The Johnson Genealogy

The Johnson Genealogy

By Jared L. Olar

February-March 2020

This Google Map detail shows the town of Norden ("the North") on the North Sea coast and historic Frisia, which today is divided between Germany and the Netherlands -- Norden is not far from the Dutch border. The German area of Frisia is known as "Ostfriesland" (East Frisia) -- the home of our Johnson/Janssen ancestors -- and is culturally, ethnically, and linguistically akin to the Netherlands.

My wife's Johnson ancestors are of German origin, coming from the region known in German as Ostfriesland (East Frisia), a region on the North Sea coast adjacent to the Netherlands. From ancient times up through the Middle Ages, the modern Netherlands and Ostfriesland were the home of a Germanic tribe known as the Frisii, who were akin to the Saxons and Angles. Over the course of time, new political borders and new national identities developed that resulted in a large portion of the descendants of the Frisians becoming "Dutch" while the eastern Frisians became "Low Germans." Nevertheless, the Dutch and the East Frisian Germans still have much in common with each other. For example, the Low German dialect spoken in Ostfriesland is akin to Dutch, and the given names and family names prevalent in Ostfriesland closely resemble Dutch names and surnames. The Dutch and Ostfrieslanders also have had a similar custom of using generational patronymics along with hereditary surnames, and often their hereditary surnames started out as patronymics. This is true of my wife's Johnson family, whose surname derives from Janssen, which simply means "Son of Jann" or "Son of Johann" (John). The JANN from whom our Johnsons derived their surname probably lived in Ostfriesland in the early 1700s or 1600s.

The Frisians were converted from paganism to Catholic Christianity in the 700s and 800s A.D., and Catholic missionaries from Frisia, including St. Ludger, in turn converted their neighbors and kinsmen the Saxons, who dwelt in the modern German state of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony). Our Janssen/Johnson family lived in the borough or town of Norden, whose Catholic residents built a grand church from the 1200s to the 1400s and dedicated it to St. Ludger. That church was later taken by the Lutherans in the 1500s, but following the legalisation of Catholicism in 1779 the Catholics of Norden built their own, smaller church dedicated to St. Ludger in the mid-1800s. By the 1700s, when our Janssen/Johnson family first appears on record, the region of Ostfriesland was a part of the Electorate of Hannover, whose prince in those days was simultaneously the de facto King of Great Britain, and one of the Electors having a right to help elect the Holy Roman Emperor. Following the Napoleonic disruptions that had ended the Holy Roman Empire, the Congress of Vienna in 1815 reestablished Hannover as a sovereign kingdom, which later became one of the kingdoms and principalities that were parts of the German Empire following Prussia's subjugation and unification of Germany in 1871. Nine years later our Janssen family decided to leave Ostfriesland and seek a new life in America.

The following account of our Johnson family is based on our own family records, especially those kindly supplied through the research of my wife's cousins Jim Johnson and Dennis Reed, and augmented, supported, and expanded with primary sources obtained through my own research.

Five Generations of the Johnson Family

1. JANN WOBBEN JANSSEN, parentage and ancestry unknown, born perhaps circa 1785 probably in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover. At this time very little is known of Jann, but we know that his wife was named FOOLKA (NN), who was born perhaps circa 1790 probably in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover. All that we known of Jann and Foolka is what can be inferred and deduced from the death record of their son Dirk. The Lutheran church registers of Norden record the death of their son Dirk at the age of 49 on 26 June 1862 in Norden, and say that Dirk was the son of "Jann Wobben Janssen" by his wife "Foolka."

This detail from page 162 of the baptismal register of the Lutheran church of Norden, Hannover, shows (entry 43) the death and burial record of Dirk Wobben Janssen, identified in the record as a son of Jann Wobben and Foolka Janssen.

Jann and Foolka are known to have had a son:

     2.  DIRK WOBBEN JANSSEN ("Dirk Johann Janssen"), born circa 1813 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover.

