Matt & Maria met at the Erik Skog boarding house where she worked. Maria had also come from Jeppo. They were married June 9, 1893 by a Lutheran minister in Escanaba, Delta, Michigan. They are the parents of 9 children: Esther, Olga, Sida, Edith, Emelia, William, Alma, Fred & Gilbert & Ruth (a foster daughter who joined the family at 4 days old). They attended school in in what became the old Metropolitan Community Hall, which was the 1st Standard Elementary School in Michigan.

More of this family can be found in the Felch Centennial Book: 1878-1978

A LAMP EXPLODED

Mrs. Matt Johnson, West Metropolitan, May Die from Burns.

One of the saddest accidents that has ever happened in this village took place last Wednesday evening at the home of Matt Johnson, at West Metropolitan. Mrs. Johnson was preparing to retire for the evening, and was going to extinguish a hanging lamp in the dining room, and as she was in the act of pulling it down, it exploded above her head, setting her clothing on fire. She screamed for help and her oldest daughter, Esther, who was upstairs in bed, ran to her mother's assistance and wrapped her in a carpet and extinguished the flames. Mrs. Johnson, however, was badly burned about the chest, face and head and she is in a precarious condition at this writing and her recovery is doubtful. Iron Mountain Press, Iron Mountain, Dickinson County, Michigan, Volume 14, Number 28 [Thursday, December 2, 1909], page 3, column 1

MRS. MARY JOHNSON

Mrs. Johnson, aged 59 years, was found dead in her bed this morning in Metropolitan. Death was thought to have resulted from heart trouble, from which she is said to have suffered at intervals for several years. Beside her husband, Matt, she is survived by 8 children: Esther, Olga, Ruth, Enella, William, Elmer, Fred & Gilbert. One sisters & 4 brothers also survive. (Friday, May 21, 1926, Iron Mountain Press newspaper, Dickinson, Michigan.). The complete article can be found in the above newspaper at the Dickinson County Library, Iron Mountain, Michigan.

Michigan State Census, 1894

Felch, Dickinson, Michigan

Mary Johnson Birth [abt] 1868 Age 26

Relationship to Head of Household Wife

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Matt Johnson Husband Male 24

Mary Johnson Wife Female 26

Erick Johnson Boarder Male 22

Matt Anderson Boarder Male 28

Erick Anderson Boarder Male 21

Erick Hegstrom Boarder Male 35

Andrew Slauger Boarder Male 23

Andrew Steman Boarder Male 22

Erick Backlund Boarder Male 24

John Westerland Boarder Male 26

John Johnson Boarder Male 55

Andrew Larson Boarder Male 23

John Leif Boarder Male 24

Matt Mattson Boarder Male 22

William Aullerson Boarder Male 17

Fred Aullerson Boarder Male 14

Sana Aullerson Servant Female 22

United States Census, 1900

Felch township, Dickinson, Michigan

Mary Johnson Race White Age 37 Married

Number of Living Children 4

Relationship to Head of Household Wife

Mother of how many children 4

Birth Apr 1863 Birthplace Finland

Marriage 1893 Immigration 1891

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Matt Johnson Head Male 29 Finland

Mary Johnson Wife Female 37 Finland

Ester L Johnson Daughter Female 6 Michigan

Olga G Johnson Daughter Female 4 Michigan

Sida S Johnson Daughter Female 3 Michigan

Edith S Johnson Daughter Female 1 Michigan

John Westerland Boarder Male 32 Finland

United States Census, 1910

Felch, Dickinson, Michigan

Marie Johnson Age 42 Married

Relationship to Head of Household Wife

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Matt Johnson Head Male 39 Finland

Marie Johnson Wife Female 42 Finland

Ester Johnson Daughter Female 15 Michigan

Olga Johnson Daughter Female 14 Michigan

Sida Johnson Daughter Female 13 Michigan

Edith Johnson Daughter Female 11 Michigan

Emilie Johnson Daughter Female 8 Michigan

Willie Johnson Son Male 6 Michigan

Allma Johnson Daughter Female 4 Michigan

Freddie Johnson Son Male 2 Michigan

Gilbert Johnson Son Male 0 Michigan

Matt Anderson Boarder Male 45 Finland

Victor Johnson Boarder Male 22 Finland

United States Census, 1920

Dickinson, Michigan

Mary Johnson Age 52 Married

Relationship to Head of Household Wife

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Matt Johnson Head Male 49 Finland

Mary Johnson Wife Female 52 Finland

Emelia Johnson Daughter Female 18 Michigan

William Johnson Son Male 16 Michigan

Alma Johnson Daughter Female 14 Michigan

Fredrick Johnson Son Male 12 Michigan

Gilbert Johnson Son Male 9 Michigan

Ruth Johnson Adopted daughter Female 1 Michigan

[Researched by Karlene L Hall]