John & Mary were both born in Nykarleby, Finland. Mary came to Metropolitan at the age of 17 in 1890. John, who went by Johannes Johnson, came in 1889 at the age of 24, after spending about 4 years in White Cloud in Michigan's lower Peninsula. Upon his arrival in Metropolitan he changed his name hoping to avoid mistaken indentity. (Must have been a lot of John Johnsons?) John & Mary married July 5, 1890 in Escanaba, Delta, Michigan. John bought 4 acres of land in Metropolitan & built their home, in the early 1900s he constructed additions for a 9 room house with 6 bedrooms. A separate building housed a summer kitchen & another the woodshed. He later built a big barn. The family boarded teachers during the early 1900s & were charter members of the Lutheran Church. Their 12 children, 6 girls & 6 boys, are: Alfred, Selma, Edna, Irene, Ruth, William, Runard, Ethel (Goodard), Effie (Gedvick), Lyle, Lloyd & Harold Alfred; Selma & Edna died in childhood. Runard & Lyle served in World War II. More of this family can be found in the Felch Centennial Book.
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Michigan State Census, 1894
Felch, Dickinson, Michigan, United States
John Davidson. Age: 27
Birth (Estimated): 1867
Relationship to Head of Household: Husband
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Davidson Husband Male 27
Mary Davidson Wife Female 21
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United States Census, 1900
ED 52 Felch township, Dickinson, Michigan, United States
John Davidson. Age: 34. Married
Birth: Mar 1866. Fenland. Marriage (Estimated): 1893
Immigration: 1885
Father's Birthplace: Fenland. Mother's Birthplace: Fenland
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Davidson Head Male 34 Fenland
Marie Davidson Wife Female 28 Fenland
Annie I Davidson Daughter Female 4 Michigan
Ruth E Davidson Daughter Female 0 Michigan
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United States Census, 1910
Felch, Dickinson, Michigan, United States
John Davidson. Age: 45. Married. Immigration: 1887
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Davidson Head Male 45 Sweden
Marie Davidson Wife Female 37 Sweden
Irene Davidson Daughter Female 14 Michigan
Ruth Davidson Daughter Female 10 Michigan
William Davidson Son Male 8 Michigan
Runard Davidson Son Male 4 Michigan
Ethel Davidson Daughter Female 2 Michigan
A Effie Davidson Daughter Female 0 Michigan
Hilda Wickman Servant Female 20 Sweden
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United States Census, 1920
Felch, Dickinson, Michigan, United States
John Davidson. Age: 55. Married. Can Read: Yes. Can Write: Yes. Own or Rent: Own
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Davidson Head Male 55 Finland
Mary Davidson Wife Female 47 Finland
Ireen Davidson Daughter Female 23 Michigan
Ruth Davidson Daughter Female 20 Michigan
William Davidson Son Male 18 Michigan
Ronard Davidson Son Male 13 Michigan
Ethel Davidson Daughter Female 12 Michigan
Effie Davidson Daughter Female 9 Michigan
Lyle Davidson Son Male 7 Michigan
Loyd Davidson Son Male 6 Michigan
Harry Davidson Son Male 1 Michigan
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United States Census, 1930
Felch, Dickinson, Michigan, United States
John Davidson. Age: 65. Married. Immigration 1890
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Davidson Head Male 65 Finland
Johanna M Davidson Wife Female 57 Finland
Irene Davidson Daughter Female 33 Michigan
Runard Davidson Son Male 23 Michigan
Lyle Davidson Son Male 18 Michigan
Lloyd Davidson Son Male 16 Michigan
Harry Davidson Son Male 11 Michigan
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United States Census, 1940
Felch Township, Dickinson, Michigan, United States
John Davidson. Age: 75. Married
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Davidson Head Male 75 Finland
Mary Davidson Wife Female 67 Finland
Irene Davidson Daughter Female 43 Michigan
Runard Davidson Son Male 34 Michigan
Lyle Davidson Son Male 28 Michigan
Lloyd Davidson Son Male 25 Michigan
Harry Davidson Son Male 21 Michigan
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METROPOLITAN COUPLE OBSERVE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Mr. & Mrs. John Davidson were guests of honor at a program & supper Sunday evening in Zion Lutheran Church, Metropolitan, on their golden wedding anniversary.
Six of the 8 children were present. Their 2 sons in the United States Armed Forces were unable to attend.
(Wednesday, July 7, 1943, The Daily News, Iron Mountain, Dickinson, Michigan.)
The complete article can be found in the above newspaper at the Dickinson County Library, Iron Mountain, Michigan.
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death
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Mr. & Mrs. John Davidson, Metropolitan, had 2 sons in the Army: Sgt. Runard in the Medical Corps & Pvt. Lyle, Infantry, awaiting traveling orders for overseas.
(October 27, 1943, The Iron Mountain Daily newspaper, Dickinson, Michigan.)
[Researched by klh]