2. DIRK WOBBEN JANSSEN ("Dirk Johann Janssen"), son of Jann Wobben and Foolka Janssen, born circa 1813 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover, died 26 June 1862 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover, buried 4 July 1862 in Norden. In original Lutheran records from Ostfriesland, Dirk's name is given as either "Dirk Wobben Janssen" or "Dirk Johann Janssen." In the 1886 marriage record of Dirks' son Jann (John) in Livingston County, Illinois, Dirk's name is given as "Dirk J. Janssen," the "J." standing for "Johann" or "Jann," which was not a true "middle name" but rather a patronymic specifying that Dirk's father was named Jann or Johann. It was probably circa 1845 in Norden, Hannover, that Dirk married AAFKE WEERTS ALBERTS, born perhaps circa 1825 in Ostfriesland, Hannover, daughter of Weert and Gesite Alberts. Recorded in the Lutheran church baptismal register of Norden, Hannover, are the births and/or baptisms of four sons and two daughters of Dirk and Aafke:

     Jann Dirk Janssen      Sex: männlich   Born: 20 Feb. 1846   Baptised: 1 März 1846     Place: Hannover   Father: Dirk Wobben Janssen   Mother: Afke Weerts
     Geesche Dirk. Janssen  Sex: weiblich   Born: 26 Juli 1848   Baptised: 6 Aug. 1848     Place: Hannover   Father: Dirk Johann Janssen   Mother: Afke Weerts Alberts
     Weert Dirk. Janssen    Sex: männlich   Born: 3 Sept. 1851   Baptised: 14 Sept. 1851   Place: Hannover   Father: Dirk Johann Janssen   Mother: Afke Weerts Albers
     Jann Dirks. Janssen    Sex: männlich   Born: 4 Juni 1854    Baptised: 25 Juni 1854    Place: Hannover   Father: Dirk Wobben Janssen   Mother: Aafke Weerts Alberts
     (NN) Janssen           Sex: männlich   Born: 29 Dez. 1857                             Place: Hannover   Father: Dirk Wobben Janssen   Mother: Aafke Weeaar Albers
     Foolka Dirks. Janssen  Sex: weiblich   Born: 7 Oct. 1859    Baptised: 23 Oct. 1859    Place: Hannover   Father: Dirk Johann Janssen   Mother: Aafke Weerts Albers

Dirk and Aafke evidently named their eldest child after Dirk's father, named their second son Weert after Aafke's father, and named their youngest daughter Foolka after Dirk's mother Foolka.

This detail from page 34 of the baptismal register of the Lutheran church of Norden, Hannover, shows the 1 March 1846 baptismal record of Jann Dirks Janssen, eldest recorded child of Dirk Wobben and Aafke Weerts (Alberts) Janssen.

The Lutheran church registers of Norden, Hannover, record the death and burial of Dirk and Aafke's eldest child, Jann Dirks Janssen, on 30 March 1853, at the age of 7 years, 1 month, and 10 days. Jann was buried in Norden on 5 April 1853. His death record identifies his parents as "Dirk Wobben Janssen" and "Afke Weearts Albers." The same church registers also record the death of Dirk Wobben Janssen at the age of 49 on 26 June 1862 in Norden, and his burial on 4 July 1862 in Norden. Dirk's death record he was the son of "Jann Wobben Janssen" by his wife "Foolka."

The children of Dirk and Aafke Janssen recorded in the Lutheran baptismal register of Norden, Hannover, were:

     --  JANN DIRKS JANSSEN, born 20 Feb. 1846 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover, died 30 March 1853 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover.
     --  GEESCHE DIRKS JANSSEN ("Jessie"), born 26 July 1848 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover.
     --  WEERT DIRKS JANSSEN, born 3 Sept. 1851 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover.
     3.  JANN DIRKS JANSSEN ("John Dick Johnson"), born 4 June 1854 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover.
     --  (SON) JANSSEN, born 29 Dec. 1857 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover, died within hours or days of his birth, unbaptised and never named.
     --  FOOLKA DIRKS JANSSEN ("Folena"), born 7 Oct. 1859 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover, died 23 July 1948 in Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, married George B. Johnson.

