Michael Jonsson

   Other names for Michael were Mikal, Mekal Johnson, Mickall Johnson, Mickle Johnson, Mikael Johnson, Mikeal Johnson, Mikel Johnson, Mikkel Johnson and Mikael Jonsson.

  General Notes:

Mikkel and Karolina Johnson
Spruce Township
In 1888, the land now occupied by the Oak Manor Trailer Court east of Roseau was the homestead of fifty-six year old Mikkel Johnson and his wife Karolina. They had come to Spruce township from Sweden via Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. Their seven older children, August, Robert, Emma, Jonas, Eva, Johanna and Agatha had remained in Sweden, when their parents immigrated in 1883. Mikkel walked from Pelican Rapids to Roseau - one hundred and fifty miles to select a claim site. Then he walked the fifty miles to Hallock to file his claim. From there he returned on foot to Pelican Rapids, another one hundred and forty miles to gather his wife Karolina, their five younger children, Huldah, Alex, Nils Oscar, Josephine and Peter, and their belongings which were transported by ox team. Extra cattle were driven alongside.
The Johnson's new home, built of logs and covered with drop siding, was located near Section 16, which, as other townships, was reserved for school land. The present airport is located on "school land" now.
The Johnson's homestead was situated along the Indian trail which followed the higher ground to Warroad; the canoe trail went through the lower swampy areas. Sometimes in the evening the homesteader's door would open silently, a brown hand holding a fish would be extended through the opening. Mikkel would arise and accept the fish as a sign of welcome. The Indian chief, his wives and children would enter silently, seat themselves in a line against the walls to rest for the night. The horse that pulled the travois was stabled and fed. Early the next morning, the Johnsons peeped down throught the cracks in the loft floor to see the visitors departing as unceremoniously as they had come.

Roseau County Heritage, published in 1992 by the Roseau County Historical Society. Information provided by Bernard and Mickal Erickson, Fergus Falls MN.

  Birth Notes:

Siknäs.

  Events

• He resided at Siksjönäs. from 1834 to 1839 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden.

• He resided at Siksjönäs from 1840 to 1846 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden.

• He resided at Riksjönäs from 1847 to 1856 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden.

• He resided at Siksjönäs from 1857 to 1861 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden.

• Michael was living from 1861 to 1866 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden. They were boställslösa [homeless] for a few years before settling in Westanbäck.

• He resided at Westanbäck on 11 Nov 1865 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden.

• He resided at Westanbäck from 1867 to 1876 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden. He was a settler.

• He worked as a farmer from 1877 to 1887 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden.

• He resided at Westanbäck from 1877 to 1886 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden.

• He resided at Westanbäck from 1886 to 1887 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden.

• He emigrated on 26 Feb 1887 from Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden. The family left Sweden for Tronheim, Norway, where they registered on April 6th 1887. They departed on April 7th 1887 on the S/S Hero (2) for Christiansund - Aalesund - Hull on the Wilson Line. Once in Hull, they transfered to Liverpool where they boarded the S/S Italy. They arrived at the port of New York on April 27th 1887.

• He immigrated on 27 Apr 1887 to United States. Arrived at Port of New York.

• He appeared on the census in Jul 1895 in Spruce, Roseau, Minnesota, United States. Johnson, Michael, 61, male, white, Sweden, resident of this state: 8 years and 2 months, resident of this enumeration district: 6 years, farmer
Johnson, Caroline, 53, female, white, Sweden
Johnson, Eva Gustava, 23, female, white, Sweden
Johnson, Nils Oscar, 17, male, white, Sweden
Johnson, Hulda T, 15, female, white, Sweden
Johnson, Alexander, 13, male, white, Sweden
Johnson, Per August, 11, male, white, Sweden
Johnson, Josephine, 10, female, white, Sweden.

• He was naturalized on 18 May 1897 in Roseau, Minnesota, United States. He signed his Declaration of Intention Record 18 May 1897.

• He owned land T 162N, R 39W, Section 17, E1/2 SW1/4 and S1/2 SE1/4 on 30 Dec 1899 in Roseau, Minnesota, United States. 160 acres.

• He appeared on the census on 22 Jun 1900 in Spruce, Roseau, Minnesota, United States. Town of Spruce
Dwelling no. 122, family no. 125:
Johnson, Michael, head of household, born Jan 1834, 66 years old, married 40 years, born in Sweden, parents Swedish, naturalized 1887, 12 years in the US, farmer, can read and write but not speak English, owns his own farm.
Johnson, Annie, wife, born Apr 1842, 58 years old, married 40 years, mother of 13 children - 11 living, born in Sweden, parents Swedish, naturalized 1887, 12 years in the US, can read and write but not speak English.
Johnson, Alex, son, born Dec 1882, 17 years old, born in Sweden, parents Swedish, 12 years in the US, can read and write and speak English.
Johnson, Hulda, daughter, born Oct 1880, 19 years old, born in Sweden, parents Swedish, 12 years in the US, can read and write and speak English.
Johnson, Josephine, daughter, born Feb 1887, 15 years old, born in Sweden, parents Swedish, 12 years in the US, can read and write and speak English.
Dwelling no. 123, family no. 126:
Johnson, Oskar, head of the household, born Feb 1878, 22 years old, single, born in Sweden, parents Swedish, 12 years in the US, farm laborer, can read and write and speak English.

• He worked as a farmer on 22 Jun 1900 in Spruce, Roseau, Minnesota, United States.

• He had a residence on 17 Oct 1903 in Spruce, Roseau, Minnesota, United States.

• He appeared on the census on 10 Jun 1905 in Spruce, Roseau, Minnesota, United States. Johnson Mikael, male, 71, white, born in Sweden, father born in Sweden, mother born in Sweden, residence in this state: 17 years, residence in this enumeration district: 13 years, farmer
Johnson Anna K., male, 63, white, born in Sweden, father born in Sweden, mother born in Sweden, residence in this state: 17 years, residence in this enumeration district: 13 years, farmer
Johnson Peter, male, 22, white, born in Sweden, father born in Sweden, mother born in Sweden, residence in this state: 17 years, residence in this enumeration district: 13 years, farm laborer.

• He appeared on the census on 26 Apr 1910 in Spruce, Roseau, Minnesota, United States. Johnson, Mikeal, head, male, white, 75, married once, married for 47 years, born in Sweden, father born in Sweden, mother born in Sweden, immigration to the US in 1887, naturalized, speaks swedish, retired, own income, can read and write
Johnson, Anna C., wife, female, white, 67, married once, married for 47 years, mother of 13 children, 9 children still living, born in Sweden, father born in Sweden, mother born in Sweden, immigration to the US in 1887, speaks swedish, occupation: none, can read and write.

Michael married Anna Carolina Mårtensdotter, daughter of Mårten Ersson and Brita Stina Isacsdotter, on 21 Apr 1861 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden. (Anna Carolina Mårtensdotter was born on 20 May 1842 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden, christened on 2 Jun 1842 in Vilhelmina Församling, Åsele Härad, Västerbottens Län, Sweden and died on 29 May 1928 in Spruce, Roseau, Minnesota, United States.)