FAMILY HISTORY
Charles Emil Johnson was born in the province of
Ostergotland, Sweden on July 24, 1857. It is thought that he was from
the town of Odeshog which is located in the central part of southern
Sweden on the Lake of Vattern, one of the larger lakes in the country.
Ostergotland, "the land of eastern Goths", is a province between two
coasts, as different as an imaginative nature could make them. The
western coast is formed by Lake Vattern, a long, narrow inland sea
around which nestle some of the nation's most treasured natural and
historical sights. The east coast is on the Baltic Sea, comparatively
harsh and unyielding, but just as beautiful in a bolder fashion. Between
are some of the most fertile farmlands and finest estates in the entire
country. (1)
Charles Johnson worked as a farmhand for J. E.
Pettersson, and a "reference" (see Appendix) describes him as willing,
honest and faithful. He was the only one of his family to immigrate to
the United States, arriving in 1880. He settled in Smethport, Pa. after a
short period spent in Jamestown, N.Y. and worked at the Smethport
Extract Works (Acetone Plant in East Smethport) for $1.00/day. Later in
life he worked for Judge J. W. Bouton on West Main Street as a
caretaker. He was a charter member of and very active 4r1 the
Evangelical Lutheran Church (later, Ansgarius Lutheran and Trinity
Lutheran) which was the center of the family's religious and social
life. In 1928 he returned to Sweden for a visit, sailing on the
Gripsholm. At least four souvenirs from this trip remain, shot glasses
from Goteborg, one of which belongs to Howard Hull and the other, to
Michael Hull. Madelaine Johnson has a modern-looking glass and silver
jar and a three-footed copper planter which had been given by Charles to
his daughter, Lena.
Charles Johnson died in Smethport, Pa. on October 3, 1930. Pictures of him show a serious looking man with a large mustache.
Josephine
Ryberg Johnson was born on January 8, 1862 in the province of Halland,
Sweden. This province is on the west coast of Sweden in the southern
part of the country. Her entire family came over to the United States in
1873 with the exception of her eldest brother. In Sweden the family had
been quite well-to-do with a family business and even had household
help. Then the father drank and gambled and lost his money so he decided
to come to American where "he could make a lot of money." Not knowing
anything about farming they weren't successful at it. The farm they
settled on was on the Clermont-Wilcox road, closer to Wilcox.
Josephine Ryberg had three brothers and three sisters.
Friday, December 2, 2016
Carolina Hulda Johnson
Carolina Hulda (Lena) was born on December 1, 1885 and died September 23, 1963. She married J. Alfred Johnson who was born in Halmstad, Sweden in 1883 and immigrated to the US when he was 16 years old. he had changed his name to Johnson from Johansson, as did many of the Swedish immigrants to americanize their names. Lena and Alfred first lived on Rose Hill Avenue; they later built a large house on the first Johnson homestead property and lived there their entire lives. J. Alfred was in the home construction and hardware businesses. Homes he designed and built remain in Smethport. J. Alfred died in 1952 in a car accident. Lena and Alfred had three children.
Bakers in the Newspaper
Smethport March 7, 1929
AUCTION SALE
Friday, March 15, at the residence of Mrs. Otto Baker, 706 Green street, west of Court House, Smethport. The following articles: Kitchen Cabinet, Kitchen Table, 6 Dining Chairs, 1
Large Rocker, 1 Leather Lounge, 1 Parlor Table, 3 Gas Stoves, 1 Smoking Stand, 1 Parlor Clock, 3 Pictures, 1 Rayo Lamp, 2 Simmons Beds Complete, 1 Congoleum Rug 9x12, A lot of
Linoleum, 10 Window Screens, 2 Screen Doors, A quantity of dishes, fruit jars and a lot of other articles too numerous to mention. This is a good lot of furniture and you will be pleased with it Sale at 2:00 o'clock
—MRS. OTTO BAKER, Owner
spend the week-end. . E. W. JONES, Licensed Auctioneer
March 21, 1929
Last Friday Mr. Jones conducted a successful auction of household goods for Mrs. Otto Baker
of Green street.
March 21, 1929
—Mrs. Otto Baker and family, who have resided on Green street, this borough, for several years past, left this week for southern Indiana where they will join Mr. Baker, who is employed there by B. B. Stroud in a gasoline plant. Mr. Stroud formerly operated the Coleville gasoline factory, abandoned a year or so ago, and later was one of the executives of the large refinery at nearby Farmers Valley. He is making a pronounced success of his new venture in Indiana.
