, Utah, born the 28th of February, 1896. He came at the age of twelve with his
parents to Burley, Cassia County, Idaho where hey homesteaded a farm.
"My mother, Sarah Serena Andersen, was born in Ulsted, Aalborg, Denmark, August 8th, 1895. Her father, Anders
Peter Andersen and mother, Mathilda Larsen came with their family to the United States of America when mother was
six years old and settled south of Salt Lake City at Draper. It was there that the remainder of the Andersens' sixteen
children were born. When mother was eighteen her parents with their young and unmarried children moved to Burley,
Idaho where they settled on a farm.
"There in Burley my parents met and were married just six months later, March 1, 1916, in the Logan Temple.
"And, I, Vera Mary, was born nine months and thirteen days later; an eventful nine months for my parents. One day
that summer a pig, my mother's, got loose and my father jumped on a horse, his horse, to catch it. The horse slipped
falling on my father's leg breaking it badly halfway between knee and ankle. After several operations and unsuccessful
settings part of the shin bone was removed and a silver plate screwed into it's place.
"The pieces of shin bone rests in an ornate small satin lined box (original purpose long since forgotten) in my parents'
possession and were a fascinating trophy to us as children.
A discussion, which has never been settled to my knowledge is whether Mamma's pig or Daddy's horse caused Daddy's
broken leg---which subsequently caused my father to be deferred from service in World War I.
"While Daddy was on crutches and mother expecting me, they built a large one-room house on my grandfather Adam
Johnston's property. The stories of their difficulties in doing this building are many what with both of them in a
clumsy condition but they can look back on it with humor.
"It was in this little home that I made my appearance at 6:30 p.m. on December 13, 1916.
"Mother being one of a family of sixteen, didn't know how Daddy would accept the news that he was to be a father so
soon. Daddy, having only one living brother and no sister, when told said "Our family can't come too soon to suit
me!"
"As the little house where I was born was later moved to another location and used to house chickens - - - it gave my
father great delight to tell people in my presents in later years that I had been born in a chicken house.
"I am told I was a very sober, serious, proper little girl, who seldom smiled and was quick to get may feelings hurt
when teased. . .
"Seventeen months after the birth of this sober child, another daughter was born to my parents on May 28, 1918.
Nelda, born prematurely was said to have cried for the first six months of her life and smelled of soured canned milk
formula which she, of necessity, had to take.
"When my brother, Elwood James, a normal healthy boy was born December 11, 1919, my parents undoubtedly were
relieved. Mother has always maintained she carried "Bud", as he was called, a full ten months before his birth.. . . ."
---
Later a daughter, Fay Rebecca Johnston was born to the family on the 7th of February 1926 in San Francisco,
California and died in Hayward, Alameda County on the 9th of June 1927.
And then the youngest was born, Robert A. Johnston born 12 March 1930 in Hayward.
The family was involved in farming and ran a poultry ranch, selling eggs and chickens for many years.
Clifford served in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. For a time he was the Branch
President for their little branch there.
Later upon retirement Clifford and Sarah moved to Orland, California where they raised a few sheep and gardened
until Clifford became ill and passed away on the 28th of May 1966. Sarah moved back to their previous home in
Hayward and lived out her days there.
**
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