Miriam Isabell Johnson ⁵⁴⁰⁷

  General Notes:

Miriam Isabell Johnson family research Written by Rueben D Grue, 28 Mar 2015



In researching Miriam's family history information, I have not been able to find much collaborating evidence for many of the "facts" for her or her family. There are only a few original sources. The family is recorded on the US Census for 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Census(1). On the 1920 and 1930 census Miriam is recorded as a daughter of Carl J Johnson and Carrie (Swenson). The US Census data is secondary information, but in all likelihood they are accurate (other than spelling of names). It is most likely Miriam is the daughter of Carrie Swenson (married to Carl J Johnson), making Miriam my third cousin once removed. All other sources that I have used are derivative sources and many have would have to be considered with only a mariginal level of accuracy.

Likely one of the most accurate derivative sources is the MN Birth Index, recording Miriam's birth as 2 Jan 1919(2), corresponding to the US Census. Although Ancestry.com Public Member Trees often have mistakes and very few source citiations, I find they often provide clues to some "facts" and from this, suggest areas for further research. I have used 2 Public Member Trees for some information(3), with the 'Johnson Family Tree the primary tree used. It appears that Miriam was married (or had a common law type of relationship) with James M Hansen (the Ancestry Public Member's trees likely mistakingly record his name as James Charles Hansen, Sr). Through this relationship, Miriam and James Hansen had one son, James Charles Hansen, born 2 June 1939(4). I have not found any other direct evidence of this marriage; there is no record of marriage on the MN Official Marriage Records. However, by searching the US Cities Directories Collection at Ancestry.com, Jas M Hansen and Miriam I are recorded as living in Minneapolis from 1940-1946; Jas is recorded as working with Mpls-Moline Power Implt Co (Minneaplois-Moline Power Implement [Farm] Company(5). Although this is only mariginal evidence of their marriage/relationship, but combined with the Public Member Trees and the 1940 US Census, it is likely that this is my relative and that James and Miriam were married. The 1940 US Census records James M Hansen and wife Miriam along with son James C living in Minneapolis; all family members are recorded as being born in MN; James is listed as Casting Grinder, for a Farm Machinery Co. Both James M and Miriam are recorded as being married in the 1940 US Census.

Miriam Hansen had a second marriage with John Knapp(6). This records does not prove Miriam's first marriage/relationship but supports her first marriage. The 'Johnson Family Tree' on Ancestry.com supports this information but again does not prove it. The 'Johnson Family Tree' suggests that Miriam and Jack moved to Alaska and records that she died in 2003 and that John Knapp died in 2009 both in Port Townsend, WA. By searching obituaries on GenealogyBank.com, I found posted obituaries for both Miriam and Jack(7). Through a general 'google' search I was able to find an obituary for James Charles Hansen(8).

The obituaries by themselves do not clearly prove definitive family relationships. However, Miriam's obit states, "She was born Jan. 2, 1919, in Fergus Falls, Minn., to Carl and Carrie (Swenson) Johnson. She married John "Jack" F. Knapp on Jan. 16, 1948, in Minneapolis...Mrs. Knapp is survived by her husband, Jack Knapp, and her son from a previous marriage, James Charles Hansen Jr. of Wichita, Kan. ...She was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters." Thus Miriam's obit clearly states she was the daughter of Carrie Swenson and that she had a son from a previous relationship. John Knapp's obit records that he is survived by a step-son, James Hansen from Wichita, KS. These two obits clearly indicate that Miriam had a son named James Charles Hansen who lived in Wichita, KS in 2009 and as recent as 2011. However, the obituary for James Charles Hansen is a bit more problematic. This obit says that he was born in Minneapolis, MN on 2 Jun 1939 and this corresponds with other information. But the obit says his parents were James M (and Edith Anderson) Hansen. The question of course is the name, Edith. James' obit also indicated that he had a brother by the name of David (searching for this obit, there is a David Hansen who died in the Wichita area in 2013, parents James M and Edith, but does not say he was predeased by his brother James). The Ancestry US City Directories Collection for 1953 records James M Hansen and his spouse, Edith living in Fergus Falls. At this point, I do not know conclusively that this is the same James M Hansen (and wife Edith) mentioned in the James Charles Hansen's obit. However, my hunch is that it is. James M Hansen is recorded in the 1930 US Census for Oscar Twp in Otter Tail Co, MN. His age is recorded as 17 with his birth about 1913, corresponding to the information to the 1940 US Census. Oscar Twp in Otter Tail Co is just north of Fergus Falls; Buse Twp (where Miriam grew up) was just south of Fergus Falls and so it is possible that Miriam and James met in Fergus Falls. Although I don't know for sure, my hunch is that Miriam left or divorced James M Hansen sometime between 1946-1948 since she had remarried to John Knapp and they had left for Alaska shortly after their marriage. Miriam's son, James Charles Hansen, stayed with his father in Minneapolis, later moving to Fergus Falls. He later went to Kansas. On the US City Directory on Ancestry, there are a few listings for James C Hansen living in Wichita (1958, 1959) but at this point I do not know if any of these would be the same James. There also are a few listings (1958, 1959, 1960, 1961) for James M Hansen in Wichita with Edith as spouse; his occupation is recorded as firefighter. I have found a record on FindaGrave for Edith (M) Hansen at the Resthaven Garden of Memory. There is a cemetery plaque for Edith (1922-2001); Findagrave has a 'calculated' relationship to David J Hansen (1950-2013). Genealogybank.com has an obiturary for both Edith and David. Edith's obiturary notes that she was preceded in death by her husband. I have not been able to find an obituary or grave marker for James M Hansen.

