Reuben William Johnson

  Research Notes:

Summary:

When researching family relations in the US, I often start with Ancestry Family Trees (FTs) and then use other sources such as birth, death, marriage records, census records and obituaries to confirm information recorded on the FTs.

In some situations, the information on FTs are incorrect or conflict with one another, or only record some members of a family group. This makes it very difficult to confirm and get an accurate and complete understanding of a family. Such is the case with Reuben Johnson. I have likely reviewed about a dozen family trees, and after many hours researching and going back and forth between various family trees, I think the following is the most accurate.

His birth name was Reuben William Johnson, born 19 Oct 1901 in Meeker Co, MN. His parents were Tanney Johnson and Ella Amanda, nee Bollman. Note that it is likely that Tanney (or Tanny) was more of a nickname and that his birth name was likely Nathaneal Edwin Johnson. Reuben grew up on the family farm in Collinwood Twp, Meeker Co, only a few kilometers south of the town of Dassel. He lived with his parents until sometime in the 1920s. In the 1930, Reuben was living with his sister's family in Minneapolis and in 1940, he was also was living in Minneapolis and was married.

Reuben was married twice. He was first married on 21 Aug 1930 in Hennepin Co, likely Minneapolis. His first wife was Emma Sophia Swanson. Emma was born in 1903 in Polk Co, Iowa (in the Des Moines area). Emma died in 1957.

Reuben was married a second time on 3 Dec 1960 to Ellen Anna Brown. She was born in 1908 in Faribault Co, MN and she in 1999 in Anoka Co, MN. Ellen Anna was previously married (to Harold E Brown in 1928, and they had 4 children; he died in 1984 and so Ellen and Harold had been divorced. Note that the youngest child of Ellen was about 19 years old when she married Reuben.

Reuben died 2 Dec 1962 in Minneapolis. As noted in his obituary, he had worked with a sign making company, Lyle Signs in Minneapolis. Reuben did not have any children. His obituary notes that he was a step-father ot Ellen's four children.

As mentioned above, many FTs on Ancestry record incorrect. However, one of the major difficulties in researching Reuben William Johnson is his name. Of course, Johnson is a very common surname in Minnesota. Reuben is also surprisingly a fairly common given name. His middle name of William is also common, but most records (Census records for example) only record the middle initial, "W". The birth year and place should narrow things down, but it seems that there are at least 2 people named Reuben William Johnson born about the same time and died within a few years. "Our" Reuben died in 1960, but there is another person named Reuben William Johnson who died in 1950. Confusing the matter a bit more, is that there is another person who many records record as Reuben W Johnson, one with a the name Reuben Winfield Johnson. Another with a marriage in South Dakato of Reuben W Johnson in 1931 [this person's birth name is recorded as Reuben William Warner Johnson, born Isanti Co, MN]. And so forth. In many ways, a person has to eliminate other people who may or maynot be 'our' Reuben. Hence, the extra hours of research.





1. Ancestry Family Trees (FTs) that are seem to be the most accurate and somewhat complete:


Carlson Shuey FT [Marcia Shuey] ; access 22 Jan 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/117568442/person/220179348479/facts
** this FT: Reuben William Johnson ... married twice
1st marriage: ...? Emma Sophia Swanson, b 1903 in Iowa; died 1957, Minneapolis [MN death cert, 16 Sep 1957, with mother's maiden of "Swanson", but her first name recorded as Emme]
2nd marriage: 3 Dec 1960, to Emma Anna Brown, age 52 on 3 Dec 1960; Reuben W Johnson, age 59
her OBIT; The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis), issue 18 Sep 1957, page 69
Johnson, Emma S (Swanson) age 53 of 2606 30th Ave NE.
- wife of Reuben W; sister of Mrs Howard Nelson, Mrs Ross Mick, Mrs Vera Bottcher, all of Minneapolis; Nels and Andre Swanson both of Milaca; Raymond Swanson of Portland, OR; Vernon Swans of Elma, WA; George Swanson, Jackson MN; and Hilmer Swanson of Edwards
- interment, Sunset Memorial Park

Note the above FT does not record all of Sven Bollman's children, only the 3 youngest


