Second Generation

2. Johannes JOHANSSON was born on 9 April 1837 in Gammaltorp, Hällstad, Älvsborg län, Sweden.⁵ Emigrated to US: from Hössna, Sweden on 15 March 1891 . He died on 19 April 1911 at the age of 74 in State Institution, Howard, Cranston, RI. Resided at: Wellington Avenue, Cranston, R.I. . He was buried in Locust Grove Cemetery, Providence, RI. Note that his father died when he was 9 years old. His mother, his two sisters, and he had to sell their 1/4 ownership and move from their farm, Gammalstorp, in 1850. They moved to Blidsberg parish, east of Hällstad, Väster Götaland, Sweden. The Gammalstorp property had been in the family for several generations, and a part of it continued to be in the family through Johannes' uncles and a cousin.

On October 24, 1871, the newly married Johan Johansson moved with his wife to Krokstorp, where he was a quarter (1/4) owner (per Hössna Husförhörslängd AI:11, p. 30). Son Edwin's notes say that Johan was a farmer and also hauled lumber for a saw mill to a railroad station for extra income. He and his wife raised their family at Krokstorp until leaving to emigrate to America. Another 1/4 was owned by Anders Johansson and half owned by Johan Andersson. The Anderssons went to America from Krokstorp in 1882.

The Ulricehamn Tidning for 20 February 1891 carried the announcement of the auction of the Johansson's possessions at Krokstorp: "Fungörelse: Genom offentlig auktion, som på stället forrättas Tingaden den 10 näste Mars k. . c.m. läter J. Johansson i Krokstorp, Hössna Socken, för af resa till Amerika försälja helt sitt lös örebo, bes täende of koppar, järn, och träsaker, husgeräd och möbler, åk er bruckes och könedskap, säng, ok linnekläder spanne, mål och potata, kreater af 1 häst, 3 Kors, 3 kvigor samt höns, hö, och halmfades som fär från stället affäres, m.m. Vederhäftige undepaie erhälle 3 mändue, bredit andre tetala vid anfondrar still backen den 18 Fd 5 andersen." Anna- Lena Hultman's great grandparents, the Petterssons from Småland, were the successful bidders on the farm.

The Index of Hössna Emigrants 1890-99 lists Johan Johansson, his wife Maria Charlotta Danielsdotter, and children Elin Matilda, Emma Alfrida, Karl Victor, Maria Wilhelmina, Klas Albert, and Hanna Elvira, emigrating from Krokstorp (farm or croft), Hössna, on March 15, 1891. Johanna Maria Johansdotter (Johan's sister) is listed as leaving the next day (March 16, 1891). A nephew of Maria Charlotta's, Johan Albin Davidson, apparently went with them.

The first Swede to settle in the Pontiac part of Warwick (and the neighboring parts of Cranston called Eden Park and Auburn, as well as close-by Providence) was Andrew P. Magnuson from Hössna, who arrived in 1852 with his wife, daughter, and two young people. There were jobs in the local mills owned by B. B. and R. Knight and mill housing nearby, and a steady stream of Swedes, many from Hössna, to fill the community. The Swedes built houses along King Street and Reed Street, trading at C. A. Johnson's grocery store.

The family arrived on the SS Pavonia in the port of Boston on April 6, 1891. The Boston Passenger list has him, Maria, and their children arriving in Boston April 6, 1891 on the SS Pavonia out of Liverpool, giving his age as 54 (which fits with info found by Swedish genealogist and Swedish church records that he was born in 1837). Arrival also is consistent with leaving Krokstorp on March 15, 1891. Children listed were Hanna, Klas (Claes), Marta (Wilhelmina), Karl (Carl), Elin, and Emma (Amy). Consistent with other records, Edwin Sahlen came over separately (see notes for Edwin Sahlen).

The name was changed from Johan Johansson to John Johnson in the United States. Children were all known by name Johnson.

They initially lived at 204 Dudley Street in Providence. They joined Gloria Dei Church in Providence in 1905.

