Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Elusive Johnson Family Line

According to US Census Bureau, both in the 1990 and 2000 census records, Johnson is the second most common surname in the US.  In 2000, there are just over 1.8 million Johnson's listed in the census.  If you are as fortunate as I to have this surname in your direct line, you know the challenges that can abound with tracing your Johnson family roots.  

My brickwall Johnson is named John Johnson.  He was born February 5 1806 in Coal Creek, Anderson County, Tennessee to parents whose name is unknown to me.  In March of 1825 in Tennessee, he married Rosanna Monroe Adkins.  From Rosanna's obituary, I know she came with her husband and two brothers to Menard County, Illinois in 1831.  Menard County would split and their homestead would end up in Mason County, Illinois.  He would be listed throughout his life on census records as a farmer.  John and Rosanna would have 14 children.  John died the 15th of April 1873 in Mason County.  He was laid to rest in Bethel Cemetery, Saidora, Mason County, Illinois.

I had tracked him all the census since 1840 through 1870.  It is prior to 1840 that I am stuck.  I know he was married in Tennessee in 1825 not sure where.  In 1830 there are at least two John Johnsons in the census index that Ancestry is pulling up for Tennessee.  I'm sure there are more.  So my Johnson lament... why could you of at least had an unusual first name... like your son Sampson or the male version of your daughter Parthena.

To top it all off... 14 children!!!  Only 3 of which were born in Tennessee... one for which I don't even know the name.  Of those 14 children, only two may not have had children.  Yes... my line contributed to the 1.8 million Johnsons in the US today.

In order to bring my brickwall down, I am going to have to look to those 14 children.  Delve more into their lives... it's time to go collateral.  I wonder how many more Johnson's I'll add by my new research,

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