3. JANN DIRKS JANSSEN ("John Dick Johnson"), son of Dirk Wobben and Aafke Weerts (Alberts) Janssen, born 4 June 1854 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover, died 17 Dec. 1928 in Meredosia, Morgan County, Illinois. Jann was baptised 25 June 1854 in the Lutheran church of Norden in Ostfriesland, Hannover. His baptismal record identifies his parents as "Dirk Wobben Janssen" and "Aafke Weerts geboren Alberts." When Jann was 25 years old, in 1880, he decided to leave Germany and emigrate to the United States, sailing from Bremen, Germany, on a ship named the Donau ("Danube") and arriving in New York Harbor on 1 March 1880. Line 158 of the Donau's passenger list shows "Jan Janssen," 26 (sic), of Hannover, Port of Departure: Bremen, Germany. After his arrival in America, Jann settled in Livingston County, Illinois, and became a farmer there.

A typed manuscript family history was prepared on 8 Dec. 1981 by one of Jann's grandchildren. Concerning Jann's birth and his family, the manuscript offers the following Johnson family traditions:

"Dad's Father John D. Johnson was born in Dusseldorph, Germany and came to the United States when he was 16 years of age. He has a Sister Lena who lived in Kankakee, Ill. Also some relatives of which we're not sure of names, etc."

In fact, as already stated, Jann was born in Norden, Ostfriesland, which today is in Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Germany. Düsseldorf is far to the south, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen). There is no evidence that Jann ever lived in Düsseldorf, but perhaps he worked there as a young man before leaving Germany for America. In addition, Jann left Germany in 1880 (when he was 25), not 1870 (when he was 16) -- that is shown not only by the abovementioned ship passenger list, but also by the 1900 U.S. Census, which shows 1880 as Jann's year of immigration.

This detail from page 34 of the baptismal register of the Lutheran church of Norden, Hannover, shows (entry 61) the baptismal record of Jann Dirks Janssen, son of Dirk Wobben and Aafke Weerts (Alberts) Janssen.

On 7 March 1886 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, John married FENNA MARIA OLTMANNS ("Fannie Oltman"), born 2 April 1864 in Holtrop, Aurich District, Hannover, died 3 Feb. 1933 near Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, buried next to her husband in Beardstown City Cemetery, Beardstown, Cass County, Illinois, daughter of Tönjes Gerdes Ennen and Maria Hinrichs Pupkes (Schweers) Oltmanns. The marriage record of John and Fannie identifies them as John D. Janssen, son of Dirk J. Janssen and Aafke Albers, and Fannie Oltmans, dau. of Toenjes Oltmans and Mary Pupkes. John and Fannie had six daughters and five sons, but three sons and one daughter died in infancy or early childhood.

John and Fannie farmed in the area of Flanagan, Illinois, until the late 1890s. Their first seven children were born in Flanagan. At some point after their daughter Tena was born on 10 Feb. 1897, John and Fannie moved with their children to Moran in Elsmore Township, Allen County, Kansas, where their son John Henry was born on 6 June 1900. On the day before John's birth, John and his family were enumerated in the 1900 U.S. Census as residents of Moran, listing them as follows: "John D. Johnson," 45, farmer, wife "Fannie," 36, children "Effie M.," 13, "Marie F.," 10, "Dietrich J.," 10, "Ekka O.," 7, "Follina G.," 5, and "Tanno O.," 3. A few years later John and Fannie moved with their children to Missouri. The U.S. Census returns for Odessa, Lafayette County, Missouri, dated 29 April 1910, list them as "John D. Johnson," 55, farmer, wife "Fannie O.," 44, children "Effie M. Hicklin," 23 (married), "Mary P.," 21, "Richard H.," 20, "Ekkie O.," 17, "Lena P.," 15, "Tenna O.," 13, and "John H.," 10.

Sometime after the 1910 U.S. Census, John and his family moved back to Illinois, settling on a farm near Arenzville in Hagener Township, Cass County, in an area south of Beardstown. It was apparently some time after John's son Richard was married in 1914 that John and Fannie left Missouri and returned to Illinois. After mentioning the marriage of Richard in 1914 and Richard's move to Illinois, the 1981 typed manuscript Johnson history says, "Dad's Father John D. Johnson and wife Fannie also moved from Missouri to a farm in Illinois which they had bought at Shipman, Ill., and Mom & Dad [i.e., Richard and Caroline Johnson] moved in with them at Shipman. Later on they sold this farm and bought a farm in Arenzville, Ill. known as the Burrus place."

