Hilda Johansson was a strong courageous young woman who sailed away from the city of Mariehamn with her mother’s best friend, Amelia Johnson, and possibly her brother, Arthur.
We have reason to believe that Hilda’s genealogy is traceable back to Eric the Red. This was told to us about 2005, when a director at the Aland Museum of History in Mariehamn examined Hilda’s postcards. It would of course need to be documented and verified. But this should be fairly simple; In Sweden and Aland, the birth records and laws governing inheritance were and are, quite exact, and designed to protect both females and males.
Mariehamn is located in the Baltic: the Aland Islands. Before the Suez Canal was built, the Aland Islands were considered the passage to the west. They flew their own flag, although at the time Hilda and Amelia departed, the islands were part of Sweden.
Hilda left for the United States, at the bidding of her mother: to seek the whereabouts of her father, Eric Arthur Johansson. He was presumably “lost" in the short lived Japanesse-Russian War of 1904. Hilda's father was never found. He was eventually declared dead. Her mother then remarried.
Mariehamn is the main city in Aland (Oland) consists of many small islands within the Baltic Sea. They fly their own flag. Today, the country is considered, Finland and Russian. But the people of Aland still speak Swedish, as they did when they were part of Sweden.
Hilda booked passage to the United States along with her mother’s friend, Amelia Gustafson (293 Jackson Street in Petoskey, MI). They may also have come on the same ship with Arthur Johansson, Hilda’s brother.
For a time, Hilda and Amelia stayed in Philadelphia with Arthur, his wife, and children. Then Amelia first came to Petoskey, Michigan, and married Andrew Gustafason. Hilda came later and stayed with Amelia and her husband at 293 Jackson Street in Petoskey. When Hilda and Otto first married, they both stayed at the Jackson Street address for a short time.
In 1909, Hilda married Otto Johnson in Petoskey, Michigan. He was 15 years older than she. His older sister, Dessie Johnson Nyman and her husband John who resided in Petoskey, witnessed the marriage.
Hilda and Otto’s second place of residence was in in Resort Township near what is now (2015) Bay Harbor, and formerly the Portland Cement Company. Both she and Otto worked at the cement company for Otto's brother-in-law, John Nyman. John was married to Dessie, the older sister of Otto. They were the parents of Arthur Nyman “The Coal Man” and Emery Nyman, three or four times the mayor of Petoskey. John and Emery were both officers of the cement plant.
Soon after Hilda and Otto purchased a home at 516 Charlevoix Avenue, in Petoksey. In those days, Charlevoix Avenue was the main road into town and over the Bear River dam and old wooden bridge to the east side of town. The house and barn still stand and look pretty much the same as of the year 2004––very recognizable.
In 1910, Hilda gave birth to Richard Washington johnson. It is thought that before or after he was born, she may have worked at Lincoln School as a teacher or teachers aide (perhaps to help with children who spoke Swedish.) There is a Hilda Johnson listed as working for Lincoln School, in an early City Directory, but we are not for certain, it is "our own" Hilda.
When Hilda's brother Arthur died at a young age, she and her only daughter, Elva, went by train from Petoskey to Philadelphia for the funeral. As Hilda and Elva made their way to the street where Arthur’s family lived, his wife saw them approaching from a window and called out to them. it was a sad, but happy reunion.
It was said by all who knew her, that Hilda was a “peacemaker.” Her many friends and relation were grief stricken when Hilda died in 1934. Everyone exclaimed how young she was––too young to die.
She had been ill for sometime with pernicious anemia. A condition today that probably could have been cured with Vitamin B-12.
Hilda Marie Johansson Johnson was sorely missed by her husband, sons and daughter. She never knew any of her grandchildren. All of them were born after she died.
Note: In the late 1950s, Hilda’s oldest grandson, R. J., son of Phillip Johnson, traveled to Sweden. We believe he visited both Otto’s Gotland, in Sweden, and Hilda’s Mariehamn in the Aland Islands. Her oldest granddaughter, Nellie, has also traveled to Sweden. But both of these trips need verification., as the memory is vague. All of Hilda’s grandchildren, are still living as of 2016. Ironically, Hilda, never lived to hold any of them in her arms; but Hilda's r best friend, Auntie Gustafson, held Marilyn when she was born (over at her home on Jackson Street in Petoskey. There is a photo that will soon be posted.) Hilda came to America with Mrs. Gustasfon around 1903 or 1904.
