The following was written by Lillie Olson regarding her grandparents, Jöns & Johanna Johnson:
"Jöns Johnson was one of the first settlers who came from Sweden while the indians were still here and took a homestead that is now Dahlgren Township, Carver County, Minnesota. Johanna Nord was born in Hallene socken Alvsborg Lan Sweden Feb 12, 1834. She came to America in year 1861. She later married Jöns Johnson who preceeded her in death in 1905 at the age 90 years. Johanna passed away Oct 8, 1912 at age 77 years. She was survivied by two sons and two daughters. Namely, Frank of West Union, Anton E. of Minneapolis, daughter Mrs Anna Olson of West Union, and Mrs. Mary Kraft of Hector, Mn."
The following was written by Lillie Olson regarding her grandparents, Jöns & Johanna Johnson:
"Jöns Johnson was one of the first settlers who came from Sweden while the indians were still here and took a homestead that is now Dahlgren Township, Carver County, Minnesota. Johanna Nord was born in Hallene socken Alvsborg Lan Sweden Feb 12, 1834. She came to America in year 1861. She later married Jöns Johnson who preceeded her in death in 1905 at the age 90 years. Johanna passed away Oct 8, 1912 at age 77 years. She was survivied by two sons and two daughters. Namely, Frank of West Union, Anton E. of Minneapolis, daughter Mrs Anna Olson of West Union, and Mrs. Mary Kraft of Hector, Mn."
Wilbur Williams worked in The Milwaukee Railroad shops as a young man. Later when Grandpa Williams's livery business got to big he went into business with him. Serene his wife ran a neighborhood grocery store. The also added Texaco oil station. She answered the phone for the livery business. This store was located on the corner of 28th. And Cedar. They had a small garage for storing the hearses and cars. It was on Cedar next to the store. Later he bought a garage on the corner of Cedar and Lake Matter of fact it was one door away from the corner. During the depression he could keep his drivers busy when they weren't driving the limousines, they could sell new Hudson cars.
Uncle Wilbur sold out in 1955 and went to CA. He came back to Minneapolis in several years. He told me a man's word in Minneapolis was worth more than a signed contract in CA.
Donald Moore
Serene is a strickingly beautiful woman in all the pictures that survive. My father said that her family origins were Norweigan & she was known as a "black Norwiegan" because of her dark hair and eyes.