Here's what I know re: the Johnsons (from Nancy Kilstrom - January 2000):

" John Johnson -- Nana and my mom said he was a lumberman in Sweden. He was injured in a tree fall accident and lost his arm or the use thereof. Emigrated with the family after that to find other work. Described as having mental/behavioral problems as he aged. Nana never really wanted to talk about him. (Could be he suffered head trauma too in the accident) He is not buried with Maria in the Bethany Lutheran Cemetery (at least his name is not on the stone) which seems odd. Mom and Lillian did not know why and couldn't remember the year of death. In 1977 Vital Statistics in RI couldn't find him without dates. I searched for his grave in several of the cemeteries; however, looking for a John Johnson in a Swedish cemetery is rather overwhelming! How do you know he died @ March 1911? (not sure, think I picked it up from RI Cemetery records, but I'm not sure that's right.) Did Amy have that written somewhere? Parents names unknown since I never had a death certificate."

The 1910 Census lists John, 76, living at 153 1/2 Wellington Avenue in Cranston with wife Maria, 65, daughter Amy, 21, and sister Johanna, 72. He was a laborer in a machine shop. John and Johanna came to the US in 1890, according to the Census record. They both were born in Sweden and spoke Swedish. Next door were son Carl Victor Johnson, wife Sandra, and son Herbert.

Death record from Kent Co., Town of Warwick, 1908-1921, Vol. 3, page 28, item 2, gives date of death of a John Johnson as March 8, 1910 in Pontiac, cause of death cancer hepatis (?), age 84 years 2 mos. 6 days, born in Sweden, buried in Pontiac, Physician: Soderations, Undertaker: Alfred Juhlin. (from Nancy Kilstrom - FHL Microfilm 2,030,751). This could be another John Johnson, in that he apparently was alive for the 1910 Census and also for Amy and Arthur's wedding in 1910. Also, the date of birth would have been January 2nd, 1826, rather than 1837 as in Swedish records. It's worth being sensitive to and rechecking through other records when possible.

Marcia Corry sent a death certificate for John Johnson, wife Charlotta Maria, died at the hospital at the State Institution at Howard, Cranston, RI, 26 April 1911, of senile dementia and arteriosclerosis. George E. Simpson was his doctor, and Alfred Juhlin the undertaker. He was buried in Locust Grove Cemetery. This appears to be the "right" John Johnson. Maria Charlotta Danielsdotter NILSON and Johannes JOHANSSON were married on 24 March 1871 in Hössna, Älvsborg län (Väster Götaland), Sweden.⁶

3. Maria Charlotta Danielsdotter NILSON was born on 3 September 1846 in Stora Gärdet, Hössna, Älvsborg län, Sweden.⁷ She was buried in August 1921 in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Eden Park, Cranston, RI. She died on 17 August 1921 at the age of 74 in Cranston, Providence Co., RI.⁸ Household Examination 1870-76, p. 173, indicates a marriage date of January 29, 1871, slightly different than what marriage record shows.

After John Johnson died, Maria went to live with Amy Kells (her youngest daughter) in Eden Park. She died at age 74. She listed Thyra Johnson as kin. The 1930 Census lists a Thyra Johnson, 50, living with her husband, John, 50, and son Raymond A., 24, at 112 Jenkins Street in Providence. John was a machinist and Raymond a clerk. Thyra is also listed as kin of Lillian M. Johnson, died 10 March 1925 at age 7 mos., Lillie E. Johnson, died 20 October 1929, age 29, Margaret Johnson, died 13 May 1927, age 2 mos., and Martha Johnson, died 8 February 1926, age 80 years. A Thyra Johnson is listed in Providence city directories from 1938 to 1947.

Her death certificate says she died at RI Hospital of a cerebral hemorrhage and pneumonia at 8:54 a.m., two days after being admitted. William P. Murphy was her physician.

