Fred Emerson Sawyer

My maternal grandfather was Fred Emerson Sawyer born 02 July 1891 in Holliston, Middlesex, Massachusetts, and died  03 APR 1978 in Kezar Falls, York, Maine. When Fred Emerson Sawyer was born his father, Edgar  H Sawyer, was 35 and his mother, Jennie Jane L Emerson, was 36. He married Georgiena Elizabeth Waitt and they had four children together. He then married Marion Helen Hunger on January 1, 1946, in Wiscasset, Maine. He died on April 3, 1978, in York, Maine, at the age of 86.

1891 Fred Emerson Sawyer was born on July 2, 1891, in Holliston, Massachusetts, to Jennie Jane L Emerson, age 36, and Edgar H Sawyer, age 35.

1900 on the 1900 Holliston, Middlesex, Massachusetts census Fred was 9 years old. The family lived on Woodland Street in Holliston and his father was listed as a fireman. The census listed: Edgar H Sawyer age 44, Jennie Sawyer age 45, Charles S Sawyer age 17, Justus W Sawyer age 14, Fred E Sawyer age 8.

1910 at the age of 19 the 1910 census showed Fred as a hired man doing general farm work in Sherborn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, at the home of Leslie Phillbrook on Western Ave in Sherborn.

1913 at the age of 22, Fred married Georgiena Elizabeth Waitt in Wellesley, Massachusetts, on October 20, 1913.

1914 was the year that Fred and Georgiena's son, Howard Henry Sawyer, was born on July 1, 1914, in Lexington, Massachusetts.

1915 at the age of 24, Freds brother Perley Howard Sawyer died on July 2, 1915, in Oxford, Massachusetts.

1917 at the age of 26, Fred filed his WWI draft card. At this time he was living on St Margarets Ave in Lexington, Mass. He is married and working as a driver for A.G. Davis in Lexington.

1918 Fred was listed in the Lexington, Mass, directory as:  Sawyer Fred E clerk, h St Margarets av

1920 the census shows  they are still living on St Margarets Ave in Lexington and that his occupation  yard brakeman at a steam railroad and they own their home which is mortgaged. The listing shows: Fred E Sawyer age 27, Georgina E Sawyer age 26, Howard H Sawyer age 5, Mary Waitt (Georgiena's mother) age 55

1922 at the age of 30, Fred's daughter, Georgiena Freda Sawyer,  was born on January 22, 1922, in Massachusetts. 1922 was also the year that Fred's father, Edgar H Sawyer,  passed away on March 31, 1922, in Holliston, Massachusetts, at the age of 66. The 1922 directory listing shows:
Sawyer Fred E (Georgiana E), lineman, h St Margarets av & another listing for Georgiena E Mrs, bkpr Hertt W Lawrence 449 Mass av, h St Margaret av

1923 at the age of 31 Fred's mother, Jennie Jane L Emerson Sawyer passed away on April 1, 1923, in Westborough, Massachusetts, at the age of 68. Also on April 9, 1923, Fred joined the Simon W Robinson Mason Lodge as a Chauffeur ,

1926 They moved to Woodland Rd in Lexington some time before the directory was printed. Fred is listed in the 1926 Lexington, Mass, directory as:
Sawyer Fred E. (Georgiana E.) express, res Woodland rd & Georgiena E. Mrs. 449 Mass Av, res Woodland rd

1927 at the age of 36 Fred's daughter, Mary Ellen Martha Sawyer, was born on November 11, 1927, in Arlington, Massachusetts.

1928 The Lexington, Mass directory listed Fred as the proprietor of Sawyers Lexington & Boston Motor Express:
Sawyer Fred E. (Georgiana E.) prop Sawyer's Lexington & Boston Motor Express, res 34 Woodland rd (1202)

1930 the Lexington, Massachusetts, census showed:
Age: 39; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head

Birth of Daughter
His daughter Frances Eleanor was born in 1930 in Lexington, Massachusetts.