That narrative aligns perfectly with the U.S. Census returns for Shipman, dated 14 Jan. 1920, which enumerates this family as: "Johnson Johnson" (sic), 65, farmer (immigration in 1864), wife "Fannie," 52, children "Effie," 33, "Lena," 25, "Tena," 21, and "Johnnie," 19. (The immigration date of 1864 is obviously erroneous, since Jann/John was only 10 years old at the time and could not have come alone to the U.S. at so young an age.)

John died on a farm known as the Dr. Soule place, located between Beardstown and Meredosia in Morgan County (south of Hagener Township) on 17 Dec. 1928. His widow Fannie survived him by about four and a half years, dying on the Bridgman place northwest of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois.

Johnson and Altman families, circa 1930

Back row: Ekkie and Clifford Reed, John Henry Johnson, Peg Brassel

Front row: Fannie Johnson, Katrina and Aaron Altman (Fannie's brother)

From the collection of the late Carolyn Riggs Spencer, Fannie's great-granddaughter

The children of John and Fannie Johnson were:

     --  AAFKE MARIE JOHNSON ("Effie," "Peg"), born 9 Jan. 1887 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 30 Aug. 1943 in Beardstown, Cass County, Illinois, married twice.
     --  MARY PAULINE JOHNSON, born 26 Dec. 1888 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 6 May 1926 in Illinois.
     4.  RICHARD JOHN JOHNSON SR. ("Dietrich," "Dick"), born 17 Feb. 1890 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois.
     --  TONYES OLTMAN JOHNSON, born 10 Oct. 1891 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 19 Jan. 1892 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois.
     --  EKKA OLTMAN JOHNSON ("Ekk"), born 25 Nov. 1892 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 29 May 1977 at Calumet City, Cook County, Illinois, married Clifford Alvin Reed.
     --  FOLENA GERDES JOHNSON ("Paulina Jessie"), born 13 March 1895 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 30 April 1973 in Hammon, Lake County, Illinois, married Mason Noah Henderson.
     --  TENA OLTMAN JOHNSON, born 10 Feb. 1897 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 12 May 1938 in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, married twice.
     --  JOHN HENRY JOHNSON ("Jack"), born 6 June 1900 in Moran, Elsmore Township, Allen County, Kansas, died 31 Aug. 1987 in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, married Helen Frances Wise.
     --  TONNES GERDES JOHNSON, born 16 Aug. 1903 in Clay Township, Lafayette County, Missouri, died 22 Aug. 1903 in Clay Township, Lafayette County, Missouri.
     --  GEORGE H. JOHNSON, born 16 July 1904 in Clay Township, Lafayette County, Missouri, died 22 July 1904 in Clay Township, Lafayette County, Missouri
     --  FANNIE OLTMAN JOHNSON, born 19 March 1906 in Clay Township, Lafayette County, Missouri, died 4 Aug. 1908 in Clay Township, Lafayette County, Missouri.

4. RICHARD JOHN JOHNSON SR. ("Dietrich," "Dick"), son of Jann Dirks and Fannie Fernan (Oltman) Janssen, born 17 Feb. 1890 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 31 Aug. 1967 in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, buried in Jacksonville Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois. Dick's name at birth was "Dietrich Jann," but he was later known by the Americanised versions of "Dickard John" or "Richard John," and he was usually known by the nickname "Dick." Dick was first enumerated in the U.S. Census on 5 June 1900 in Elsmore, Allen County, Kansas, when he and his family were listed as follows: "John D. Johnson," 45, farmer, wife "Fannie," 36, children "Effie M.," 13, "Marie F.," 10, "Dietrich J.," 10, "Ekka O.," 7, "Follina G.," 5, "Tanno O.," 3. Ten years later, Dick and his family were enumerated in the U.S. Census on 29 April 1910 in Odessa, Lafayette County, Missouri, when he and his family were listed as: "John D. Johnson," 55, farmer, wife "Fannie O.," 44, children "Effie M. Hicklin," 23 (married), "Mary P.," 21, "Richard H.," 20, "Ekkie O.," 17, "Lena P.," 15, "Tenna O.," 13, "John H.," 10.