Reference: Edlund: Born 1846-09-03 in Stora Gärdet, Hössna (P).
Married 1871-03-24 in Hössna (P) to the previous ancestor.
Moved 1891-03-15 from Krokstorp, Hössna (P) to Norra Amerika.
Died 1921-08-17 in Cranston, Providence Co., Rodhe Island, USA (Brad Leonard<1>).
Födelsenotis: Hössna C:3 (1841-1858) Bild 26 / sid 45 (AID: v43942.b26.s45, NAD: SE/GLA/13256)
Se Stora Gärdet: Hössna AI:8 (1856-1861) Bild 180 / sid 181 (AID: v43932.b180.s181, NAD: SE/GLA/13256)
Vigselnotis: Hössna E:2 (1861-1894) Bild 18 (AID: v43947.b18, NAD: SE/GLA/13256)
Se Krokstorp: Hössna AI:10 (1870-1878) Bild 32 / sid 27 (AID: v43934.b32.s27, NAD: SE/GLA/13256)
Se Krokstorp: Hössna AI:11 (1878-1891) Bild 34 / sid 30 (AID: v43935.b34.s30, NAD: SE/GLA/13256)

Children were:

	i.	Reverend Johan Edwin SAHLEN was born on 7 April 1872 in Krokstorp, Hössna, Älvsborg län (Väster Götaland), Sweden.⁹ He died on 18 January 1946 at the age of 73 in Texas. Edwin left a six-page autobiography. He was born a farmer's son. His notes mention that his father's forebears had been farmers for generations, his grandfather on his mother's side was a contractor who built churches, and his grandmother's family were a line of priests and preachers. He had a teacher named Sahlen who tried to convince Edwin's father to let him attend high school, but his father refused and intended to raise his sons as farmers. Edwin later took the name, Sahlen, in honor of this teacher, when he found Rockford, IL, too filled with Johnsons, Petersons, Nelsons, and Larsons. Edwin mentioned that at age 17 he got "America Fever." A friend loaned him money to pay for the passage. He emigrated from Sweden to the U.S., leaving Krokstorp on May 9, 1890. He arrived in New York on 30 May 1890 and took a train to Rockford, Illinois, arriving 2 June 1890. He settled initially in Rockford, Illinois, renting a room from the Bjornbergs who were also from Hossna. Through a friend he found work in a furniture factory for 75 cents a day. On the Swedish emigration list and in Swedish Church records, he is called Johan Edvin Johansson. He emigrated with Rebecka Sofia Johansdotter, born December 24, 1862, in Timmele, who was also living at Krokstorp; and two children: Sven Oskar Björnberg born September 9, 1884, in Hössna, and Ebba Lovisa Björnberg, born September 2, 1888, in Hössna, both of whom were also living at Krokstorp and are listed on the same page of the Household Examination book AI:11, p. 30, with Johan Johansson's family. Johan Wilhelm Björnberg had moved to Krokstorp, where he became a quarter owner, on November 3, 1883, and died February 15, 1888. He and Rebecka married September 6, 1884. Had the Björnberg parents emigrated at an earlier date, and were Rebecka and her children going to America to live with relatives? Or were their children adopted by the Bjornbergs in Rockford? Anna-Lena said Gustaf Björnberg born 29 October 1878 and married Selma Justina Svantesdotter b. 20 June 1858 in Timmele and emigrated 22 March 1889 from Björstorp, a few months before Edwin. They settled in Rockford and had a foster daughter Elsa Maria b. 15 September 1891 in Hallefors. (The only Sven Bjornberg I can find was born in 1871 and arrived in New York from Gothenberg on the Bothnia in 1893. The only other Bjornbergs I can find are Sofia Bjornberg, 57 in the 1920 Census, and her daughter, Ebba L, 29, living in Rockford, Winnebago Co., IL. These almost match with Sofia Johansdotter (name probably changed to Johnson or her husband's name) and Ebba Lovisa above. In 1920, Sofia and Ebba were living at 174 4th Avenue with the Oscar and Alma Johnson family, their three daughters, and Axel Beck, who was a boarder there. Ebba was a stenographer. No employment is mentioned for Sofia.) It appears that Edvin took Rebecka and the children to Rockford, IL, where