Daughter of Oliver Harris & Amy Shepherd


“… The wives of most of the pioneer preachers had to rear the family if their husbands gave much time to preaching. The absence of the husband much of the time, made it exceedingly hard for them. They lacked not only comforts, but necessities. Sister Johnson says they were often without tea, coffee, or sugar, to have a trifle for missions. Once for quite awhile they had only calico dresses, and every dress patched. One who knows, said that Brother Johnson often gave his time to the call of his brethren to preach Christ whilst his family went chilled and hungry! Nor was it his family only that endured such privations, that Christ might be preached.

“Sister Johnson labored earnestly and continuously, in getting the sisters out to the female prayer meetings, and in other work in which her heart was interested. She was a worthy co-laborer; just the wife for a pioneer missionary. Her labors continued until the infirmities of age compelled her to desist. Her heart still clung to the work of the Master; for in a conversation just before her death, she showed that her zeal had not abated; neither had her love for the Savior diminished. The following, slightly abridged is taken from a sketch of her life by her son. (W. C. J.)

“ ‘For seven long weary months she patiently plodded her way across mountains and plains, reaching Oregon City, December 7, 1845. Here she was the missionary, and the missionary’s wife. With hands, head and heart she labored, that her husband might preach the pure Gospel in the valleys and settlements of Oregon, until she died. In her humble way, she was the adviser and helper of sinners under conviction, the guide and instructor of the young convert; the companion and the associate of the experienced Christian; the help of the sick,, and the comfort of the distressed and needy. In every way possible, her great desire was to do good and make the world better. Especially did she love to entertain the true ministers of the Gospel, and learn of them the progress of Christ’s Kingdom on their field. For several years she was laid aside for active labor, but she often said that she could pray to God for blessings on his cause, and for the conversion of her children and friends; but over it all towered her desire for Christ, and to honor God in her life and in her death. Almost her last inquiry the evening before she passed away was about the sermon preached that day at church, and to know what success attended the labors of the State Missionary.’

“Her pastor, Rev. J. T. Huff, says of her:

“ ‘My acquaintance with Sister Johnson has been very pleasant. It was by privilege to serve as her pastor for over three years, all of which time she gave me great encouragement in my work. She had been confined to her room the most of the time for ten or fifteen years, and as she neared the close of life, she seemed to have lost sight of the world and never cared to talk of anything but the cause of Christ, especially that of foreign and domestic missions. These interests lay near her heart. Her death was a peaceful one. The text at her funeral was Psalms CXVI, 15.’ “

From the “Baptist Annals of Oregon. Baptist History of the North Pacific Coast.” by Rev. C. H. Mattoon, originally published in 1905 and republished in 1980, pages 48-49.