Further Reseach: Clearly there is a need for more research. Some possible areas of inquiry include reviewing original birth certificate for James Charles Hansen, Miriams' birth and marriage certificates, information on Jas (James) M Hansen, contacting family of James Charles Hansen, or an obituary for Jas (James) M Hansen.


Summary:

From this review, I can only conclude with at least a probable level of accuracy that Miriam Isabell Johnson was the daughter of Carrie Swenson and that she had a son named James Charles Hansen. It is likely, but with only a very marginal level of accuracy, that the person named James Charles Hansen who died in 2011 (as indicated in the above obituary) is in fact the son of Miriam.



Endnotes:


(1). (a) 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Buse Twp, Otter Tail Co, MN, enumeration district (ED) 121, sheet 1B, p. 2 (ancestry.com), dwelling 17, family 17, Carl Johnson household; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 7 Mar 2015); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625 ; (b) 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Buse Twp, Otter Tail Co, MN, enumeration district (ED) 56-8, sheet 2B, p. 4 (ancestry.com), dwelling 36, family 38, Carl Johnson household; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 7 Mar 2015); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T626; (c) 1940 U.S. census, population schedule, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, MN, enumeration district (ED) 84-364, sheet 6B, p. 12 (ancestry.com), household 126, James M Hansen household (ancestry indexed as Harsen); digital images, US National Archives (http://1940census.archives.gov/ : accessed 29 Mar 2015); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T627.
(2). Minnesota Historical Society, "Birth & Death Index," database(www.people.mnhs.org : accessed 27 Mar 2015), Miriam Isabell Johnson; MN Birth Index CERTID# 1919-21678; mother's maiden name, Svenso.
(3). Ancestry.com Public Member Trees - Ole Swenson family data," database and images(www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Mar 2015); Ole Swensen family data; 'Johnson Family Tree owner pastor_stan' with last login Feb 2015.
(4). Minnesota Department of Health, Birth Index, 1935-2002, "Minnesota Birth Index, 1935-2002," database(www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Mar 2015), James Charles Hansen birth; MN Birth Index (Hennepin Co) file # 1939-MN-038862; Mother: Miriam Johnson; Father: Jas. M Hansen. This record records the child's name as James Charles Hansen Jr and the father's first name as Jas. "Jas" is considered a shorten version of the given name, "James". It is not clear why it is recorded "as Jr"; likely a viewing of the original birth certificate would help to clarify this.
(5). "Ancestry.com "US Cities Directories Collection"," database and images(www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Mar 2015); Jas M Hansen and Miriam I; Minneapolis Directory Company, Minneapolis, MN.
(6). State of Minnesota database(http://www.mncounty.com/Modules/Certificates/Marriage/Default.aspx : accessed 28 Mar 2015), Miriam I Hansen and John Knapp marriage; Hennepin Co Marriage Records cert # 541 0427.
(7). "Genealogybank.com," database and images, Genealogybank.com (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 28 Mar 2015); Miriam Knapp obiturary; Peninsula Daily News (Port Angeles, WA) - Thursday, August 14, 2003. "Genealogybank.com," database and images, Genealogybank.com (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 28 Mar 2015); John "Jack" F Knapp obiturary; Anchorage Daily News (AK) - Thursday, October 29, 2009; Solomon Edition: Final. I have a copy of these obits on the "research notes" on my Legacy database.
(8). "James Hansen death," Ark Valley News, 18 Aug 2011, online archives (<http://www.arkvalleynews.com/web/isite.dll?1313701148609>)