there was a Gustav Bjornberg living. After his family emigrated to Pontiac, R.I. in 1891, he joined them at their insistence. His notes say he lived there 11 years, working mostly in the cotton mills and on a truck farm. In Rockford, he was brought to Christ. Back in Rhode Island, he felt an inner calling to prepare for the ministry. He returned to Illinois in 1893 and entered the Swedish Theological Seminary in Evanston. Edwin didn't complete the course of study due to poor health and at the invitation of a student friend went to Texas where the winters were milder.. He went into the ministry and served first in Waco, Texas, in 1904, then El Campo, Texas, then Swede Plain, Neb., 1909-1912, then Ong and Shickley, Kansas, 1912-16, then Scandia and Wayne, Kansas, 1916-19. From 1919 to 1924 he was district superintendent of the Western district and served as pastor in Lincoln, Nebraska. He later returned to Texas, where his wife's family lived, and went into partnership with his wife's father in the Gustafson Lumber Company in Crosby, Texas, from 1928 to 1934. He built a 4-unit apartment, a feed store, and a chicken house. By 1944 he had retired for good. In the 1920 Census, the family is listed as living at 620 18th Street, Lancaster, Nebraska. Edwin was listed as a minister. In the 1930 Census, he is listed as living in Precinct 3, Harris, Texas, with his wife and children. According to the Census record, he arrived in the United States in 1890, married when he was 32 years old, and is listed as a proprietor. His grandson, Richard C. Sahlen, said that his father told him Johan Edwin changed his name to Sahlen because he was tired of getting his mail mixed up with other Johnsons or Johnssons in Rockford, IL. Also, he supposedly came to America to avoid serving in the Swedish army. I (Dick Sahlen) don't have many clues to Edwin Sahlen's personality. I do recall my father indicating that he was very strict and discipline was handled with a length of heavy electrical wire across the backside. However, Rev. Sahlen could supposedly be very emotionally drained after conducting funerals. My dad (Carl) indicated that by the time he was 14, his father would drag him along to funerals so that my dad would be available to drive Edwin home in their Ford Model T. When my father started school, Edwin announced that the family would begin speaking English in their home, although he would continue to serve his parishioners in Swedish. I think you also made some reference to some ancestors have been lumbermen. My dad did tell me that my grandfather would, at times take work in a sawmill to supplement his earnings as a pastor. I have a letter that my Aunt Alice wrote in March, 1980 to my mother, that provides a few more insights: "Noreen, you will never understand, just how much I appreciated, not only your letter, but the enclosure of something I have wanted to know -- since I was 14 years old, when we left Stromsburg, Nebr. Harper, the girls and my friends, since I married Harper, have not been able to understand, when I have said, "The first 19 years of my life are but a dream." Why? Because all the friends I learned to know as Preacher's Kids and almost 9; I have never had any contact with or known, who the girls married, or anything. So your letter brought me the names of people with whom both Carl and I enjoyed in our early teens. Our stay in Stromsburg was some different than the other 8 places, since we weren't the Preacher's Kids of that town; because Papa (Edwin) was a District Superintendent of the Swedish Methodist Church and didn't have a pastorate. Carl and I were with mostly the same group of friends of that little town and this list of his Class of '24 will give me a chance to catch up with a portion of my life." Source: Dick Sahlen, e-mail, 17 