We have reason to believe that Hilda’s genealogy is traceable back to Eric the Red. This was told to us about 2005, when a director at the Aland Museum of History in Mariehamn examined Hilda’s postcards. It would of course need to be documented and verified. But this should be fairly simple; In Sweden and Aland, the birth records and laws governing inheritance were and are, quite exact, and designed to protect both females and males.
Mariehamn is located in the Baltic: the Aland Islands. Before the Suez Canal was built, the Aland Islands were considered the passage to the west. They flew their own flag, although at the time Hilda and Amelia departed, the islands were part of Sweden.
Hilda left for the United States, at the bidding of her mother: to seek the whereabouts of her father, Eric Arthur Johansson. He was presumably “lost" in the short lived Japanesse-Russian War of 1904. Hilda's father was never found. He was eventually declared dead. Her mother then remarried.
Mariehamn is the main city in Aland (Oland) consists of many small islands within the Baltic Sea. They fly their own flag. Today, the country is considered, Finland and Russian. But the people of Aland still speak Swedish, as they did when they were part of Sweden.
Hilda booked passage to the United States along with her mother’s friend, Amelia Gustafson (293 Jackson Street in Petoskey, MI). They may also have come on the same ship with Arthur Johansson, Hilda’s brother.
For a time, Hilda and Amelia stayed in Philadelphia with Arthur, his wife, and children. Then Amelia first came to Petoskey, Michigan, and married Andrew Gustafason. Hilda came later and stayed with Amelia and her husband at 293 Jackson Street in Petoskey. When Hilda and Otto first married, they both stayed at the Jackson Street address for a short time.
In 1909, Hilda married Otto Johnson in Petoskey, Michigan. He was 15 years older than she. His older sister, Dessie Johnson Nyman and her husband John who resided in Petoskey, witnessed the marriage.
Hilda and Otto’s second place of residence was in in Resort Township near what is now (2015) Bay Harbor, and formerly the Portland Cement Company. Both she and Otto worked at the cement company for Otto's brother-in-law, John Nyman. John was married to Dessie, the older sister of Otto. They were the parents of Arthur Nyman “The Coal Man” and Emery Nyman, three or four times the mayor of Petoskey. John and Emery were both officers of the cement plant.
Soon after Hilda and Otto purchased a home at 516 Charlevoix Avenue, in Petoksey. In those days, Charlevoix Avenue was the main road into town and over the Bear River dam and old wooden bridge to the east side of town. The house and barn still stand and look pretty much the same as of the year 2004––very recognizable.
In 1910, Hilda gave birth to Richard Washington johnson. It is thought that before or after he was born, she may have worked at Lincoln School as a teacher or teachers aide (perhaps to help with children who spoke Swedish.) There is a Hilda Johnson listed as working for Lincoln School, in an early City Directory, but we are not for certain, it is "our own" Hilda.
When Hilda's brother Arthur died at a young age, she and her only daughter, Elva, went by train from Petoskey to Philadelphia for the funeral. As Hilda and Elva made their way to the street where Arthur’s family lived, his wife saw them approaching from a window and called out to them. it was a sad, but happy reunion.
It was said by all who knew her, that Hilda was a “peacemaker.” Her many friends and relation were grief stricken when Hilda died in 1934. Everyone exclaimed how young she was––too young to die.
She had been ill for sometime with pernicious anemia. A condition today that probably could have been cured with Vitamin B-12.
Hilda Marie Johansson Johnson was sorely missed by her husband, sons and daughter. She never knew any of her grandchildren. All of them were born after she died.
Note: In the late 1950s, Hilda’s oldest grandson, R. J., son of Phillip Johnson, traveled to Sweden. We believe he visited both Otto’s Gotland, in Sweden, and Hilda’s Mariehamn in the Aland Islands. Her oldest granddaughter, Nellie, has also traveled to Sweden. But both of these trips need verification., as the memory is vague. All of Hilda’s grandchildren, are still living as of 2016. Ironically, Hilda, never lived to hold any of them in her arms; but Hilda's r best friend, Auntie Gustafson, held Marilyn when she was born (over at her home on Jackson Street in Petoskey. There is a photo that will soon be posted.) Hilda came to America with Mrs. Gustasfon around 1903 or 1904.