1932 Residence
Fred Emerson Sawyer lived in Lexington, Massachusetts, in 1932.
Directory listing: Sawyer Fred E. (Georgiana E.) fireman, res 34 Woodland Rd

1934 Residence
Fred Emerson Sawyer lived in Lexington, Massachusetts, in 1934.
directory listing: Sawyer Fred E. (Georgiana E.) fireman res 34 Woodland rd (1202-W) & Sawyer Howard H. trucking, same res

1936 Death of Wife
His wife Georgiena Elizabeth Waitt (1894–1936) passed away on November 13, 1936, in Norfolk, Massachusetts, at the age of 42. They had been married 23 years.

1941 Residence
Fred Emerson Sawyer lived in Lexington, Massachusetts, on June 18, 1941.
SS5 form gives his occupation as fireman and his address as 1006 Mass av which is said to be the Fire Dept

1941 Residence
Fred Emerson Sawyer lived in Henniker, New Hampshire, in July 1941.
some time between Jun 1941 & Apr 1942 he moved to Derry NH (short stay) and then to Henniker NH with his daughters. 

1942 Residence
Fred Emerson Sawyer lived in Henniker, New Hampshire, on April 27, 1942.
Age: 51; WWII Draft Fred res Mass Ave Lexington is cross off, above name is Henniker, NH - Directory listing: Sawyer Fred E. Fireman L F D res 1006 Mass av (he was living at fire dept, "dept consists of 15 permanent & 6 call men)

1946 Marriage
Fred Emerson Sawyer married Marion Helen Hunger (1890–1976) in Wiscasset, Maine, on January 1, 1946, when he was 54 years old.

1946 Residence
Fred Emerson Sawyer lived in Wiscasset, Maine, on January 1, 1946.

1947 Death of Brother
His brother Justus Wilson Sawyer (1886–1947) died on March 30, 1947, in Holliston, Massachusetts, when Fred Emerson was 55 years old.

1947 Residence
Fred Emerson Sawyer lived in Brownfield, Maine, on July 1, 1947.
Portland Press Herald Mr and Mrs Fred Sawyer, East Brownfield, entertained their daughter, Mr and Mrs Keith Waning, and Mr Wanings parent, Mr and Mrs Irving Waning, all of Newcastle Sunday. Their grandmother Linda Waning will remain with them several days.

1947 Maine Fires
Their farm in Brownfield burnt during the 1947 fires and they moved to Hiram. Read about the fires here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fires_of_1947 - Portland Press Herald 13 Oct 1947

1948 Residence
Fred Emerson Sawyer lived in Hiram, Maine, on January 16, 1948.
Portland Press Herald 16 Jan 1948 - East Hiram - Allen Merritt (from Welland Mass) has been visiting Mr & Mrs Fred Sawyer.

1954 Death of Sister
His sister Nellie Augusta Sawyer (1875–1954) died on July 11, 1954, in Martinez, California, when Fred Emerson was 63 years old.

1954 Residence
Fred Emerson Sawyer lived in Laconia, New Hampshire, in 1954.
Meredith Center Road - N H Humane Society - Sawyer Fred E (Marion H) (Fred ran the Humane bldg - next door lived Fred's daug Waning Keith U (Frances E)

1955 Residence
Fred Emerson Sawyer lived in Laconia, New Hampshire, in 1955.
Directory Listing: 

Sawyer Fred E (Marion H) acting agt N H Humane Society h Meredith Center rd RD3

1956 Residence
Fred Emerson Sawyer lived in Laconia, New Hampshire, in 1956.
Directory Listing: Sawyer Fred E (Marion H) acting agt N H Humane Society and lawn work Meredith Center rd RD3 h do

1957 Residence
Fred in California
1957 -1961 • California, USA

1973
Death of Daughter
His daughter Frances Eleanor Sawyer (1930–1973) passed away on March 31, 1973, in Portland, Maine, at the age of 43.

