Joseph Franklin Johnson
Nov. 26, 1923; Oregonian, p 5
"J. F. Johnson is Dead"
Wallowa, Or., Nov. 25
 
   Joseph Franklin Johnson, a pioneer and prominent resident of this city, died Thursday here at the age of 84 years. The funeral was held from the ranch home of his son, Ernest, today with interment in lower valley cemetery where his wife was buried a few months ago.
 
   Mr. Johnson crossed the plains with his parents in one of the first ox trains and settled in Yamhill county in October, 1847. When reaching the Platte river, they overtook an abandoned ox train, many of the occupants of which had been killed by Indians. The two trains were consolidated and journeyed on to The Dalles, then the end of the wagon trail. They built rafts and floated down to Vancouver. Portland at that time consisted of only three houses built of logs and occupied by traders.
 
   He was married on January 22, 1871 to Fannie Applegate, who had crossed the plains with her parents in the first wagon train that ever came over the old Oregon trail. The couple settled in the Wallowa valley in August, 1872, taking up a homestead and building the first house constructed in the county.
 
   He is survived by five sons, two daughters and 17 grandchildren.