On 17 Dec. 1913 in Lexington, Lafayette County, Missouri, Dick married CAROLINE FREDERICKA KLEMME KRUEL ("Carrie"), born 15 May 1895 in Napoleon, Lafayette County, Missouri, died 31 Oct. 1972 in Manchester, Scott County, Illinois, buried next to her husband in Jacksonville Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, daughter of Henry and Emma Klemme, adopted daughter of George and Minnie Kruel. Dick and Carrie had five daughters and four sons, but one daughter and one son died in infancy. On 5 June 1917, Dick registered for the militart draft during World War I -- his draft card identifies him as a farmer living in Shipman but working in Brighton, Jersey County, Illinois, with a wife and one child, and described him as tall, medium build, dark hair, and blue eyes.

Dick and Carrie Johnson. Photo from collection of Dennis Reed

Three years later, Dick and Carrie were enumerated in the U.S. Census on 5 Feb. 1920 in Foster Township, Madison County, Illinois, when they were listed as: "Dickard Johnson," 30, farmer, with wife "Caroline Johnson," 25, and their daughter "Pauline Johnson," 5. Ten years after that, on 10 April 1930, Dick and Carrie and their families were enumerated in the U.S. Census as residents of Hagener Township, Cass County, Illinois, as follows: "Richard Johnson," 40, farmer, with his wife "Carrie Johnson," 35, and their children "Pauline," 15, "Richard," 5, "Loriette," 3 yrs. 9 mos., "Waunda," 1 yr. 10 mos., along with four other Johnson relatives. At some point during the 1930s, Dick and his family moved to a farm in Markham Township in Morgan County, Illinois, where the 1940 U.S. Census shows them living in 1935. The 1940 U.S. Census returns for Markham Township, dated 1 April 1940, shows husband "Richard Johnson," 50, farm operator, with his wife "Caroline Johnson," 45, and their children "Richard," 16, "Loretta," 13, "Juanita, 11, "Naomi," 9, "Robert," 6, "Edward," 4, and Richard's brother "John Johnson."

Dick and Carrie Johnson family, circa 1960

Back row: Bob, Ed, Naomi, Neat, and Etta

Front row: Dick Jr., Dick Sr., Carrie, and Pauline

The abovementioned type manuscript family history of the Johnsons, prepared 8 Dec. 1981 by one of the chilren of Richard and Carrie Johnson, includes the following extended narrative of the lives of Richard and Carrie:

"Caroline [Fredericka Klemmer] married our Father Richard J. Johnson when she was 18 years of age on December 17, 1913 in Lexington, Mo. They lived with Mother's adopted Father for awhile. He passed away the next year and Mother inherited $1900.00 from him. In March of 1914 they moved to a farm in Brighton, Ill., where their first Daughter Pauline was born on June 23, 1914. From there they moved to Hettick -- and Dad's Sister Mary & her husband Cy moved in with them. Dad's Father John D. Johnson and wife Fannie also moved from Missouri to a farm in Illinois which they had bought at Shipman, Ill., and Mom & Dad moved in with them at Shipman. Later on they sold this farm and bought a farm in Arenzville, Ill. known as the Burrus place.
"There was another Daughter (Emma Arlene) born to them their second child, she was born at Fosterburg, Ill. on Jan. 7, 1917 and lived ony 6 days -- was buried at Fosterburg, Ill. Mother got sick with that awful flu that was going around at the time [Spanish Influenza], and Emma Arlene was born prematurely, which was the cause of her death. She and Dad were both terribly sick with the flu, lots of people died because of it.
"When Dad's folks bought the Burrus place, Mother & Dad invested the $1900.00 in the farm also, but due to hard times they lost the farm, couldn't even keep up the interest on it. On this Burrus place their first son Richard was born on October 9, 1921. He lived only 3 months, as he got pneumonia and the Dr. didn't know how to treat it in those days. He is buried in a cemetery at Meredosia, Ill. Their second son (also named Richard) was also born on the Burrus place on April 19, 1924. After losing the farm at Arenzville, they moved to another farm near Rushville, Ill., where a Daughter Loretta was born on July 11, 1926. They lived on this farm one year and then moved to another farm between Beardstown and Meredosia, Ill. known as the Dr. Soule place. Here two more Daughters were born. Juanita born on June 12, 1928 and Naomi born on April 18, 1931. After living there for 6 years they moved Northwest of Jacksonville, Ill. [i.e. to the Bridgman place] Dad's Mother (Fannie) passed away on the Bridgeman place and Dad's Father (John D.) passed away while they lived on Dr. Soule's place.
"After living on the Bridgman place for one year they moved to Charley Leake's place which was 7 miles NW of Jacksonville, Ill. They lived there for 16 years. Dad was in partnership with his Brother (John) in farming for many years and John made his home with them. Two more sons were born on Leake's farm. Robert born July 10, 1933 and Edward born Jan. 2, 1936. Dad finally inherited some money from his Aunt & Uncle (Uncle Henry & Aunt Ekkie) who lived in Flanagan, Ill. (They were Dad's Mother's sister & Brother). Oltman was their last name, and they never married. After coming into this money Dad & Mom were able to buy their own farm in Manchester, Ill. They lived there until they passed away, Dad on August 31, 1967 and Mother, Oct. 30, 1972 [sic -- Oct. 31]. They are buried at Memorial Lawn Cemetery -- South of Jacksonville. They bought their farm in Manchester, January of 1948."