1976 Death of Wife(1890–1976)
His wife Marion Helen Hunger  passed away on November 15, 1976, in Limington, Maine, at the age of 85. They had been married 30 years.

1978 Death
Fred Emerson Sawyer died on April 3, 1978, in Kezar Falls, York, Maine, when he was 86 years old.

Margaret Katherine Devine

My paternal grandmother was Margaret Katherine Devine, 1889-1947. When Margaret Katherine Devine was born on June 16, 1889, in Cornish, Maine, her father, George William Devine, was 21, and her mother, Sadie Annie Witham, was 19. She died on May 26, 1947, in Newfield, Maine, at the age of 57, and was buried in York, Maine.

1889  Margaret Katherine Devine was born on June 16, 1889, in Cornish, Maine, to Sadie Annie Witham, age 19, and George William Devine, age 21.

1891 Margaret was 2 years old when her brother  William Walter/Winfield Devine was born on August 25, 1891, in Cornish, Maine.

1894  Margaret was 2 years old when her brother   George Witham William was born on May 3, 1894, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.

1896 Margaret was 7 years old when her brother Frank Luther Devine was born on October 8, 1896, in Cornish, Maine.

1898 Margaret was 9 years old when her half-brother Perley Alfred Archibald was born on December 28, 1898, in Cornish, Maine.

1900 at the age of 11 Margaret was listed on the 1900 census with her mother, Sadie, and her brothers. But her father George Devine was not listed. Sadie was listed as married 13 years making the year she married George Devine 1887, which is estimated because the actual year was 1888.. All the children, including Perlie, are listed as Devine. There is also a Lewis Cook, age 52, living with them as a boarder. In August of 1900 this Lewis Cook married Hannah Lowell the daughter of Oliver Lowell and Deborah Sargent.

1901 at the age of 12 Margaret was adopted by Daniel C Westcott & Hattie Louisa Cobb from Rutland County, Vermont. This information was a family rumor but her 1907 marriage to Frank Fischer confirmed this information. See image below. Margarets mother, Sadie, remarried in March 1901 to Horatio Tripp, they married in Effingham NH and the marriage records states that Sadie was divorced. When Margarets father, George Devine, left the family her mother could not afford to raise the children so they were either boarded out or adopted.

1902 Margarets mother, Sadie, gave birth to Margarets half brother, Harold J Tripp who was born on April 18, 1902, in Porter, Maine.

1904 at the age of 15, Margarets mother, Sadie, gave birth to Margarets half sister Nina M Tripp who was born on September 11, 1904.

1907 at the age of 17 Margarets mother, Sadie, gave birth to Margarets half Angeline Marguerite Tripp who was born on March 5, 1907, in Cornish, Maine. Also in 1907 Margaret married Frank Eugene Fischer in Pittsford, Vermont, on September 14, 1907, when she was 18 years old. Her marriage record shows the adopted parents Dan C Westcott & Hattie Louise Cobb but also shows she was born in Maine. Some of Margarets records refer to her as Wescott/Westcott & some as Devine.

1908 at the age of 19 Margaret gives birth to her aughter Margaret Augusta Fisher/Fischer who  was born on August 5, 1908, in Shrewsbury, Vermont.

1909 Margarets mother, Sadie, gave birth to Margarets half sister Luella Louella M Tripp who was born on July 13, 1909, in Parsonsfield, Maine.

1910 at the age of 21 Margaret gives birth to her son Frank who was born on April 8, 1910, in Brandon, Vermont. Also in 1910 Margaret and Frank Fischer are listed on the census as Frank Fisher age 25, Margaret Fisher age 24, Margaret Fisher age 3, Frank Fisher age 0. It is very common for ages to vary on the census's, this one gives Margarets age as 24.

1911 at the age of 22 Margarets mother, Sadie, gave birth to Margarets half brother Eugene Lowell Tripp who was born on November 1, 1911, in Parsonsfield, Maine.

