Chosen Families Project #20: Johnson Family from New York - RELATIVES FOUND
The Johnson Family
LEFT: Andrew Johnson & Mary Leonard
RIGHT: Oscar Johnson & Theresa Hartnett
Welcome to a new episode of the chosen families project. I recovered this photograph a few years ago, I believe either in a second hand store or off a photograph lot I purchased off ebay. When I first obtained the photograph, there was some difficulties. On the back of the photograph it states, “Left Andrew Johnson & Mary, Right Oscar Johnson and Theresa”
The hard part of the research was that Johnson was a common surname but there is no location of the photographer because it is a photographic postcard. Based on the stamp company shape, I was able to date the photograph to a range of approximately 1904-1918 . With this information and Mary’s surname, I was able to locate a relative of the family, and with recent communication, I was able to be able to send the photograph back to the relative and send the photograph back to the family.
Here is the story of the Johnson Family from Limestone, Cattaraugus County, New York. I will start with the head of household Andrew Johnson Sr., and then describe his sons Oscar and Andrew’s story.
Andrew Johnson Sr. was born in Jönköping, Sweden on 18 JAN 1855 as Anders Johannesson to parents Johannes Petersson and Anna Lisa Magnusdotter. His parents lived in Sweden their whole lives, but I could not find a formal birth record substaniate this from Jönköping. He emigrated from Sweden sometimes in the early to mid 1870s according to census records. I could not locate his arrival or Naturalization paperwork from Cattaraugus County, but the relative told me came through Ellis Island, where he changed his patronymic name to Johnson. He married Carrie Annette Bridenbaker (born 2 MAR 1862 in Ellicottville,New York) on 4 Jul 1879; the 1900 census indicates he married in 1878, whereby then he was Naturalized. Census records from 1910 and 1920 indicate he worked as a farmer and oil producer. The family lived in Carrollton and Limestone, New York. Him and Carrie would have 10 children, with 8 surviving according to the 1910 census records.
The 8 children include Nettie May (Johnson) Loeffler (1880-1958), Martha Ann (Johnson) Willis (1883-1973),Oscar Johnson (born 8 JUN 1885 seen on the right in the photograph), Robert Johnson (1887-1963), Andrew Johnson (born 17 DEC 1889, seen on the left in the photograph), Floyd Martin Johnson (1892-1978), Arthur Johnson (1894-1895),Fred Alfred Johnson (1896-1919),Hattie Leona (Johnson) Curtis (1898-1980), and Pearl Johnson (1900-1902). All of the children appear to be born in Limestone, NY.
Andrew Johnson Sr. would pass on 14 Jun 1927. His obituary from 16 Jun 1927 from the Times Herald from Olean New York I’ve shown below, but it is poor quality. His son Andrew Johnson was executor of his estate, and I did locate a deed record as well, from 6 Mar 1937 from the Times Herald from Olean New York.
Carrie Johnson would pass away on 23 Mar 1928 in Limestone New York. There are two obituaries for her which I located and include below. The first obituary is from the Times Herald on 23 Mar 1928. The second obituary was published in THE POST, ELLICOTTVILLE, NEW YORK, on March 28, 1928.
The couple was buried in Limestone Cemetery. I also located some pictures of Andrew and Carrie which I have included below, alongside their headstones.
From FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42497741/andrew-j-johnson
Courtesy Jason Anthony Davis via Ancestry
Andrew Johnson Sr. Courtesy Jason Anthony Davis
Bridenbaker Family Photograph Courtesy Diana Brodie
Here is the story of Andrew Johnson Jr. and his wife Mary Ellen Leonard. He would marry Mary on 20 Aug 1912 according to marriage records in Salamanca, New York, USA. Mary Leonard was from Bradford,PA and was born in Farmersville New York. Andrew was a Tool Dresser, and was 22 when he married 18 year old Mary. His relative stated he had a tool dressing business and possibly served in WWI.
MSue FindAGrave
Throughout their lives they resided in Foster, PA according to census records. Census records indiciated he worked at an oil refinery and trucking business. They had two children June (1916-2003) and Andrew Johnson III (1919-1994). Mary Leonard would pass on 16 May 1953 from Ovary cancer according to her death certificate at the age of 57. She would be buried on May 18, 1953 in Oak Hill Cemetery in Bradford, PA. Andrew would pass on Nov 17, 1972 in Bradford,PA and is buried alongside his wife in Oak Hill Cemetery.
From Findagrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110789819/andrew-johnson
Here is the story of Oscar Johnson and Julia Theresa Hartnett. He married Theresa on the 6 Jun 1911 in Olean, New York. Theresa was born on 30 APRIL 1887 in Cattaraugus County, New York; to note many family trees note her name as Julia Theresa, but on her headstone and census records they list her as Theresa. Oscar worked as a Railroad Conductor/Switchman according to census records. The couple lived in Olean, New York throughout their lives, having three children Lawrence (1915-1959),Norman (1916-1980), and Arthur Johnson (1919-1999). Oscar would pass away on 27 Dec 1955 at the age of 70, and Teresa would pass away on 22 December 1974 at the age of 87. The couple is buried in Saint Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, with their son Norman buried with them. I could not locate obituary for either couple.
I am so happy I can return the photographs of the couple to a close relative, who is the family genealogist of the family, Anders (Andrew Johnson Sr.) was their 2nd great grandfather. I had combine information from many family trees for the information, but I am so happy to put a lot of the records together here to tell the families story.
If you have any questions about the project or are related to the Johnson family and want digital copies please reach out to me at thechosenfamiliesproject@gmail.com
