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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: drummerswife on Sunday 06 July 14 20:58 BST (UK)

Title: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Sunday 06 July 14 20:58 BST (UK)

One of the biggest research brick walls I am facing concerns my maternal great great grandfather. His name was Robert M. Johnson. He was the father of Albert Edward Johnson, my great grandfather. Albert was the father of my grandfather, Earl LeRoy Johnson. My mother is the only child of Earl. To date, I have not been able to take my Johnson line back any further.
It's the curse of the common name. Johnson is such a common name and Robert is equally common.
One of my cousins said she vaguely remembered something about Robert maybe having lived in Seward, Nebraska. Just to let all of you know, I live in Omaha, Nebraska.
I took my cousins vague memory and researched cemeteries in Seward thinking that Robert may be buried there somewhere. I knew it was a long shot and all I had was his name and the name of his wife.
Long story short, I found him buried in the Seward Cemetery. The staff at the Seward cemetery were wonderfully helpful. Based on their information, I was able to confirm I had the right guy. This gave me his birth/death dates. I also learned he was born in Ohio and died in Lincoln, Nebraska. His bidy was then brought to Seward fir burial. Why this was done I dont know.
Still, even with this information, I cannot pin down who his parents were. Robert was born in 1859. Ancestry and Family Search give me pages of Robert Johnsons in that time span. If I could find a birth/marriage record this would give me his parents but I cant afford any paid memberships right now
This is my most frustrating family line.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name
Post by: Craclyn on Sunday 06 July 14 21:09 BST (UK)
If the cemetery folks gave you exact birth and death dates for Robert can you post them for us? It would also be helfpul to have whatever information you have about Robertīs marriage.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name
Post by: drummerswife on Monday 07 July 14 06:59 BST (UK)
Thanks so much for the reply.
Here is the information I have been able to put together on Robert M. Johnson.
Born: January 19th, 1859
Died: January 20th, 1911
Information courtesy of Seward Cemetery, Seward Nebraska
Cemetery records show that Robert was a member of the VFD (Volunteer Fire Department) at some point.
Robert married Fora Elizabeth Craig. I don't have a date. Flora was born approximately 1871. She died April 20th, 1943 at the age of 72. At the time of her death she was living with her son Hershel. Curiously, her exact death date is not recorded on her gravestone or in cemetery records.
One sad discovery I made in finding where Robert and Flora are buried is that buried between them is their infant son, Roy M. Johnson. Roy was born March 20th, 1906 and died 29 days later on April 19th, 1906. None of my living Johnson relatives knew of this child and he is not in any other records I have found. I'm guessing this is probably because he didnt live long enough.
My great grandfather, Albert Johnson, named his one daughter after his mother. Much of the anecdotal information I have on the Johnson family comes from Flora "Betty" Johnson's daughter.
This is all I have on my Johnson line.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
 :)


 
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 07 July 14 07:27 BST (UK)
I have no knowledge of research in this part of the world, but just wanted to ask if you know what the M of Robert's middle name stands for? Presumably Roy's middle name was the same?

With common names it may help if we know his middle name.

Also, have you checked for obituaries for Robert in (in local papers) both Ohio and Seward? If he was active in the community such as being in the VFB, there might have been a write up about him, and possibly his wife Flora too.  :-\

I'm sure others will have more suggestions and be able to help you further.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 09:09 BST (UK)
The most obvious avenue for research which has not been mentioned is the census.  One would expect Robert and Flora to be together in 1910 and possibly also 1900, with Flora then surviving long enough to be enumerated in 1920, 1930 & 1940.

If they are married by 1900 the census should tell you how many years married.  Other information which should be gleaned from the censuses includes a birthmonth/birthyear for Flora (1900 census) her birthplace, parents' birthplaces for both, and children's birthplaces the chronology of which may help you pinpoint where they are likely to have been married.

I agree that any record containing Robert's middle name might be very valuable.  It is a frustrating aspect of US research that middle initials are so often used in official documents instead of full names, sometimes even on birth registrations. 

