Notes: According to family records, William Percy Johnson was born 1 Oct 1889 in
Logan, Cache, Utah Territory. His parents were John Julius Johnson and Jensine
Kristine Christensen. Elizabeth Haws was born 8 May 1897 in Juárez, Chiluahua,
Mexico. Her parents were George Martin Haws and Rebecca Josephine Cluff.
William Percy Johnson married Ethelyn Haws on 1 Jan 1917 in Thatcher, Graham, Arizona.
They had a family of thirteen children.
William enlisted in the U.S. Army on 23 Nov 1913, and was released 21 Nov 1919. His
headstone states "TSGT World War I".
In the 1920 U.S. census, William Johnson, 28, and his wife Ethelyn Johnson, 22, were living at
438 Oak Street in Ward 5 of San Antonio, Bexar, Texas. Ethelyn's parents had been born
in Utah, and Ethelyn had come to the United States in 1912. William listed himself as a
soldier. Their children were Ethelyn, 2, and Percy J., 1.
Seven more children were born to William and Ethelyn. In the 1930 U.S. census, William
Johnson, 40, and Ethelyn H. Johnson, 32, were living at 2125 Twenty-Fifth Place in Creighton,
Maricopa, Arizona. They owned their home valued at $3,000. William was in the
building business, working with composition and tile. The children were Ethelyn, 13,
Julius W., 11, Leonard H., 9, Raymond, 7, Anthony I., 8, Priscilla, 6, Josephine, 4, Beatrice, 1,
and Dean M., 1 month. The oldest three children had been born in Texas; the younger ones in
Arizona. The oldest six children were attending school.
Four more children were born to William and Ethelyn. However, Beatrice, born in 1928 died
in 1931; and Keith, born in 1932 died in 1933. In the 1940 U.S. census,
William P. Johnson, 50, and his wife Ethelyn H. Johnson, 42, were still living on North 25th
Place in Maricopa County, Arizona. They owned their home, valued at $2,000. William
had completed 8th grade and was a cement finisher in the building industry. Ethelyn had
completed 2 years of high school, and was keeping house. The children were Ethelyn J., 22,
one year of college and a hospital bookkeeper; William J., 21, 4 years of high school and a
cafeteria waiter; Leonard H., 20, 4 years of high school and a warehouse worker in the chemical
industry; Anthony I., 18, 4 years of high school and atending school; Raymond D. 17, 4 years of
highschool and a newspaper delivery boy; Priscilla, 16, 4 years of high school and keeping house;
Josephine, 14, 8th grade and attending school; Dean M., 10, 3rd grade; and Joyce, 6; Leah A., 3;
and Karen S., 2.
In 1942, William Percy Johnson, 52, registered for the World War II draft, in what was called
the "old man's registration". Their address was 2129 N 25th Place, Phoenix, Maricopa,
Arizona, and he was working for the Maricopa County highway department. He was described
as 5'10", blue eyes, brown hair, weight 150, with a brown complexion. Ethelyn was a
volunteer in the Red Cross during World War II.
In 1945, William and Ethelyn are mentioned in the Salt Lake Tribune as the parents
of Lt. Leonard H. Johnson on the occasion of their son's marriage to Eileen Felix.
At the time their residence was in Phoenix, Arizona.
In 1959 and 1965, according to the Denver, Colorado, City Directories, Wm. P. Johnson and
Ethelyn H. Johnson were living at 552 S. Washington, Denver. William was a laborer for
the State Game & Fish Department.
William and Ethelyn served as house parents at Arizona Boys Ranch in Queen Creek, Arizona.
They were both very active in the LDS church in the Arizona Temple.
William Percy Johnson died 11 Jul 1976 in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona. He was buried in the
City of Mesa Cemetery, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona. Ethelyn Haws Johnson died 30 Jul 1985,
also in Mesa. She was also buried in the City of Mesa Cemetery. She shares a
headstone with her daughter Joyce Johnson, who died in 1995. |
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