Oct 2009. Dick Sahlen previously found a couple of reference to my grandfather and grandmother in SWEDISH CHURCHES IN AMERICA and here is an excerpt: Swedish Methodist Church, El Campo, Texas: . . . of the large group, only El Campo remains. Here a congregation was founded by six people on May 8, 1892, land was secured in the town and a church and parsonage was built in 1894. The parsonage was remodeled and enlarged in 1906 during Pastor Edwin Sahlen?s tenure. The church was badly damaged in a storm which hit the area in 1909, but was repaired and improved soon thereafter. The property is worth $5,000. This congregation has probably more than any other in the conference been hindered in its growth and development by its members constantly moving away from the area. The membership is currently around fifty, and an equal number in the Sunday school. Twenty five belong to the Youth Organization, and two women?s societies work for home and foreign missionary work. The following pastors have served this church: John Ovall, Nov. 1891-Dec. 1894; J. F. Sarner, Dec. 1894-Dec. 1897; Aug. Wallin, Dec. 1897-Dec. 1900; Nels Nelson, Dec. 1900 to his death a few months later; C. J. Rosenquist, June 1902- Sept. 1903; F. A. Lundberg during the summer of 1904; Edwin Sahlen, Sept. 1904-Sept. 1909; Carl Fromen, Jan. 1910-May 1917; at this time E. J. Anderson took charge of the congregation. From the original Victoria circle, two young men served for a short time within the church after having completed their training at the Seminary in Evanston, 111. These were C. E. Wohlander who died during his time in Hutto, and C. J. Rosenquist, who is the pastor of the Lutheran Congregation in the same town. (C. J. Rosenquist was Edwin's friend at the Swedish Theological Seminary who suggested to Edwin to move to Texas.) References: Born 1872-04-07 in Krokstorp, Hössna (P). Moved 1890-05-09 from Krokstorp, Hössna (P) to Norra Amerika. Se Krokstorp: Hössna AI:10 (1870-1878) Bild 32 / sid 27 (AID: v43934.b32.s27, NAD: SE/GLA/13256) Se Krokstorp: Hössna AI:11 (1878-1891) Bild 34 / sid 30 (AID: v43935.b34.s30, NAD: SE/GLA/13256) Flagga: Emigrant.
	ii.	Hanna Elvira JOHNSON was born on 8 January 1874 in Krokstorp, Hössna, Älvsborg län (Väster Götaland), Sweden.¹⁰ She died on 23 September 1932 at the age of 58 in Cranston, Providence Co., RI. From Nancy Kilstrom, January 2000: Hannah Johnson Larson Married Oscar Larson Children were: Lillian Larson - Born I think 1903 (same age as my Dad). She and Elsie are buried in the same grave in St. Paul's/All Saints. Fern may know exact dates or we could check the stone. Leonard Larson - Died as a relatively young man my mom recalled. She didn't think he had married. Clarence Larson - Married first at age 65 to a woman with children/grandchildren. - Raymond Larson He married Mary ____. She was Portuguese. They lived in Pawtucket. Had one son, Raymond Larson Jr. He had at least 2 daughters - I have a photo of them with Ray Sr. - Elsie Larsen Elsie never married. She, Lillian, and Clarence lived together on the street behind the Pontiac Mills. - Apparently there were one or two other children who died as infants. One died when Hannah fell down stairs when holding the baby (?). My mom and Lillian mentioned that. Reference: Edlund: Born 1874-01-08 in Krokstorp, Hössna (P). Moved 1891-03-16 from Krokstorp, Hössna (P) to Norra Amerika. Se Krokstorp: Hössna AI:10 (1870-1878) Bild 32 / sid 27 (AID: v43934.b32.s27, NAD: SE/GLA/13256) Se Krokstorp: Hössna AI:11 (1878-1891) Bild 34 / sid 30 (AID: v43935.b34.s30, NAD: SE/GLA/13256) Flagga: Emigrant.