Hilda Johansson was a strong courageous young woman who sailed away from the city of Mariehamn with her mother’s best friend, Amelia Johnson, and possibly her brother, Arthur.
We have reason to believe that Hilda’s genealogy is traceable back to Eric the Red. This was told to us about 2005, when a director at the Aland Museum of History in Mariehamn examined Hilda’s postcards. It would of course need to be documented and verified. But this should be fairly simple; In Sweden and Aland, the birth records and laws governing inheritance were and are, quite exact, and designed to protect both females and males.
Mariehamn is located in the Baltic: the Aland Islands. Before the Suez Canal was built, the Aland Islands were considered the passage to the west. They flew their own flag, although at the time Hilda and Amelia departed, the islands were part of Sweden.
Hilda left for the United States, at the bidding of her mother: to seek the whereabouts of her father, Eric Arthur Johansson. He was presumably “lost" in the short lived Japanesse-Russian War of 1904. Hilda's father was never found. He was eventually declared dead. Her mother then remarried.
Mariehamn is the main city in Aland (Oland) consists of many small islands within the Baltic Sea. They fly their own flag. Today, the country is considered, Finland and Russian. But the people of Aland still speak Swedish, as they did when they were part of Sweden.
Hilda booked passage to the United States along with her mother’s friend, Amelia Gustafson (293 Jackson Street in Petoskey, MI). They may also have come on the same ship with Arthur Johansson, Hilda’s brother.
For a time, Hilda and Amelia stayed in Philadelphia with Arthur, his wife, and children. Then Amelia first came to Petoskey, Michigan, and married Andrew Gustafason. Hilda came later and stayed with Amelia and her husband at 293 Jackson Street in Petoskey. When Hilda and Otto first married, they both stayed at the Jackson Street address for a short time.
In 1909, Hilda married Otto Johnson in Petoskey, Michigan. He was 15 years older than she. His older sister, Dessie Johnson Nyman and her husband John who resided in Petoskey, witnessed the marriage.
Hilda and Otto’s second place of residence was in in Resort Township near what is now (2015) Bay Harbor, and formerly the Portland Cement Company. Both she and Otto worked at the cement company for Otto's brother-in-law, John Nyman. John was married to Dessie, the older sister of Otto. They were the parents of Arthur Nyman “The Coal Man” and Emery Nyman, three or four times the mayor of Petoskey. John and Emery were both officers of the cement plant.
Soon after Hilda and Otto purchased a home at 516 Charlevoix Avenue, in Petoksey. In those days, Charlevoix Avenue was the main road into town and over the Bear River dam and old wooden bridge to the east side of town. The house and barn still stand and look pretty much the same as of the year 2004––very recognizable.
In 1910, Hilda gave birth to Richard Washington johnson. It is thought that before or after he was born, she may have worked at Lincoln School as a teacher or teachers aide (perhaps to help with children who spoke Swedish.) There is a Hilda Johnson listed as working for Lincoln School, in an early City Directory, but we are not for certain, it is "our own" Hilda.
When Hilda's brother Arthur died at a young age, she and her only daughter, Elva, went by train from Petoskey to Philadelphia for the funeral. As Hilda and Elva made their way to the street where Arthur’s family lived, his wife saw them approaching from a window and called out to them. it was a sad, but happy reunion.
It was said by all who knew her, that Hilda was a “peacemaker.” Her many friends and relation were grief stricken when Hilda died in 1934. Everyone exclaimed how young she was––too young to die.
She had been ill for sometime with pernicious anemia. A condition today that probably could have been cured with Vitamin B-12.
Hilda Marie Johansson Johnson was sorely missed by her husband, sons and daughter. She never knew any of her grandchildren. All of them were born after she died.
Note: In the late 1950s, Hilda’s oldest grandson, R. J., son of Phillip Johnson, traveled to Sweden. We believe he visited both Otto’s Gotland, in Sweden, and Hilda’s Mariehamn in the Aland Islands. Her oldest granddaughter, Nellie, has also traveled to Sweden. But both of these trips need verification., as the memory is vague. All of Hilda’s grandchildren, are still living as of 2016. Ironically, Hilda, never lived to hold any of them in her arms; but Hilda's r best friend, Auntie Gustafson, held Marilyn when she was born (over at her home on Jackson Street in Petoskey. There is a photo that will soon be posted.) Hilda came to America with Mrs. Gustasfon around 1903 or 1904.
