Matt J. left his home in Purmo, Finland in December 1886. He celebrated his 16th birthday at sea on

Jan. 16, 1887. He arrived in Metropolitan, Dickinson, Michigan, 30 days later on Feb. 11. His father,

Johan & 2nd wife, arrived several years later. Matt worked in the lumber camps & Metropolitan Lumber Company in Milltown.

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).

Michigan State Census, 1894

Felch, Dickinson, Michigan

Matt Johnson Age 24

Relationship to Head of Household Husband

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

Matt Johnson Age 29 Married Race White

Relationship to Head of Household

Birth Jan 1871 Marriage 1893 Immigration 1886

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

Matt Johnson Age 39 Birth 1871 Married

Relationship to Head of Household Head

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

Matt Johnson Age 49 Birth 1871 Married

Relationship to Head of Household Head

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

United States Census, 1930

Felch, Dickinson, Michigan,

Matt Johnson Age 59 Birth 1871 Widowed

Relationship to Head of Household Head

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Matt Johnson Head Male 59 Finland

William Johnson Son Male 26 Michigan

Alma Johnson Daughter Female 24 Michigan

Gilbert Johnson Son Male 19 Michigan

Ruth Johnson Daughter Female 12 Michigan

United States Census, 1940

Felch Township, Dickinson, Michigan

Matt Johnson Age 69 Widowed

Relationship to Head of Household Head

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

Matt Johnson Head Male 69 Finland

William Johnson Son Male 36 Michigan

Alma Johnson Daughter Female 34 Michigan

Gilbert Johnson Son Male 30 Michigan

Ruth Johnson Uncle Male 21 Michigan

Michigan Death Records

County Dickinson City Iron Mountain

Matt Johnson Birth 1871 Age 76

Death Aug 2 1947

Father John Kroonquist

[Researched by Karlene L Hall ]