Have the censuses been looked at for this family?
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name
Post by: Craclyn on Monday 07 July 14 09:13 BST (UK)
There are several trees on ancestry which give the marriage date as 1888 based on 1900 census.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 10:58 BST (UK)
1900 census of Seward, Nebraska shows:
Robert Johnson  bn Jan 1858, aged 42, married 12 years, he and both parents bn Ohio, hostler
Flora Johnson bn Sept 1872, aged 27, married 12 yrs, 4 children born 3 living, Flora bn Illinois, her parents born in Ohio
Children: Ethel bn Nov 1889, Albert bn Oct 1892, Edith bn May 1896, all born in Nebraska
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 11:17 BST (UK)
One thing that has just occured to me is that on both the 1900 and 1910 census, Flora records that one of children has died.  This then leads me to question the dates for Roy M Johnson.  If he is the one that Flora has noted on the census, then his birth should be before 1900.  If he isn't the one noted, then I don't know why she would mention one deceased child and not the other.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 11:40 BST (UK)
I wonder whether Flora was in fact a little older than she later claimed to be.

Here is a Flora E Craig born in Illinois, both parents born Ohio, living in Nebraska in 1880:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8YW-LM3

Other than the c1867 birthdate she seems a strong match for Flora E Johnson nee Craig.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 11:46 BST (UK)
The 1870 census has an Elias and Eliza (say that when you've had a bit too much to drink!) CRaig in Salem, knox, Illinois.  No Flora, but there is a Francis aged 3
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 11:54 BST (UK)
The 1870 census has an Elias and Eliza (say that when you've had a bit too much to drink!) CRaig in Salem, knox, Illinois.  No Flora, but there is a Francis aged 3

Yes I see.  They have Sarah A, 5, and Francis, 3, (a girl) in 1870 and then by 1880 supposedly three children who should have been born before 1870 - Sarah J 14, Mary F 12, Flora E 13.

Perhaps Mary F in 1880 is "Francis" from 1870 and there's an error in 1880 regarding Flora's age.  What order do the girls appear in in 1880? 
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 11:58 BST (UK)
Yes, I think we can perhaps match the Mary F with the Francis.  Flora could have been visiting elsewhere, or perhaps a mis-formed 8 has been read as a 13?

I think that Elias and ELiza married 24th June 1865 https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-17963-55262-17
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 12:01 BST (UK)
oooooooooooohhhhhhhh!!!

Flora marries Oscar Chevalier (must be a movie star!) and confirms lots of our suppositions https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XJDH-284
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 12:06 BST (UK)
Brilliant!  Doesn't he sound glamorous!  And fantastic that Flora's parents are confirmed.

I recall that she appeared in the Johnson surname as Divorced in one of the censuses (1920??) so perhaps the "movie star" marriage did not last. 


Added: yes, it was 1920: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MCK9-LR5
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 12:09 BST (UK)
I don't think it could have lasted, because in 1920 census Oscar is married to Daisy, and living with their 6 month old son Charles (lets all do the maths and see what Oscar was doing between 1918 and 1920!!)
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 12:12 BST (UK)
Had Oscar in fact been lawfully married to Daisy since 1909?

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XJQB-BX6
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 12:17 BST (UK)
 ::) What was he up to?!

Are you on Ancestry?  I don't know whether this is on family search, but there is a census entry for Iowa in 1915 for Charles Chevalier, who is 39, single (!), with father born in Switzerland (even though ancestry has transcribed this as Czech Republic) and mother born in Pennsylvania
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 12:20 BST (UK)
How strange. (No I am not on Ancestry, just FS).

And where did all the Dostart children appear from (see 1920)?

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M81S-ZLF

Perhaps Oscar had a separation from Daisy, she went off and had children with a Mr Dostart, he went off and made a bigamous marriage to Flora, then they both thought better of it, got back together and had Charles?

The Dostart children's birthdates don't really fit with a 1909 marriage between Oscar and Daisy though.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 12:20 BST (UK)
22 May 1945 http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/37651302/

Oscar Chevalier is sentenced to one day in jail for being drunk, and being found looking confused as to how to get home!