  Research Notes:

***** [ see General Notes for research article ]


1. brother Orville's obit of 1973 - survived by a sister, Mrs. Jack Knapp of Anchorage, Alaska

2. Obit, 2003 recorded on Ancestry.com, "Johnson Family Tree, pastor_stan"
link to Meriam: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/33509534/person/18490647405

a. some of my editing; actually this is available from: genealogybank.com

Anchorage Daily News (AK) - August 20, 2003 ;;

Deceased Name: FORMER RESIDENT -- Miriam Knapp , 84


Miriam Isabell Knapp, 84, died Aug. 10, 2003, at Kah Tai Care Center in Port Townsend, Wash.

She was born Jan. 2, 1919, in Fergus Falls, Minn., to Carl and Carrie (Swenson) Johnson. She married John "Jack" F. Knapp on Jan. 16, 1948, in Minneapolis.

Mrs. Knapp was a resident of Anchorage, Homer and Kasilof from 1947 until 1987, when the Knapps moved to Port Hadlock, Wash. She was 4-H leader, kindergarten teacher and lifelong homemaker, enjoying flowers and gardening. Mrs. Knapp was a member of the Lutheran Church and Rebeka Lodge.

Mrs. Knapp is survived by her husband, Jack Knapp, and her son from a previous marriage, James Charles Hansen Jr. of Wichita, Kan.

She was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters.

Interment will take place in Angelus Memorial Park in Anchorage.


b. from genealogybank.com; Peninsula Daily News (Port Angeles, WA) - Thursday, August 14, 2003

- same as above, but: "Following an earlier marriage to and divorce from James Charles Hansen Sr., she married John F. Knapp in Minneapolis on Jan. 16, 1948."
- uses the term "inurnment will be in Anchorage



c. from genealogybank.com

JOHN "JACK" F. KNAPP: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice

Anchorage Daily News (AK) - Thursday, October 29, 2009
Deceased Name: JOHN "JACK" F. KNAPP
Jan. 11, 1924 ~ Oct. 14, 2009
Former Anchorage resident John F. "Jack" Knapp died Oct. 14, 2009, in Port Townsend, Wash. after suffering a stroke.
A Memorial Service will be at 3 p.m. Nov. 5 at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 3230 Lake Otis Parkway, across from Lake Otis Elementary School, with Pastor Gary Steele and Fran Victor officiating.
Jack's ashes will be interred next to his wife's at Angelus Memorial Park in the spring.
Jack was born in Anchorage at the Railroad Hospital on Jan. 11, 1924, to Jacob and Edith (Griffin) Knapp. Jack grew up in Anchorage at the family home on the corner of Eighth and L streets.
He graduated from Anchorage High School in 1941.
He served in the Army from 1944 to 1946. In the army he went around the world and was stationed in India for one year. He married Miriam Hansen in 1948. They homesteaded in the Huffman/Birch road area. After retiring as a heavy duty mechanic from the Alaska Railroad, he and Miriam moved to Homer and later to the Cohoe Loop area. After being snow birds for several years, they settled at Port Hadlock, Wash. Miriam died in 2003. Jack remained in their home until moving to San Juan Villa in Port Townsend earlier this year.
Survivors include a stepson, James Hansen of Wichita, Kan.; brother, Jake Knapp and sister in-law, Mickey Knapp; nephew, Eric Knapp; and nieces, Amy Duckworth and Edith (Edie) Knapp, all of Anchorage; and special friend, Beverly Gauntlett of Port Hadlock.
Visit the online memorial at legacy.com


3. MOMS - MN official marriage

- Miriam I Hansen to John F Knapp; 16 Jan 1948, Hennepin co, MN

BUT No marriage recorded for : Miriam Johnson and James Charles Hansen, sr. or James M Hansen; they both were from the Fergus Falls area, so it is possible they were married in ND or less likely SD



4. a. 1940 US Census: Minneapolis (ED84-364; ancestry page 12, sheet 6B, 2809 E 26 St, family 126; ancestry indexed as Harsen; 1st found on FamilySearch.org)
- James M Hansen, age 27 <abt 1913> born in MN, married, rents home for $18; 8 yrs of school; worked 40 hours wk of Mar 24, as a Casting Grinder, for Farm Machinery Co; worked 28 wks in 1939 earning $1180
- Miriam I, age 21 <1919> born in MN; married; 2 yrs HS
- James C, age 10/12 <about July/Aug 1939 > born in MN