	iii.	Klas Albert JOHNSON was born on 13 September 1876 in Krokstorp, Hössna, Älvsborg län (Väster Götaland), Sweden.¹⁰ He died in September 1958 at the age of 82 in Cranston, Providence Co., RI. He was buried in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Cranston, RI. He was granted citizenship July 16, 1904. At the time he was living at 204 Dudley Street in Providence with his brother, Carl Victor. Doublecheck birthdate in Swedish records -- may be baptism. Citizenship record indicates a birthdate of September 13, 1876. He was known as Albert -- "Uncle Albert" to me. He and his wife taught me to play pinocle and cribbage. They lived in a house in Auburn, RI. He was a machinist by occupation. After his wife died, he lived with the Kells' for a time. He used to buy a weekly pass for the United Electric Rail system (the trolley bus system in Providence and vicinity) and ride the bus all day to pass the time. Reference: Edlund: Born 1876-09-13 in Krokstorp, Hössna (P). Moved 1891-03-15 from Krokstorp, Hössna (P) to Norra Amerika. Se Krokstorp: Hössna AI:10 (1870-1878) Bild 32 / sid 27 (AID: v43934.b32.s27, NAD: SE/GLA/13256) Se Krokstorp: Hössna AI:11 (1878-1891) Bild 34 / sid 30 (AID: v43935.b34.s30, NAD: SE/GLA/13256) Flagga: Emigrant.
	iv.	Maria Wilhelmina "Minna" JOHNSON was born on 16 June 1879 in Krokstorp, Hössna, Älvsborg län (Väster Götaland), Sweden.¹⁰ She died on 4 March 1957 at the age of 77 in Providence, RI. Minna worked as a servant for a wealthy family in California. She returned to the East in the early 1940's and lived with the Kells' on Hawthorne Avenue until Arthur Kells died in 1947. She then went to live at a Swedish old age home at 111 South Angel Street on Providence's East Side. Minna never married. There was a Wilhemina Johnson working for the Harry Thurl Bodwell (real estate) family in Cranston, RI, in the 1930 Census, but she was 10 years younger than Minna. Bodwell was general manager of the Bonnet Shores Beach Club. Reference: Edlund: Born 1879-06-16 in Krokstorp, Hössna (P). Moved 1891-03-15 from Krokstorp, Hössna (P) to Norra Amerika. Se Krokstorp: Hössna AI:11 (1878-1891) Bild 34 / sid 30 (AID: v43935.b34.s30, NAD: SE/GLA/13256) Flagga: Emigrant.
	v.	Karl Victor JOHNSON was born on 29 August 1881 in Krokstorp, Hössna, Älvsborg län (Väster Götaland), Sweden.¹⁰ He died on 29 October 1953 at the age of 72 in Erie, PA. He received his US citizenship October 1, 1904, in the US District Court in Providence. He was living with his brother Claes Albert at 204 Dudley Street in Providence at the time. Doublecheck Swedish records as to birthdate -- citizenship says August 29, 1882. A witness was Oscar A. Larson of 204 1/2 Dudley Street. In the 1920 Census, the family was living at 241 East 5th Street, Erie, PA. Victor was a foreman in a machine shop. Four grandchildren (not sure of parents): Ruth Elaine Johnson of Erie, PA; Donald, Patricia, and Sharon Johnson of Cleveland. He was employed as a machinist for Oster Mfg. Co. in Cleveland. He was a member of the Campbell Concert Band and the Musicians Local 17, AFofM. There was a Carl Victor Johnson who was born July 5, 1883, lived at 56 King St., Pontiac, and had a wife named Alice when he registered for the World War I draft. Reference: Edlund: Born 1881-08-29 in Krokstorp, Hössna (P). Moved 1891-03-15 from Krokstorp, Hössna (P) to Norra Amerika. Se Krokstorp: Hössna AI:11 (1878-1891) Bild 34 / sid 30 (AID: v43935.b34.s30, NAD: SE/GLA/13256) Flagga: Emigrant.
	vi.	Elin Matilda JOHNSON was born on 26 April 1884 in Krokstorp, Hössna, Älvsborg län (Väster Götaland), Sweden.¹⁰ She died on 22 November 1966 at the age of 82 in Warwick, RI. She was buried on 26 November 1966 in All Saints Cemetery, Greenwich Ave., Warwick, RI. Reference: Edlund: Born 1884-04-26 in Krokstorp, Hössna (P). Moved 1891-03-15 from Krokstorp, Hössna (P) to Norra Amerika. Se Krokstorp: Hössna AI:11 (1878-1891) Bild 34 / sid 30 (AID: v43935.b34.s30, NAD: SE/GLA/13256) Flagga: Emigrant.
1	vii.	Amy Alfrida JOHNSON.