Harper/Hanna/Anderson FT [Jody Townsend], access 23 Jan 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/176240222/person/422319630839/facts [re, Emma L Swanson, 1903-1957]
- marriage 21 Aug 1930, Hennepin Co ... MOMS .... Hennepin Co cert 3450458; Reuben W Johnson and Emma L Swanson
findagrave id 137921477, Sunset Memorial Park ... links Reuben W Johnson, b 1901, d 1962; id 137921472


Note the above FT does not record Reuben Johnson's mother or father


2. US Census

See his parents census data for earlier

1930 US Census, Minneapolis ED 0198; sheet 42 A; dw/fam, 230/238 [line 46]
head Harold C Malmberg, age 32 b in MN; married at age 25, he is a machinist
wife Irene E, age 26 b in MN; married at age 19
son Willard, age 11 b in MN;
son Harvey, age 5 b in MN
then, Reuben W Johnson, brother in law, age 28 b in MN; cutter with sign co

1940 US Census, Minneapolis, ED 89-288; sheet 11A; house visit 249 [line 9]
Reuben Johnson, age 38 b in MN; same place in 1935; Die Maker, Signs
wife Emma, age 36 b in IA

3. First Lutheran Getsemane, Dassel; Nataneal Tanny Ludving Johnson family - image 381
- see his mother's research page for details
- confirms middle name as "William" and parents

4.MNHS birth record
name as Reuben W. Johnson, born 19 Oct 1901, MN, Meeker Co, birth cert, 1901-13523 [MNHS ]

MNHS death certificate: Reuben William Johnson died 2 Dec 1962, mother Bollman [Hennepin Co cert, 007476]

Emma Sophia Swanson, b 1903 in Iowa; died 1957, Minneapolis [MN death cert, 16 Sep 1957; with
mother's maiden of "Swanson", but first name recorded as Emme]


5. Marriages: from MOMS.....

1st marriage: 21 Aug 1930, Hennepin Co cert 03450458, Reuben W Johnson, Emma L Swanson {"L" likely transcription error}
2nd marriage: 3 Dec 1960, Hennepin Co cert 07090071, Reuben William Johnson, Ellen Anna Brown


6. Obituaries:

Reuben Star Tribune, 4 Dec 1962, page 22
- died Thurs ????, 29 Nov [1962] at age 61; living at 2606 30th Av NE, St Anthony Village [Hennepin/Ramsey Co. MN]
re date of death: MNHS death cert records his death as 2 Dec 1962 and this would have been Sunday
- born in Dassel, MN
- worked for 35 years with Lyle Signs Inc
- survived by his widow, Ellen Anna; a brother Norman K and his mother Mr Tanny Johnson both of Dassel
survived by 4 step children, Miss Mavis Jean Brown of Minneapolis, Mrs Charles Evans, Huntsville [Polk Co, MN],
Lowell Edward Brown, Brownsberg Indiana; and Richard Harold Brown of Minneapolis

1st wife: Emma The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis), issue 18 Sep 1957, page 69
Johnson, Emma S (Swanson) age 53 of 2606 30th Ave NE.
- wife of Reuben W; sister of Mrs Howard Nelson, Mrs Ross Mick, Mrs Vera Bottcher, all of Minneapolis; Nels and Andre Swanson both of Milaca; Raymond Swanson of Portland, OR; Vernon Swans of Elma, WA; George Swanson, Jackson MN; and Hilmer Swanson of Edwards
- interment, Sunset Memorial Park

2nd wife: Ellen Anna Ellen A Johnson** Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) issue 4 Mar 1999, page 26
- Ellen A, age 90 of St Anthony died 2 Mar 1999
- preceded in death by husband Reuben, and daughter Pearl Evans
- survived by daughter Mavis (Victor) Virkus; sons Lowell (Marlene) Brown and Richard (Miriam Brown) .... grandchildren...great gchildren
- interment at Wells Rosehill Cemetery, Wells, MN
[findagrave id 44759730 - grave marker - with father and ....? ... links to her father/mother ... but not to Reuben Johnson ]

