Genealogy Data
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Birth : 5 November 1872 in St. Paul (Ramsey Co.), Minnesota
Death : June 1951 in McAllen, Texas
Burial : 1951 in Oakwood Cemetery, Red Wing, Minnesota
[joan'sfam.FTW]
"Grandpa" Johnson (often referred to as G. W.) and his brothers seemed to have many business ventures in Willmar and other towns in western Minnesota. In Joan's notebook is a copy of the wedding of George and Etta, including guests. In addition to his brothers, the Magnus Lundberg's are listed as relatives of G. W. (possibly related to Oliva Lundberg, witness at Peter Lorentz's baptism). At the time of the wedding, George as a Junior Member of the firm of Burr and Johnson. In 1911 George was managing an ice cream factory in Willmar. In they 1912 moved to Crookston - "closed firm of Willmar Jobbing". In Crookston "he worked hard to save the Firm" (?) Etta mentioned she worked hard at Carnation Dairy Lunch, which I presume they owned. In 1913 he was "called back to Willmar". That was when Vendla Charlotta died. The claim in Montana was started about that time (see notes about Etta).
In 1914-15, George was loaned $1500 by Abraham Adams (Margaret Pease Adams' husband) and $100 by his father and they moved to Red Wing and bought the "Family Theatre" which was directly across Third street from the Metro Theatre (which they eventually bought and ran). It had 290 seats. It opened Feb. 12, 1915. At first they lived upstairs of the theatre, then they lived at 702 W. 3rd St.. In 1918 they bought the houses at 821 and 827 Main St. They rented one and lived in the other. Joan's parents lived upstairs @@ 827 until 1938 (and Joan and Joyce were born there). In 1919 George W. was named manager of the T. B. Sheldon Memorial Auditorium (owned by the city of Red Wing). At that time the theatre presented silent films and live vaudeville shows. The theatre eventually converted to motion pictures. George W. did so well with his management of the Auditorium, that the City was able to use the surplus to build the municipal swim pool at Colvill Park. However, the auditorium still had live theatre occasionally and when I was in high school it was used for many high school productions and concerts. Uncle Ted and Urbans' interest in "showmanship" was undoubtedly influenced by this venture. George was a very successful manager of the theatres and the city kept raising his salary. The entire family worked in the theatres (he still owned the Metro). Eventually he sold the Metro business (not the building) to a Mr. Ruben from Minneapolis. My father worked at the Metro while still in high school which is where he met my mother.
On October 22, 1927, when Mrs. Oliver Larson came to Red Wing for Ella Mae and Harold Bennett's wedding, George and Etta bought our lots (from her) at Green Lake, Kandiyohi County. At first they "camped" on the property and worked to clear it, landscape it, and eventually built a garage and cottage (enlarged from garage). In 1936 they built a smaller "sleeping cabin" known to us as the "Red Roost". Mrs. Larson who owned and operated the Interlochen Hotel. She had been a family friend for many years and it was there that John E. Wright had been the night he accidently shot his wife.
In 1935 George purchased property (a small citrus ranch) in Texas. They had been in the McAllen, Texas area for several winters and eventually decided to retire there and operated a small grapefruit business (part of a co-op), spending summers in Minnesota. George an avid golfer, playing sometimes after a days work at the lake property. One thing I remember is that he TYPED letters - to my sister and I and to my mother, somewhat unusual for a man born in the 1870's. He also wrote poetry - a few samples are in Joan's notebook. He taught me (Joan) to play backgammon and other challenging games! He must have enjoyed trips and touring as he and Etta went on many! (Recounted in Etta's diaries). Despite his interest in writing (typing) he left little in the way of records about his family (alas!).
I remember an episode at Green Lake when my cousin Jack (Lillyblad) and I (Joan) were encouraged (by grandpa) to follow a thrashing machine that went by our cottage at about 9:00 A.M. (To learn more about farming/the world.) We hopped on our bicycles and with our dog "Togo" set off. We followed and followed, Togo getting very tired. The thrashing machined turned off the lake road and Jack and I decided to continue on around the lake (thinking we were about 1/2 way - probably only 1/4 - total distance 14 miles). We arrived back at the cottage about 12:30 P.M. (delayed by waiting for Togo to catch up). George W. was very upset, but instead of chastising us, we had to write an essay on our adventure! We never forgot!
Parents:
Father: Johnson, Peter LorentzFamily:
Mother: Hjelm, Vendla Charlotta
Marriage: 17 November 1896 in Willmar (Kandiyohi Co.) MinnesotaFamily:
Spouse:Johnson, Etta PeaseChildren:
Birth : 23 September 1875 in New London (Kandiyohi Co.), Minnesota
Death : 13 September 1945 in McAllen, Texas
Burial : September 1945 in Oakwood Cemetery, Red Wing, Minnesota
Note
Parents:Father: Pease, Addison
Mother: Wright, Margaret Maggie Tega
Johnson, George Theodore
Johnson, Urban Lawrence
Malmquist, Marguerite Charlotta
McElroy, Vendla Lillyblad
Johnson, Ella Mae
Marriage: --living--
Spouse:Johnson, Lillie Edalia
There are many interesting stories in the lives of those represented here. Please help me add information, photos, or whatever you feel comfortable with.
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This page has been slightly reformatted and preserved in memory of its creator and my brother.
(aka Bruce Johnson)
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