Sadly, that doesn't appear to have been a one off occasion - another one here in 1944 http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/37667382/
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 12:27 BST (UK)
Here are the Dosterts in 1910:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MLHQ-RFJ
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 12:30 BST (UK)
Catherine/Kathryn Dostert later names her parents as Pete Dostert and Daisy Moore:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XJYF-H35

Their marriage in 1905:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KC46-873
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 12:36 BST (UK)
So are we looking at more than one Daisy?
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 12:37 BST (UK)
So are we looking at more than one Daisy?

It appears so.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 12:42 BST (UK)
So, Peter Dostert marries Daisy Moore in 1905.  Oscar Chevalier marries Daisy Freeman in 1909.

Peter and Daisy M still together on census in 1910.

Oscar marries Flora Craig Johnson in 1918, having appeared on 1915 census as single.

Oscar appears with a Daisy in 1920, with a 6 month old son (Oscar Charles Chevalier), and 4 Dostert children as 'in-laws'

hmmmm.  Need to find birth of OScar Charles to find out his mother
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 12:44 BST (UK)
Charlie Oscar Chevalier https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QJPD-3BGX

mmn Daisy Moore
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 12:47 BST (UK)
Daisy Chevalier Freeman married S Miller in 1913 at Council Bluff, Iowa
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XJ8R-ZZ9
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 13:23 BST (UK)
HAve you contacted the Seward VFD to see if they hold any info about Robert ?http://www.cityofsewardne.com/fire.htm
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 14:02 BST (UK)
Just to tie off some loose ends on the Oscar (Charles) Chevalier story, here he is:

- in 1885 with his parents: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/HZPQ-G6Z
- in 1895 with his parents: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VT3W-WHV
- in 1910 with Daisy nee Freeman:  https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MG91-BG2
- in 1918 naming his wife as "Florence": https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KZ28-NTY

There may be Iowa records of a divorce from Flora and (less relevantly to the Johnson line) from Daisy nee Freeman: http://recordsproject.com/divorce/iowa.asp

He may be the Oscar Chevalier charged with stealing hogs in Iowa in 1904:

http://rrr.stparchive.com/Archive/RRR/RRR03241904P06.php (4th column)
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 14:40 BST (UK)
Oscar Chevalier sounds like an interesting character!!

I am not having much luck finding out anything different to what is already known with regard to Robert Johnson.  I think we need to find the marriage between Robert and FLora - we should be able to narrow it down to between dates, I think.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: shellyesq on Monday 07 July 14 14:41 BST (UK)
On Robert Johnson, was a death certificate obtained? 

Regarding Oscar Chevalier, a 1923 article says in Willow Township, Iowa, he had a drinking party and ran his wife out of the house at the point of a gun.  The wife walked a mile barefoot for help, and neighbors could not rescue the children.  The sheriff was called & Oscar was arrested.

I also found Oscar's obituary from 1945 that lists his widow as Daisey of Denver.  He was also survived by son Charles in the armed forces in Italy and a married daughter in Denver. 
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 14:45 BST (UK)
The Denver bit makes sense of Charles jnrs death in 1996 in Denver  (buried at Ft Logan National Cemetery) - I wasn't certain it was the right one due to it being out of area
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 14:48 BST (UK)
Herschel's marriage cert https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-29896-48329-77?cc=1804002
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: shellyesq on Monday 07 July 14 15:01 BST (UK)
There is an entry for Flora on this obituary index - http://omahaobits.wordpress.com/jo-jz/  I don't see anything that fits Robert on there.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 15:03 BST (UK)
Can we have a look around this - https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MD2P-5L3

Obviously, this is very vague at the moment, but it is a family headed by R M Johnson (will prove to be Robert M Johnson on later censuses) that have moved from Ohio to Iowa.  I'm wondering whether our RObert M Johnson might fit in somewhere with this family?
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 15:10 BST (UK)
Just to summarise what we know of Robert M Johnson so far:

Born in Ohio, Jan 1858 (per 1900 census) or 19 Jan 1859 (per burial record). Parents born Ohio.