** see below for her first husband's obit


7. Misc. The following includes the OBIT from Ellen A Johnson, nee Kaiser first husband. And information from some of the other FTs, many with incorrect information

a. obit: Harold Edwin Brown, married 17 Mar 1928, Faribault Co, to Ellen Anna Kaiser [2nd wife of Reuben William Johnson] his OBIT: Star Tribune (Minneapolis) issue 23 May 1984, page 65
- died at age 84; from Anoka
- survived by sons, Lowell Brown of Columbia Hgts; Richard H Brown, Coon Rapids [Anoka Co]; by daughters,
Mrs Victor (Mavis) Virkus, New Hope [Hennepin Co]; and Mrs Charles (Pearl) Evans, Irvine, California .....
internment at Forest Hill Cemetery Anoka [findagrave id, 183047682]
[ - Harold Brown and Ellen Anna had 4 children: Mavis b abt 1929, Pearl b abt 1931, Lowell Edward, b about 1934,
and Richard Harold Brown, b 25 Jan 1941; [three oldest children's births are found 1940 US Census;
Richard's from Ancestry's MN Birth collection]

b. misc
Note: searching MOMS ... with applicant 1 - Reuben Johnson, Hennepen Co, there are 2 other people
named Reuben W Johnson, one married 17 Oct 1924 to Genenvieve Hoffman, and the other married on 3 Jun 1931
to Ellen M Olson. Then with his name recorded as Reuben William Johnson married 2 Feb 1957 to Evelyn Florence Bengston,
and then Reuben William married 3 Dec 1960 to Ellen Anna Brown [* our Reuben] [is the other -1957- a different person??]
AND then we have a number of FTs that record a marriage of Reuben W Johnson on 9 Sep 1931 at Millbank, Grant Co, SD to Helma E Anderson, both of Minneapolis; [from: sagebrushjumper FT [JohnHNewmanII] access 22 Jan 2022; this records the name Reuben Winfield Johnson, with the sam birth date of 19 Oct 1901 and same date of death ]

Note: search MN Historical Society death records for the name, Reuben Johnson, in Hennepin Co: 20 deaths are recorded
(one "W" as middle initial in 1991, one in 1989), there is:
Reuben William Johnson died 2 Dec 1962, mother Bollman
Reuben William Johnson, died 9 Jul 1950

c. other Ancestry FTs

Reuben - marriage on 9 Sep 1931 at Millbank, Grant Co, SD Helma E Anderson, both of Minneapolis; NO
NO: this is the wrong person there seems to be re; Ancestry Family Trees:
sagebrushjumper FT [JohnHNewmanII] access 22 Jan 2022; https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/79129464/person/38522215863/facts
- records name as Reuben Winfield Johnson, but then has him married as above; records death in 1962

other FTs on Ancestry;
Bergströms släktträd [Madeleine Eriksson], access 22 Jan 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/61455269/person/48171063721/facts
- little information, but links to the SD marriage and records his death as 1962
- also has some photos of "Em and Reuben" and their marriage, one label "30 Ave, St. Anthony Village, MN"
** BUT there is a major error: this FT records that Emma Virginia Bollman (1882-1970) was married in 1900
to Nathaniel Johnson (1878-1945) and she was the mother the children indicated above ** it was Ella Amanda
(1880-1974) to Nathaniel Johnson

another FT; jmnn FT [Joan_Nowlan]; access 22 Jan 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/2932377/person/-1290136485/facts
- Reuben birth/death as above
- Reuben's wife, Ellen Anna Brown, b 20 Oct 1908, Wells, Faribault Co, MN; died 2 Mar 1999, Fridley, Anoka Co, MN
- this FT has the 3 photos; names and dates but NO record of parents for either - not sure of any relationship

Reuben married Emma Sophia Swanson on 21 Aug 1930 in Hennepin Co, Minnesota, United States.⁹⁵⁶⁵ (Emma Sophia Swanson was born on 27 Sep 1903 in Polk Co , Minnesota, United States, died on 16 Sep 1957 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, Minnesota, United States and was buried in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, Minnesota, United States.)

Reuben next married Ellen Anna Kaiser on 3 Dec 1960 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, Minnesota, United States.⁹⁵⁶⁶ (Ellen Anna Kaiser was born on 20 Oct 1908 in Faribault Co, Minnesota, Unitied States, died on 2 Mar 1999 in Anoka Co, Minnesota, United States and was buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Wells, Anoka Co, Minnesota, United States.)