The children of Dick and Carrie Johnson were:

     5.  FANNIE PAULINE JOHNSON ("Pauline"), born 23 June 1914 in Brighton, Jersey County, Illinois.
     --  EMMA ARLENA JOHNSON, born 15 Jan. 1919 in Foster Township, Madison County, Illinois, died 22 Jan. 1919 in Foster Township, Madison County, Illinois.
     --  RICHARD JOHN JOHNSON JR., born 12 Oct. 1920 in New Meredosia, Morgan County, Illinois, died of pneumonia 8 Jan. 1921 in New Meredosia, Morgan County, Illinois.
     --  RICHARD JOHN JOHNSON JR. ("Dick Jr."), born 18 April 1924 in Morgan County, Illinois, died 5 Oct. 2017 in Morgan County, Illinois, married Hazel Irene Hoots.
     --  LORETTA BERNICE JOHNSON ("Etta"), born 11 July 1926 near Rushville, Schuyler County, Illinois, died 4 Nov. 2009 at Rosewood Care Center, St. Charles, Kane County, Illinois, married Russell Eugene Chapman.
     --  JUANITA LOIS JOHNSON ("Neat"), born 12 June 1928 in Arenzville, Cass County, Illinois, died 6 Aug. 2014 in Mattoon, Coles County, Illinois, married Harrison Bateman Barber ("Chic").
     --  NAOMI LAVERNE JOHNSON, born 18 April 1931 in Arenzville, Cass County, Illinois, died 27 April 2005 in Delnor-Community Hospital, Geneva, Kane County, Illinois, married Tunney Gene Sebastian.
     --  ROBERT JOHN JOHNSON ("Bob"), born 10 July 1934 in Morgan County, Illinois, died 23 Oct. 2020 in Springfield, Illinois, married 1st Mary Ann Rickert, married 2nd Sara Elizabeth Andras.
     --  EDWARD EUGENE JOHNSON ("Ed"), born 2 Jan. 1936 in Morgan County, Illinois, married Beverly June Alderman ("Bev").

5. FANNIE PAULINE JOHNSON ("Pauline"), daughter of Richard and Caroline Johnson, born 23 June 1914 in Brighton, Jersey County, Illinois, died 26 May 1996 in White Hall, Greene County, Illinois, buried next to her husband. Although her first name was "Fannie" (her paternal grandmother's name), she strongly disliked that name and always went by her middle name instead, and many people never knew "Pauline" was actually her middle name. The minister at her funeral did not know her personally, referring to her consistently as "Fannie" and thereby inadvertently revealed to many of the funeral attendees something they'd never known about her.

Pauline was enumerated on 5 Feb. 1920 in the U.S. Census returns for Foster Township, Madison County, Illinois, which lists her as "Pauline Johnson," age 5, daughter and only child of "Dickard Johnson," age 30, farmer, and his wife "Caroline Johnson," age 25. Ten years later, on 10 April 1930, "Pauline Johnson," age 15, was listed in the U.S. Census returns for Hagener Township, Cass County, Illinois, with her parents "Richard Johnson," age 40, farmer, and "Carrie Johnson," age 35, and her siblings "Richard," age 5, "Loriette," age 3 yrs. 9 mos., and "Waunda," age 1 yr. 10 mos., and four other relatives.

