Oscar Petrus Johnson

Brief Life History of Oscar Petrus

When Oscar Petrus Johnson was born on 29 June 1893, in Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois, United States, his father, Adolph Alfrid Johnson, was 39 and his mother, Inga Margareta Larsdotter, was 32. He married Jessie Starkey on 12 March 1935. He lived in Clarkston Election Precinct 3, Asotin, Washington, United States in 1940 and Clarkston, Asotin, Washington, United States in 1950. He died on 11 July 1964, at the age of 71.

Photos and Memories (1)

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Family Time Line

Oscar Petrus Johnson
1893–1964
Jessie Starkey
1898–
Marriage: 12 March 1935

Sources (5)

  • Oscar P Johnson, "United States 1950 Census"
  • Oskar Petrus Janson, "Illinois Births and Christenings, 1824-1940"
  • Oscar Peter Johnson, "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942"

Spouse and Children

World Events (8)

1896 · Plessy vs. Ferguson

A landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities if the segregated facilities were equal in quality. It's widely regarded as one of the worst decisions in U.S. Supreme Court history.

1898 · Oregon Historical Society

The Oregon Historical Society was founded on December 17, 1898, for the “collection, preservation, exhibition, and publication of material of a historical character, especially that relating to the history of Oregon and of the United States.” 

1912 · The Girl Scouts

Like the Boy Scouts of America, The Girl Scouts is a youth organization for girls in the United States. Its purpose is to prepare girls to empower themselves and by acquiring practical skills.

Name Meaning

English and Scottish: patronymic from the Middle English and Older Scots personal name Johan, Jo(h)n (see John ) + -son. It was often interchanged with Jenson and Janson . In North America, this surname has absorbed cognates from other languages, e.g. Norwegian, Danish, or North German Johnsen , Johannesen , Johannsen , Johansen , Jansen , Jantzen , and Jensen , Swedish Johnsson (see below), Johansson , Jonsson , and Jansson , Dutch Janssen , German Janz , Czech Jansa 1, and Slovenian Janša (see Jansa 2) and Janežič (see Janezic ). Johnson (including in the sense 2 below) is the second most frequent surname in the US. It is also the second most common surname among Native Americans and a very common surname among African Americans.

Americanized form (and a less common Swedish variant) of Swedish Johnsson: patronymic from the personal name John, a variant of Jon (see John ). Compare 1 above.

History: Surname Johnson was brought independently to North America by many different bearers from the 17th and 18th centuries onward. Andrew Johnson (1808–75), 17th president of the US, was born in Raleigh, NC, the younger son of Jacob Johnson and Mary (or Polly) McDonough. Little is known of his ancestors. The 36th president, Lyndon B. Johnson, dates his American forebears back seven generations to James Johnston (sic) (born c. 1662) who lived at Currowaugh, Nansemond, and Isle of Wight counties, VA. — Noted early bearers also include Marmaduke Johnson (died 1674), a printer who came from England to MA in 1660; Edward Johnson (1598–1672), a colonial chronicler who was baptized at St. George's parish, Canterbury, England, and emigrated to Boston in 1630; and Sir Nathaniel Johnson (c. 1645–1713), a colonial governor of Carolina, who came from County Durham, England.

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

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