Harriet E Johnson

Harriet or Hattie as she was known,  is Mary's mother.  We saw in the 1930 US Census report that she and her only husband, Abe  were divorced.  Let's see where she was in 1935, according to the South Dakota state census report:

So, this record shows Hattie at the age of 49.  She is still liveing in Forestburg, SD.  Her occupation is listed as a housewife and she also listed that she was married rather than divorced.  We know that this is the same Hattie that was married to Abe O Johnson because of her birthdate, location, and the date that they were married (1906) are all facts that check with other records. 

There are also some things that we didn't know before that we learn from this record.  We see her parents are both born in New York state and that her ancestry is Scotch Irish.  We also learn that Hattie was a graduate of Springfield High School.  These are some great clues to help us research her early life.

Abraham O Johnson

Well, I thought I had this guy's lineage all figured out but it seems I was on the wrong track... I searched and searched for the names of his parents and the story of their coming to America.  I found a few families that seem like they might be his but their immigration dates don't match up.  His story will have to continue on a later date.  Tomorrow I will start sharing my research on Mary's mother, Hattie.  If my facts are correct, her lineage goes on and on...

Abraham O Johnson

This is the US Census records for 1910, Letcher South Dakota.  From this we learn that before he was a farmer, Abe was a hotel operator, something he revisits later on in his life.  It seems his hotel was a successful business, there are many lodgers on this and the next page of the records.  There are also servants who work in the hotel.

This record is also unique because it shows us that Abe may have actually been born in Norway rather than South Dakota.  He lists Norway as his birthplace and gives an immigration date of 1883- when he would have been two years old.

Abraham O Johnson

Abraham or Abe as we see on the Census records, was Mary's father.  We know that his life took many turns after Mary was born.  Now I'd like to look into the years before Mary was born.

Let's look at the information the 1920 US Census gives us:

In 1920, Abe was living in Oneida, South Dakota on the family farm.  He and his wife Harriet had seven children at the time- eight boys and one girl.  Abe lists his mother and father as Norwegian born and himself as South Dakota born. 

Now let's go back another five years and look at the 1915 South Dakota state census records:

Although the 1920 US Census report gives us a lot more information and includes all family members, this little report gives us some very important clues to our search.  Most importantly, it gives us Abe's wife Hattie's maiden name and their marriage date.  We know from this that Hattie (Harriet) Brown married Abe (Abraham) O Johnson in 1906.

Dorothy Mary Ann (Johnson) Martin

The next record for Mary that I found was the 1940 US Census.  In 1940, Mary was 16 years old and living in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  She was living with her father, Abe at the time as well as her sister Harriet. 

With the help of Google Maps Street View, you can see a picture of their house, which could have also been their hotel since Abe was listed as being a hotel operator in his own business. 

Interestingly enough, I found another record for Mary's father Abe through the 1940 US Census records.  It seems that he may have been admitted at the Colorado State Hospital- a mental institution.  The records show an Abe Johnson born in 1881 in South Dakota and who also lived in Colorado Springs-- clues which lead me to believe that this is the same Abe Johnson.  I also noticed that Mary was the one who filled out the US Census report in Colorado Springs.  She may have put him down, even though he wasn't there given the nature of his illness... the Census report notes that this page was a list of insane inmates. 

Dorothy Mary Ann (Johnson) Martin

 

According to the 1930 US Census, Mary was living with her mother and ten brothers and sisters in Onieda, SD.  Her mother Harriet Johnson is the head of the household and her marital status is divorced.  Can you imagine life with ten brothers and sisters?  Can you imagine being a single parent to ten children?  They also lived on a farm.  At least she had some help with the chores...

I also tracked down her father in 1930- Abe Johnson was living in Taos, New Mexico, working as the head of construction on a Public Roads crew.  Two of his sons, Fitch and James were working and living with him.  He also said that he was a widower...

Dorothy Mary Ann (Johnson) Martin

Dorothy Mary Ann Johnson was born in Forestburg, SD in October of 1923.  Here is the first record I have found for her:

This is a state cencus record from South Dakota, 1925. Here is what it tells us:

Mary Johnson was the name she went by, even at the age of 2. 
In 1925, Mary and her family lived in Onieda, SD.
She was born in 1923 in Forestburg, SD.
Her father was born in Letcher, SD
Her mother was born in Forestburg, SD
They have listed her race as white and her ancestry as Norse and either Scottish or Swedish... I'm having a hard time reading that.

I enjoy that South Dakota did a cencus but I wish it were easier to look up who went with what family.  There is no mention of siblings or parents names either.