On 22 June 1935 in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, Pauline married CARL SPENCER RIGGS SR., born 26 Aug. 1900 at Ceres, Greene County (near Murrayville), Illinois; died at the age of 85 on 20 June 1986 in White Hall, Greene County, Illinois; buried in Murrayville Cemetery; son of Herbert Benjamin and Margaret Riggs. Carl had been twice married and twice divorced before his marriage to Pauline, having two daughters and a son by his first wife, and reportedly another daughter by an unknown mother. Carl and Pauline had two children, a son and a daughter. Pauline and Carl lived at Murrayville, then Alsey, Illinois, during the 1960s, then Roodhouse, Greene County, Illinois. In the U.S. Census of 15 April 1940, Carl and his third wife Pauline, farming in Sandy, Scott County, Illinois, are listed with Carl's son Wilbert, age 14, and their son Carl Jr., age 3.

Shown at left is the Carl and Pauline Riggs family circa 1951. In the back row are Wilbert Clarke ("Bud") and Pauline Ellen Riggs, children of Carl Sr. by his first wife Bessie, and in the front row are Fannie Pauline Johnson Riggs, Carl Spencer Riggs Jr. ("Junior"), Carl Spencer Riggs Sr., and Carolyn Jean Riggs.

Carl's obituary was published in the Jacksonville Journal Courier on Saturday, 21 June 1986, page 15, column 3:

Roodhouse -- Carl S Riggs Sr, 85, of Roodhouse, died at 6:30 pm Friday, June 20, at White Hall Hospital. He was born Aug 26, 1900 in Morgan County, a son of Herbert and Margaret Mutch Riggs.
He married Pauline Johnson, June 22, 1935, in Jacksonville, and she survives with one son, Carl Jr, of Murrayville, one daughter, Mrs Roy (Carolyn) Spencer, of Roodhouse, nine grandchildren, nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, he was preceded by a son, a daughter, a sister and one brother.
He was a member of the Murrayville United Methodist Chuch and a retired farmer from the Alsey and Murrayville communities.
Graveside services will be 2 pm Sunday at Murrayville Cemetery. Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Pauline survived her husband Carl by about 10 years. Later in life, she developed Parkinson's Disease and lived out her final years at North American Healthcare Center in White Hall, Illinois. Her obituary was published in the State Journal-Register of Springfield, Illinois, on 27 May 1996, page 16:

Fannie Pauline Riggs, 81, of Roodhouse died Sunday at North American Healthcare Center, White Hall.
Survivors: a son Carl Riggs Jr. of Murrayville, a daughter, Carolyn Spencer of Roodhouse; five grandchildren; five great grandchildren; three brothers, Richard Johnson of rural Murrayville, Robert Johnson of Manchester, and Edward Johnson of rural Roodhouse; three sisters, Loretta Chapman and Naomi Sebastian both of Batavia; and Juanita Barber of Literberry.
Graveside services: 2 PM Tuesday, Murrayville City Cemetery.
Mackey-Daws Funeral Home in Roodhouse is in charge of arrangements.

Shown at left is a portrait of Pauline taken later in her life, from the collection of her daughter Carolyn; while at the right is another portrait of Pauline from the same sitting, from the collection of Pauline's granddaughter Christina.

The two children of Pauline and Carl Riggs were:

     --  CARL SPENCER RIGGS JR. ("Junior"), born 24 June 1936, married Wanda Jo Anderson ("Joey").
     --  CAROLYN JEAN RIGGS, born 15 Jan. 1949 in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Johnson Genealogy Resources:

The Reed Family Tree of Albuquerque, N.M., with Dirk Wobben Janssen descendants and Johnson and Oltman family photos.
Find-A-Grave memorial: Richard John Johnson Sr. (1890-1967), with links of wife, children, and parents.
Stadt Norden, offical homepage of the town or borough of Norden in the District of Aurich, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Germany.

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