We have reason to believe that Hilda’s genealogy is traceable back to Eric the Red. This was told to us about 2005, when a director at the Aland Museum of History in Mariehamn examined Hilda’s postcards. It would of course need to be documented and verified. But this should be fairly simple; In Sweden and Aland, the birth records and laws governing inheritance were and are, quite exact, and designed to protect both females and males.
Mariehamn is located in the Baltic: the Aland Islands. Before the Suez Canal was built, the Aland Islands were considered the passage to the west. They flew their own flag, although at the time Hilda and Amelia departed, the islands were part of Sweden.
Hilda left for the United States, at the bidding of her mother: to seek the whereabouts of her father, Eric Arthur Johansson. He was presumably “lost" in the short lived Japanesse-Russian War of 1904. Hilda's father was never found. He was eventually declared dead. Her mother then remarried.
Mariehamn is the main city in Aland (Oland) consists of many small islands within the Baltic Sea. They fly their own flag. Today, the country is considered, Finland and Russian. But the people of Aland still speak Swedish, as they did when they were part of Sweden.
Hilda booked passage to the United States along with her mother’s friend, Amelia Gustafson (293 Jackson Street in Petoskey, MI). They may also have come on the same ship with Arthur Johansson, Hilda’s brother.
For a time, Hilda and Amelia stayed in Philadelphia with Arthur, his wife, and children. Then Amelia first came to Petoskey, Michigan, and married Andrew Gustafason. Hilda came later and stayed with Amelia and her husband at 293 Jackson Street in Petoskey. When Hilda and Otto first married, they both stayed at the Jackson Street address for a short time.
In 1909, Hilda married Otto Johnson in Petoskey, Michigan. He was 15 years older than she. His older sister, Dessie Johnson Nyman and her husband John who resided in Petoskey, witnessed the marriage.
Hilda and Otto’s second place of residence was in in Resort Township near what is now (2015) Bay Harbor, and formerly the Portland Cement Company. Both she and Otto worked at the cement company for Otto's brother-in-law, John Nyman. John was married to Dessie, the older sister of Otto. They were the parents of Arthur Nyman “The Coal Man” and Emery Nyman, three or four times the mayor of Petoskey. John and Emery were both officers of the cement plant.
Soon after Hilda and Otto purchased a home at 516 Charlevoix Avenue, in Petoksey. In those days, Charlevoix Avenue was the main road into town and over the Bear River dam and old wooden bridge to the east side of town. The house and barn still stand and look pretty much the same as of the year 2004––very recognizable.
In 1910, Hilda gave birth to Richard Washington johnson. It is thought that before or after he was born, she may have worked at Lincoln School as a teacher or teachers aide (perhaps to help with children who spoke Swedish.) There is a Hilda Johnson listed as working for Lincoln School, in an early City Directory, but we are not for certain, it is "our own" Hilda.
When Hilda's brother Arthur died at a young age, she and her only daughter, Elva, went by train from Petoskey to Philadelphia for the funeral. As Hilda and Elva made their way to the street where Arthur’s family lived, his wife saw them approaching from a window and called out to them. it was a sad, but happy reunion.
It was said by all who knew her, that Hilda was a “peacemaker.” Her many friends and relation were grief stricken when Hilda died in 1934. Everyone exclaimed how young she was––too young to die.
She had been ill for sometime with pernicious anemia. A condition today that probably could have been cured with Vitamin B-12.
Hilda Marie Johansson Johnson was sorely missed by her husband, sons and daughter. She never knew any of her grandchildren. All of them were born after she died.
Note: In the late 1950s, Hilda’s oldest grandson, R. J., son of Phillip Johnson, traveled to Sweden. We believe he visited both Otto’s Gotland, in Sweden, and Hilda’s Mariehamn in the Aland Islands. Her oldest granddaughter, Nellie, has also traveled to Sweden. But both of these trips need verification., as the memory is vague. All of Hilda’s grandchildren, are still living as of 2016. Ironically, Hilda, never lived to hold any of them in her arms; but Hilda's r best friend, Auntie Gustafson, held Marilyn when she was born (over at her home on Jackson Street in Petoskey. There is a photo that will soon be posted.) Hilda came to America with Mrs. Gustasfon around 1903 or 1904.