Feb 14, 1929
AXEL VANBLAD BUYS MENCER
RESIDENCE—BIG AUCTION SALE
In addition to the Mencer estate goods, Mr. Jones offered for sale a quantity of household effects
for Mrs. Otto Baker of Green street all of which were disposed of.
March 5, 1927
Otto Baker of Smethport requiring tho attention of a physician. The others were only slightly Injured.
The tank car in which the explosion occurred stood at the rear of the refinery.
Coroner H. Clay Heffner was notified and Immediately made an Investigation.
March 13, 1929
Edward Baker of Hammond. Ind., is the guest of his mother, Mrs. Otto Baker.
April 2, 1931
Similar stories about the circling of the plane were told by Edward Baker and his brother Arthur, who were first to reach the wreckage
Heard Two Reports
" I was in the corral on dad's farm," Edward Baker said. "I heard the plane but couldn't see it."
He testified he noticed nothing out of the ordinary at first, but that the engines were "sputtering" when the plane circled back.
'There seemed to be two reports. It might have been backfiring. Then we heard a sound' which may have been the crash."
Baker believed the clouds were not more than 100 feet above the ground.
The youth said he detected the odor of gasoline when he reached the
wreckage but there was no evidence
of an explosion or fire.
April 23, 1930
Mr. a n d Mrs, J . Alfred Johnson spent Easter with their daughter, Mrs. Edward Baker and family in Hammond,
March 13, 1929
Miss Lorena Baker left Saturday for Hammond, Ind., where she will reside in Indiana.
AUCTION SALE
Friday, March 15, at the residence of Mrs. Otto Baker, 706 Green street, west of Court House, Smethport. The following articles: Kitchen Cabinet, Kitchen Table, 6 Dining Chairs, 1
Large Rocker, 1 Leather Lounge, 1 Parlor Table, 3 Gas Stoves, 1 Smoking Stand, 1 Parlor Clock, 3 Pictures, 1 Rayo Lamp, 2 Simmons Beds Complete, 1 Congoleum Rug 9x12, A lot of
Linoleum, 10 Window Screens, 2 Screen Doors, A quantity of dishes, fruit jars and a lot of other articles too numerous to mention. This is a good lot of furniture and you will be pleased with it Sale at 2:00 o'clock
—MRS. OTTO BAKER, Owner
spend the week-end. . E. W. JONES, Licensed Auctioneer
March 21, 1929
Last Friday Mr. Jones conducted a successful auction of household goods for Mrs. Otto Baker
of Green street.
March 21, 1929
—Mrs. Otto Baker and family, who have resided on Green street, this borough, for several years past, left this week for southern Indiana where they will join Mr. Baker, who is employed there by B. B. Stroud in a gasoline plant. Mr. Stroud formerly operated the Coleville gasoline factory, abandoned a year or so ago, and later was one of the executives of the large refinery at nearby Farmers Valley. He is making a pronounced success of his new venture in Indiana.
Feb 14, 1929
AXEL VANBLAD BUYS MENCER
RESIDENCE—BIG AUCTION SALE
In addition to the Mencer estate goods, Mr. Jones offered for sale a quantity of household effects
for Mrs. Otto Baker of Green street all of which were disposed of.
March 5, 1927
Otto Baker of Smethport requiring tho attention of a physician. The others were only slightly Injured.
The tank car in which the explosion occurred stood at the rear of the refinery.
Coroner H. Clay Heffner was notified and Immediately made an Investigation.
March 13, 1929
Edward Baker of Hammond. Ind., is the guest of his mother, Mrs. Otto Baker.
April 2, 1931
Similar stories about the circling of the plane were told by Edward Baker and his brother Arthur, who were first to reach the wreckage
Heard Two Reports
" I was in the corral on dad's farm," Edward Baker said. "I heard the plane but couldn't see it."
He testified he noticed nothing out of the ordinary at first, but that the engines were "sputtering" when the plane circled back.
'There seemed to be two reports. It might have been backfiring. Then we heard a sound' which may have been the crash."
Baker believed the clouds were not more than 100 feet above the ground.
The youth said he detected the odor of gasoline when he reached the
wreckage but there was no evidence
of an explosion or fire.
April 23, 1930
Mr. a n d Mrs, J . Alfred Johnson spent Easter with their daughter, Mrs. Edward Baker and family in Hammond,
March 13, 1929
Miss Lorena Baker left Saturday for Hammond, Ind., where she will reside in Indiana.
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