Married c1888 to Flora E Craig, possibly in Nebraska (where Flora was living in Ulysses by 1880).

First known child: Ethel, born Nov 1889 Nebraska (1900 census)

Residence: Seward, Nebraska (1900); Lincoln, Nebraska (1910)

Occupation: Hostler (1900)

Death: 20 Jan 1911 per burial record in Seward, Nebraska.  Death cert not seen.



Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Monday 07 July 14 16:08 BST (UK)
WOW!! :) You folks are awesome!!
avm--yes I have tried the census record but as I believe I stated I have NO paid memberships to any genealogy research sites. While I have tried to make the best of the free sites, the best sites are,of course, the ones you have to pay for. Our local library does offer a limited version of Ancestry.com, However, I am limited by my work schedule and transportation.
I am thrilled to see what you folks have found! Thank you so much!
As to whether Flora Craig Johnson was older than she may have stated? I smile at this. Based on anecdotal information provided by the daughter of Flora "Betty" Johnson, I think this is likely. The theory in the family is that Flora did not want anyone to know her real age. The fact there is no exact birthdate even on her gravestone would seem to bear this out.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 16:29 BST (UK)
The 1870 census has an Elias and Eliza (say that when you've had a bit too much to drink!) CRaig in Salem, knox, Illinois.  No Flora, but there is a Francis aged 3

Yes I see.  They have Sarah A, 5, and Francis, 3, (a girl) in 1870 and then by 1880 supposedly three children who should have been born before 1870 - Sarah J 14, Mary F 12, Flora E 13.

Perhaps Mary F in 1880 is "Francis" from 1870 and there's an error in 1880 regarding Flora's age.  What order do the girls appear in in 1880?

1885 census has this: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X3XN-QNB
This gives daughters as Mary (17), Flora (15), CArrie (6), and Ada (3).  Interesting gap between top two and bottom two
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 16:35 BST (UK)
1885 census has this: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X3XN-QNB
This gives daughters as Mary (17), Flora (15), CArrie (6), and Ada (3).  Interesting gap between top two and bottom two

If Carrie is the same person as Cora S (3 in 1880) then maybe she is really 8 rather than 6 in 1885 so the gap isn't as big ???
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 16:37 BST (UK)
Elias B Craig and wife Eliza were buried in Ulysses in 1909 and 1920 respectively:

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nebutler/utwpcem.html

Here they are in 1900:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M3BL-V94
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 16:49 BST (UK)
Ada May Craig gives birthdate of c. 1882 on marriage cert to Wm Kinsely (14 Jan 1903, Council Bluffs) https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XJ6C-CMM
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Craclyn on Monday 07 July 14 17:31 BST (UK)
Well drummerswife, now you understand why a few of us suggested on your introductory post that you should pick a brick wall and post a question :) :)
Even though your initial question about Robert is still not resolved the additional information provided is amazing.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Monday 07 July 14 18:05 BST (UK)
Craclyn,
Oh my you are so right!  i knew when I first read that suggestion that I had to submit my #1 brickwall--Robert M. Johnson. And yes, I couldnt wait to share the additional info you good people have found with my mother. She is the only living descendant of Earl LeRoy Johnson who connects me to the Johnson family. Earl was the son of Albert Johnson and Elizabeth Bluhm (pronounced Bloom) His life was tragically short. He died at only 39 years old. My mother was 9. He died from a rare form of cancer called mutilpe myeloma. He didnt live long enough to meet his 8 grandchildren but I think he would have been really proud. My mother has, to date, 20 grandchildren.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: shellyesq on Monday 07 July 14 18:26 BST (UK)
The Seward library has an e-mail address, so you might want to check if they do look-ups for obituaries:  http://www.sewardlibrary.org/services/reference.html

If that doesn't pan out, ordering the death certificate might be worthwhile:  http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Pages/ced_decert.aspx
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Monday 07 July 14 18:36 BST (UK)
Shelleyesq--