-- Residence in 1935 - Fergus Falls, Rural, Otter Tail Co, (Fergus Falls is crossed off and Rural written above)

(1930 US, Oscar Twp - there is a James Hansen, born abt 1913 in MN - father James M Hansen, age 54 <1876> in Denmar)k

b. US Cities Directories: Ancestry.com , Minneapolis Directory Company, Minneapolis, MN

1946 - Minneapolis, Jas M Hansen (and Miriam I, forman Mpls-Moline, residence 4304 45 Ave S (ancestry p. 255)
1944 - Minneapolis, Jas M Hansen (and Miriam I), forman Mpls-Moline, residence 4304 45 Ave S (ancestry p.248)
1941 - Minneapolis, Jas M Hansen (and Miriam I, forman Mpls-Moline Power Implt Co, res 4350 46 Ave S (ancestry p.240)
1940 - Minneapolis, Jas M Hansen, stockman, Mpls-Moline Power Implt Co, spouse or res not recorded (ancestry p.284)

1948 - Minneapolis, Jas M Hansen, appr Carlson Mikkola, res rear, 225 Clifton Ave (no spouse recorded) OR
Jas M Hansen, student, 1314 N 6th
1953 - Minneapolis, Jas M Hansen, jwlr res, rear 225 Clifton Ave (no spouse), ancestry p.276 OR there is 1 student named Jas M Hansen at 3415 Pillsbury Av

1953 - Fergus Falls, James M Hansen (Edith), Deputy Co Sheriff, res 404 E Everett Av, (ancestry p.29)

\ulConclusion: \ulnone based on the city directories, it would appear the Miriam I and James M Hansen were married or in a common-law type of relationship from about 1939 to about 1946. James M Hansen was likely married the second time between 1948-1952/1953; when he married Edith Anderson, they moved to Fergus Falls (note there is no MN marriage record for them)


5. Unconfirmed - very little corresponding or collaborative evidence ;; little information to combine


a.
- Miriam's marriage to James Charles Hansen - not on MOMS
- James Charles Hansen, JR - born 2 June 1939 - there is a MN Birth record ( File Number:1939-MN-038862), with parents Miriam Johnson and Jas. M Hansen; AND the 1940 US Census record
- US SSDI (ancestry but not genealogy) - James Charles Hansen, born 2 Jan 1939, died 9 Aug 2011, Wichita, Kansas
- death of James Charles Hansen, Jr, except: HOWEVER, this obit doesn't prove he was the son of Miriam Johnson

James Charles Hansen Death Notice (Archived) - requires a subscription to get to archives ($2.95US for 1 day; $3.68 Canadian -- paid)
Published in The Wichita Eagle on Aug. 11, 2011
First 25 of 92 words: Hansen, James Charles, 72 <1939>, retired USD 259 Maintenance Tech, passed away Tuesday, August 9, 2011. Survived by wife, Nelda; children, Pauline (Phil) Dunn, Russell (Tina)...

obit , Published in The Wichita Eagle on Aug. 11, 2011; Wichita Kansas,

Hansen, James Charles, 72, retired USD 259 Maintenance Tech, passed away Tuesday, August 9, 2011. Survived by wife, Nelda; children, Pauline (Phil) Dunn, Russell (Tina) McKenzie all of Wichita, Molly (Zinal) Pourhussin of Udall; brothers, Jerry (Regina) Hansen, David Hansen, all of Udall; sisters, Vicki (Chet) Rugg of Hazelton, Sharon (Tom) Schuckmall of Viola; 5 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild. Preceded by his first wife, Joan Hansen. Visitation 9 a.m.; Service 10 a.m., August 12, both at Baker Funeral Home, Valley Center. Memorials to Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, Faribault, MN 55021. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansas/obituary.aspx?pid=153035299#sthash.UabnOu4Y.dpuf


** but this same obit is from on Ancestry.com, US Obituary Collection
http://www.bakerfhvc.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1234053&fh_id=13725 ;; with photo:




Ark Valley News, Valley Center, Kansas ;;; http://www.arkvalleynews.com/web/isite.dll?1313701148609

BUT, this adds: "....He was born in Minneapolis to James M. and Edith (Anderson) Hansen ... preceded in death by his first wife, Joan Hansen; and his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Nelda Hansen; daughters and sons-in-law, Pauline and Phil Dunn of Wichita, and Molly and Zinal Pourhussin of Udall; son and daughter-in-law, Russell and Tina McKenzie of Wichita; brothers and sister-in-law, Jerry and Regina Hansen of Udall, and David Hansen of Udall; sisters and brothers-in-law, Vicki and Chet Rugg of Hazelton, Sharon and Tom Schuckmall of Viola; grandchildren, Khalil Pourhussin, Blake Dunn, Lauren McKenzie, Brittany Dunn, Autumn Pourhussin; great-grandchild, Addisyn Woods.

