Title
WILLIAM AND EMMA COULSON JOHNSON
Creator
Arthur and Alfred Johnson and Amy Johnson Gresz
Coverage
TOWNSHIP 140N RANGE 99W
Text
WILLIAM AND EMMA COULSON JOHNSON
Our parents, William Johnson (Hawkinson) and Emma Coulson Johnson were of Scandinavian descent. William was born on a small farm near Goteberg, Sweden. Sept. 27, 1868. Four boys: William, Ole, Peter, Andrew, and one sister, Annie made up their family. William, our dad, was the first to venture to America. Later Ole Johnson and his brother Peter came, but Peter kept the old family name of Hawkinson. In those days a son took the surname of his father and attached son to it, but many kept their dad's name. Dad and Peter never got together in the U.S. but they kept in touch. Ole lived with dad for a short time and then returned to Sweden to get his family, but they refused to come to America. Ole, a cabinet maker and carpenter, returned to the U.S. but never contacted Dad. 1925, Peter passed away in Duluth, Minn. And in 1951 Dad received a telegram informing him of Ole's death in South Fargo. Dad was unable to attend the funeral of either brother.
Dad's parents both lived to be nearly 95 years old. His brother, Andrew, died in Sweden. His sister was still living in Sweden near the old home shortly before our dad's passing.
From Malmon, a small port in Sweden, in 1891, our dad sailed to the U.S. He said the trip took 10 days which was slightly longer than usual because there was a three day storm at sea. He landed in New York but soon headed westward until he reached St. Paul and hired out with an extra-gang on the Northern Pacific Railroad. April of that year Dad found himself in the wild Badland town of Sentinel Butte working as a section hand. He worked for the N.P with the exception of two years until 1901. He was transferred many times and promoted from section worker to railroad foreman and had an opportunity for further promotion, but he had other plans in mind. He tried his hand at punching cows. He worked one year for Tom Lynch as a ranch hand. He then went to work for Benedict Coulson and while there he bought his first saddle horse. 1896, he bought 15 head of cows. The next year George Pelissier cared for his cattle, and Dad returned to the railroad.
It was a very severe winter and Dad told of remaining in a caboose and directing 70 men many who spoke many different languages. The men shoveled snow onto flat cars to clear the track at Sod Cut near Mandan. After his marriage, Mother kept the section house clean and cooked for many men and worked very hard while Dad held the position of foreman.
Oct. 15, 1897, he took as his bride, Emma Coulson, the daughter of his former ranch employer. To them was born a family of five children: Mrs Al (Agnes) Redmond (deceased); Annie who passed away at the age of three; Arthur and Alfred who still live on the original homestead place and Mrs. Frank (Amy) Gresz who is widowed but still lives at her home near Fairfield.
1901, Dad set up his homestead claim about 10 miles northeast of Belfield, N.D., near a large spring of water. He built a home in Belfield also which still remains in the family, but Dad and Mother lived the greater part of their lives on the homestead farm and ranch.
We do not know much of Mother's family history. She was born in Brainard, Minn. Our grandmother passed away when mother was born. A dear friend came to care for Mother and Grandpa later married her. They moved to Belfield and built a home along the creek near Highway 85. Mother had two half brothers and two half sisters. She spent the early part of her life working in Medora at the Rough Rider Hotel and at an early age worked for the Marquis de Mores at the Chateau.
Mother passed away, 1950. Dad lived until 1965 and was almost 97 years old. They spent the greater part of their lives in Stark Co.
By Arthur and Alfred Johnson and Amy Johnson Gresz
Our parents, William Johnson (Hawkinson) and Emma Coulson Johnson were of Scandinavian descent. William was born on a small farm near Goteberg, Sweden. Sept. 27, 1868. Four boys: William, Ole, Peter, Andrew, and one sister, Annie made up their family. William, our dad, was the first to venture to America. Later Ole Johnson and his brother Peter came, but Peter kept the old family name of Hawkinson. In those days a son took the surname of his father and attached son to it, but many kept their dad's name. Dad and Peter never got together in the U.S. but they kept in touch. Ole lived with dad for a short time and then returned to Sweden to get his family, but they refused to come to America. Ole, a cabinet maker and carpenter, returned to the U.S. but never contacted Dad. 1925, Peter passed away in Duluth, Minn. And in 1951 Dad received a telegram informing him of Ole's death in South Fargo. Dad was unable to attend the funeral of either brother.
Dad's parents both lived to be nearly 95 years old. His brother, Andrew, died in Sweden. His sister was still living in Sweden near the old home shortly before our dad's passing.
From Malmon, a small port in Sweden, in 1891, our dad sailed to the U.S. He said the trip took 10 days which was slightly longer than usual because there was a three day storm at sea. He landed in New York but soon headed westward until he reached St. Paul and hired out with an extra-gang on the Northern Pacific Railroad. April of that year Dad found himself in the wild Badland town of Sentinel Butte working as a section hand. He worked for the N.P with the exception of two years until 1901. He was transferred many times and promoted from section worker to railroad foreman and had an opportunity for further promotion, but he had other plans in mind. He tried his hand at punching cows. He worked one year for Tom Lynch as a ranch hand. He then went to work for Benedict Coulson and while there he bought his first saddle horse. 1896, he bought 15 head of cows. The next year George Pelissier cared for his cattle, and Dad returned to the railroad.
It was a very severe winter and Dad told of remaining in a caboose and directing 70 men many who spoke many different languages. The men shoveled snow onto flat cars to clear the track at Sod Cut near Mandan. After his marriage, Mother kept the section house clean and cooked for many men and worked very hard while Dad held the position of foreman.
Oct. 15, 1897, he took as his bride, Emma Coulson, the daughter of his former ranch employer. To them was born a family of five children: Mrs Al (Agnes) Redmond (deceased); Annie who passed away at the age of three; Arthur and Alfred who still live on the original homestead place and Mrs. Frank (Amy) Gresz who is widowed but still lives at her home near Fairfield.
1901, Dad set up his homestead claim about 10 miles northeast of Belfield, N.D., near a large spring of water. He built a home in Belfield also which still remains in the family, but Dad and Mother lived the greater part of their lives on the homestead farm and ranch.
We do not know much of Mother's family history. She was born in Brainard, Minn. Our grandmother passed away when mother was born. A dear friend came to care for Mother and Grandpa later married her. They moved to Belfield and built a home along the creek near Highway 85. Mother had two half brothers and two half sisters. She spent the early part of her life working in Medora at the Rough Rider Hotel and at an early age worked for the Marquis de Mores at the Chateau.
Mother passed away, 1950. Dad lived until 1965 and was almost 97 years old. They spent the greater part of their lives in Stark Co.
By Arthur and Alfred Johnson and Amy Johnson Gresz