Good idea. I have spoken to the Seward library a couple months ago. They said I have to come look it up myself but they di probably have the obit. I have a number of death cert I am planning to order. Robert's is one of them. Will that give me his parents? Or do I need the birth cert?
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: shellyesq on Monday 07 July 14 18:45 BST (UK)
It may give the parents' names.  It depends what the informant knew.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 18:54 BST (UK)
Examples of Nebraska death certificates with various dates have been posted online:

http://tinyurl.com/mg44pzp

You may be able to find one close to Robert's 1911 death date to get an idea of the sort of information which you can expect to have been included in a certificate from that time.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Monday 07 July 14 20:10 BST (UK)
It's a good thing I have the day off today because you folks have got me really excited.  :)
I looked up what a "hostler" is as this was listed as Robert Johnson's occupation. I discovered it's a person, usually men, who are paid to tend to horses usually at an inn or stable. I also discovered that Ulyesses and Seward are only 21 minutes apart by car. So here's my theory based on the infornation you good people have given me.
If Robert tended horses, it follows he probably rode them too. Part of his job would have been exercising the horses. It makes sense to me that he may have ridden a horse from Seward to Ulysses which by horse may have been an hour maybe?. And maybe thats how he met Flora Craig.  My great grandfather, Albert Johnson, was born in Ulyssess, Nebraska.
How's that for a scenario?
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 07 July 14 20:38 BST (UK)
I don't know whether you are already doing this, but sometimes I find it quite useful to map things out.  That way, places that may seem unrelated because they are in different counties/states are actually really close to each other 'on the ground' and you start getting a picture of how people moved around.

From what I have read, Ulysses seems to have been quite a small settlement, so people looking for work may have travelled to the nearest biggest town - in this case Seward - and so it might have been FLora who moved looking for work.  You never know, Robert's obit might tell you how they met!
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Craclyn on Monday 07 July 14 21:06 BST (UK)
Depending on Floraīs station in life other potential scenarios could be that she stayed at the inn or that she was also employed there and that is how they met.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Monday 07 July 14 21:44 BST (UK)
Quite a nice account of the history of Ulysses here:

http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/butler/ulysses/

I wonder what prompted the Craigs to move there from Illinois in the 1870s. Perhaps land was cheap after the grasshopper plague (Elias was a farmer in 1880).
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Monday 07 July 14 23:17 BST (UK)
Possible breakthrough?
Got e mail from a friend. She has found a Robert M. Johnson as the son of Nelson D. Johnson and Elizabeth Johnson. Both were born in Ohio. She found this in a census record but unfortunately didnt give me the year. Can you good people check this out for me?
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Craclyn on Monday 07 July 14 23:27 BST (UK)
1880 census - Paint, Highland, Ohio

Nelson D. Johnson 45
Elizabeth Johnson 45
Robert M Johnson 22
Ruth L B Johnson 18
William W Johnson 14
Rufus P Johnson 9
Henryetie Johnson 7

Nelson is a miller. Robert is a farmer. There is something written in the sickness/disability column for Robert which I canīt read. Think it may be to do with his heart.



Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Monday 07 July 14 23:58 BST (UK)
Thank you Craclyn :) :) :)
age 22 would be a match for the year Robert was born.  Where was the Nelson D. Johnson family in 1860 and 1870?
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: shellyesq on Tuesday 08 July 14 01:11 BST (UK)
Birth, marriage and death for possible brother Rufus: 
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XX48-XVW
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XZH3-S1J
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X6Y2-R9H
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: shellyesq on Tuesday 08 July 14 01:15 BST (UK)
Nelson Johnson's death certificate:  https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X66M-X29
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Tuesday 08 July 14 01:19 BST (UK)
Nelson R or Nelson D? Is there anyway to know with a reasonable degree of certainty if this is my Ribert M's parents? It certainly looks like it could be.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Tuesday 08 July 14 01:25 BST (UK)
So does this mean Robert was named after his father? Wish I could find a death cert on line for Robert.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: shellyesq on Tuesday 08 July 14 01:36 BST (UK)
Nebraska doesn't seem to have them online, so it would probably need to be ordered.