12 Aug 2011. Burial followed the service at Kechi Township Cemetery, [ Park City, Sedgewick Co, Kansas ] [ findagrave - search under spouse, Joan A Hansen - double name tombstone, her birth is recorded as 10 July 1944, died 21, Nov 1993; his birth as 2 Jun 1939, but no date of death (likely because photo and index was done prior to 2011 ;; note by me 26 Mar 2015 - also there is a record on US SSDI ]

---------------------------------------------

Hansen, Edith: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice

Wichita Eagle, The (KS) - Friday, August 3, 2001
Deceased Name: Hansen, Edith
Hansen, Edith, 78, retired Frontier Fun Center restaurant manager, died Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001. Visitation with family 6 to 8 p.m. today, Resthaven Mortuary; service 1 p.m. Saturday, Resthaven Gardens of Memory.
Preceded in death by husband, James and grandchild, Jimmy Hansen.
Survivors: sons, Jerry, David both of Udall; daughters and sons-in-law, Vicki and Chet Rugg of Hazelton, Sharon and Tom Schuckman of Viola; brother, Bob Anderson of Minneapolis, Minn.; sister, Florence Bobo of St. Cloud, Minn.; grandchildren, Tonya Hilger, Justiin Rugg both of Wichita, Damon Rugg of Hazelton, Lindsey and Samantha Schuckman both of Viola; great-grandchildren, Mark Hansen of Garden Plain, Mitchel Hilger of Viola, Emily Rugg of Wichita.
Goessel
Edition: main
Page: 2B
Copyright (c) 2001 The Wichita Eagle


------

- note there is an obit for David Hansen 5 Apr 2013, father James; available at http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/cjonline/obituary.aspx?n=david-hansen&pid=164114947 ;; Published in Topeka Capital-Journal on Apr. 7, 2013 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/cjonline/obituary.aspx?n=david-hansen&pid=164114947#sthash.zImauTU7.dpuf
;; similiar to James, but this obit does not say David was predeceased by his brother, James ???? Why not? .... Although: says he was precedeased by his parents James and Edith and by his son James... --- James likely David's son, but could it trying to say James and James' son, James. [ James C Hansen, died in 2011 ]

------
- based on the obits, brothers Jerry Hansen and David Hansen and likely siters Vicki and Sharon are likely step-siblings (James' obit, but not on mother or stepdad's);


[ 26 Mar 2015 ]]]


\ul\bConclusion:\ulnone\b0 At this point, there is no convincing evidence of the information on this family. However, the following are 2 reasonable hypotheses

My hypotheses: (1) James M Hansen had a relationship (maybe married, but not in MN or maybe not married) with Miriam Isabell Johnson; from this relationship a son, James Charles Hansen was born on 2 Jun 1939 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co.
(2) Sometime after the birth of James Charles Hansen, James M and Miriam separated and Miriam later married John Knapp in 1948. James Charles Hansen went to live with his dad James M and his second wife Edith (Anderson); James Charles Hansen grew up in the Wichita area; his dad and second wife had other children, namely, David, Jerry, Vicki and Sharon


any original documents?

⁵⁴⁰⁴

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Residence - 1940-1946, 1940-1946, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, Minnesota, United States. Jas M Hansen and Miriam I; 1944, 1946 address at 4304 45 Ave S.

2. Residence - 1940, 1 Jun 1940, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, Minnesota, United States. ^5435,5436 Address: 2809 E 26 St, Minneapolis. Residence on 1 Jun 1935 for both James and Miriam is Rural, Otter Tail Co, MN

Miriam married James M Hansen.

Miriam next married John F Knapp on 16 Jan 1948 in Hennepin Co, Minnesota, United States.⁵⁴³¹ (John F Knapp was born on 11 Jan 1924 in Anchorage, Alaska, United States,⁵⁴³⁷ died on 14 Oct 2009 in Port Townsend, Jefferson Co, Washington, United States ⁵⁴³⁸ and was buried in Angelus Memorial Park, Anchorage, Alaska, United States ^5434,5437.)