I was hoping some other clues from the possible parents or siblings, like a mention of Robert in an obituary, would help us to rule this family in or out.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: shellyesq on Tuesday 08 July 14 02:03 BST (UK)
I found an obit for Rufus, who was survived by a wife, two sons, and one sister Miss Etta Johnson of Cincinnati.

I also found an obit for Miss Henrietta Johnson, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Johnson, from 22 Dec. 1959.  She died at a home of a niece in Columbus, Ohio on 19 Dec.  She was born 21 Oct. 1872.  She had no close survivors except for nieces.

Well, nothing concrete, but at least they fit with Robert not being alive in the 1950's. 
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: shellyesq on Tuesday 08 July 14 02:09 BST (UK)
Elizabeth & Nelson's grave - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=johnson&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=37&GScnty=2075&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=81&GRid=78602509&df=all&

Elizabeth's death certificate and the informant was Etta - https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-21293-15484-64?cc=1307272
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Tuesday 08 July 14 03:20 BST (UK)
Don't think this has already been posted - he is Nelson O Johnston in this marriage entry (to Elizabeth Vance, 1857):

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XDXV-4YV

Also Nelson O Johnston in 1850, with parents Robert & Cynthia:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MXQ8-FXM
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Tuesday 08 July 14 04:08 BST (UK)
Wow this is alphabet soup. lol! D R O?  I have been sharing this info with my mom. She reminded me that, as the story has been passed down, the original spelling of Johnson was Johnston. She tells me that her grandmother, Elizabeth Bloom Johnson, told her that the first of our Johnson ancestors came through Ellis Island and at that time the name was spelled Johnston but the name was recorded Johnson with the T missing. And thats how it remained.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Tuesday 08 July 14 05:11 BST (UK)
So I ran Nelson O. Johnson through ROOTS WEB. This one I use a lot. I found him. He is in a family tree with the surname Eustache. Go ahead, try to pronounce that one lol! The information posted there was by a living descendant who provided her e mail address. It said the information was last updated iin Feb, 2014 so its pretty recent.
It lists Robert M. Johnson as the eldest son.
It lists Nelson BD Oct 16th, 1834
married Elizabeth Vance April 9th 1854 in Brown Ciounty, Ohio
Her parents are listed as Patrick Vance and Rebecca Brannon
Elizabeth Vance's BD is listed as January 24th, 1834

I sent an e mail to the poster of this info.

Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Tuesday 08 July 14 07:21 BST (UK)
Wow this is alphabet soup. lol! D R O?  I have been sharing this info with my mom. She reminded me that, as the story has been passed down, the original spelling of Johnson was Johnston. She tells me that her grandmother, Elizabeth Bloom Johnson, told her that the first of our Johnson ancestors came through Ellis Island and at that time the name was spelled Johnston but the name was recorded Johnson with the T missing. And thats how it remained.

I don't think that it would have been through Ellis Island though - didn't that only function from 1890s or something?  If Nelson Johnson is yours, then we have his family in the US from the 1830s at least!
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Tuesday 08 July 14 07:23 BST (UK)
So does this mean Robert was named after his father? Wish I could find a death cert on line for Robert.

Where would it have to be ordered from?  If it is from local archives/local library you could see whether they would take a phone order, and once you had paid for it you could always ask them to read it out to you.......... ;)

Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Craclyn on Tuesday 08 July 14 07:55 BST (UK)
Have we established that the census entry showing Robert 22 with father Nelson is the only potentially relevant census entry for that year? Probably a good idea to check before we go too far with Nelson and family.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Tuesday 08 July 14 08:16 BST (UK)
Have we established that the census entry showing Robert 22 with father Nelson is the only potentially relevant census entry for that year? Probably a good idea to check before we go too far with Nelson and family.

Totally agree, which is I think why we need to know what is on Robert's death cert with regard to parents.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Tuesday 08 July 14 08:52 BST (UK)
So does this mean Robert was named after his father? Wish I could find a death cert on line for Robert.

Where would it have to be ordered from?  If it is from local archives/local library you could see whether they would take a phone order, and once you had paid for it you could always ask them to read it out to you.......... ;)

It looks as though death certs for genealogy have to be ordered "by mail or walk-in" at the Health & Human Services office in Lincoln, NE:

http://www.genealogyinc.com/nebraska/ne-vital-records/
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Tuesday 08 July 14 11:56 BST (UK)
I entirely agree with the need for caution re Nelson and family until a positive link can be proved showing that his son Robert is the same Robert who married Flora.

If Nelson does turn out to be the right father, this looks likely to be the family in 1860:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MCGG-YH9

(Brown is of course the same county where Rufus was born in 1871, so one would expect the family to have been there in 1870 as well).
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: shellyesq on Tuesday 08 July 14 12:35 BST (UK)
I posted it above, but this is a direct link to the state website that contains information on ordering death certificates.  http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Pages/ced_decert.aspx 

In the 1870 census, there is also a Robert M. Johnson of about the right age and born in Ohio with parents born Ohio and living in Oak Grove, Pierce Co., Wisconsin.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Tuesday 08 July 14 13:03 BST (UK)
Shelly - sorry I had forgotten you'd already posted all the details re death certificates.

Is the Wisconsin chap in 1870 this one (line 31)?

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12864-137560-40?cc=1438024&wc=922H-S5X:518654501,518772801,519018402
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Monday 14 July 14 03:01 BST (UK)
BREAKING NEWS!!
I have cinfirmed that Nelson Johnson was indeed the father of Robert M. Johnson. I have been e mailing a living relative of Robert's who has his marriage record and will be sending it to me.  Even better, she was able to tell me who Nelson's father was. I burst out laughing--his name was Robert Johnson lol!
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Craclyn on Monday 14 July 14 07:34 BST (UK)
Congratulations :)
Now we can have fun chasing a new Robert Johnson. How much do you know about him?
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 14 July 14 17:10 BST (UK)

Also Nelson O Johnston in 1850, with parents Robert & Cynthia:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MXQ8-FXM
Location: Clay, Highland, Ohio

Robert Johnston      M   69    South Carolina
Cynthia Johnston   F   36    Ohio
Nelson O Johnston   M   15    Ohio
Addison Johnston   M   12    Ohio
Albert Johnston      M   10    Ohio
Delila J Johnston      F   9    Ohio

I wonder if this is a second marriage for Robert?
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 14 July 14 17:34 BST (UK)
On Delilah's (sister of Nelson) death cert in Marion, Clinton, Ohio in 1916, her parents names are given as Robert Johnson and Cynthia Jordan
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Craclyn on Monday 14 July 14 17:42 BST (UK)
Robert Johnson and Cynthia Jordan married in 1836 in Brown, Ohio

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XDH9-V2G
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: Spidermonkey on Monday 14 July 14 18:06 BST (UK)
The 1840 US census is not the most useful, but there is a Robert Johnson in Clay, Highland, Ohio.  In his household, there are 8 people, comprising 2 male under 5s, 1 male 5-9, 2 males 20-29, 1 male 60-69, 1 female under 5, 1 female 20-29
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: drummerswife on Tuesday 15 July 14 01:14 BST (UK)
Wow! You folks rock!!
Certainly looks like my Nelson Johnson's father. The one thing that immediately grabbed my attention was the spelling Johnston instead of Johnson. It has long been known that our Johnson name was originally Johnston. The story passed down is that the "t" was lost at some point in the past. No one is sure when.
I dont understand the comment about a second marriage for Robert though.
Title: Re: The Brick Wall of the Common Name - Robert M. Johnson of Seward Nebraska
Post by: avm228 on Tuesday 15 July 14 03:28 BST (UK)
The question about whether Robert's marriage to Cynthia was his second marriage has presumably been raised because of the difference in their ages shown in the 1850 census.