1913 at age 24 Margaret Katherine Devine lived in Rutland, Vermont, NOT sure is Margaret, she married Frank 1907, affair with Carlton Craig Pease 1914, & married Herman 1915,
directory Listings are:
#1 Fischer, Margaret, teller Trust Co., Proctor
#2 Fischer, Frank, Mrs., bds 39 Grant av

1914 at age 25 Margaret had a affair with Carlton Craig Pease and gave birth to her son Carlton Rockwood born Pease but later took name Johnson, was born on July 16, 1914, in Pittsford, Vermont.
Carlton's birth record lists both names and stated that Margaret was born in Cornish, Maine. She never married Carlton Pease.

1915 Margaret Katherine Devine married Herman August Johnson in Portland, Maine, on April 6, 1915. Hermans residence is listed on record as Worcester Mass but I have not found him in the directories there. Intention filed March 30, 1915, Married by C.H. Davis res Portland, married in Portland.

1916 at the age of 27 Margaret and Herman moved to Vermont, possibly to be closer to her adoptive parents. Margarets daughter Irene Dictoria Johnson was born on February 12, 1916, in Woodstock, Vermont.

1917 at the age of 28 Margarets son Richard Frantz Johnson was born on October 19, 1917, in Woodstock, Vermont.

1920 at the age of 31 Margaret and Herman had moved to Boston, Massachusetts, area. They are listed on the 1920 Boston Ward 11, Suffolk, Massachusetts, census. Herman is listed as a baker in a food shop, this is the occupation that he has always been listed as. Herman A Johnson age 30, Margaret Johnson age 29, Margaret Johnson age 11, Carlton Johnson age 5 age Irene Johnson age 4, Richard Johnson age 2, Auburn Johnson age 0 (this Auburn was born in 1919 and died in 1921).

1922 Margaret gave birth to a son Francis Herman Alburn August Johnson who was born on January 16, 1922, in Jamaica Plain,  Boston, Massachusetts.

1927 was the year that Margarets adopted mother,  Hattie Louisa Cobb Westcostt,  passed away on June 25, 1927, in Rutland, Vermont, at the age of 66. 1927 is also the year that Margaret gave birth to a son Eugene Curtis Johnson who was born on June 29, 1927, in Parsonsfield, Maine. Eugene is my father and his date of birth and birth place is a sorta mystery because his mother, Margaret, went to the Parsonsfield, Maine, town clerk and filed a late birth certificate so that he, Eugene, could enter the Navy. But they put his birth year as 1926 because he was not old enough. His birth record shows that his mother residence was Eggleston Square, Jamaca Plains, which is in Boston where another son was born. And no address was listed for his father, Herman. Eugenes birth record was filed April 10, 1943. And Herman was long gone by then, more about Herman here.

1928 was the year that Margaret's adopted father, Daniel C Westcott,  passed away on May 3, 1928, in Pittsford, Vermont, at the age of 68.

1930 Margaret and 2 of her children are on the 1930 census living with her half brother Harold Tripp, in Shapleigh, York, Maine, listed as: Harold J Tripp age 28, Margaret C Johnson age 41 widowed, Francis J Johnson age 9 born in Massachusetts, Eugene C Johnson age 2 born in Maine.  On September 26, 1930, Margaret gives birth to another son, William Madison Johnson, in Gorham, Maine.

1935 Margaret lived in Parsonsfield, York, Maine, according to the 1940 census. Again she is listed as widowed and sister to head of househole, Harold Tripp, her half brother.

1947 Margaret Katherine Devine died on May 26, 1947, in Newfield, Maine, when she was 57 years old, and she is buried in North Parsonsfiled. The find-a-grave website listed her death date as 1917 which is very incorrect.

Herman August Johnson

My paternal  grandfather was Herman August Johnson who was born on September 22, 1888, in Nurmes, Ita-Suomen Laani, Finland, the son of Anna C E Strom and Carl J Johnson. He married Margaret Katherine Devine on April 6, 1915, in Portland, Maine.  Hermans parents names may be different for several reasons. First the only source that gives their names is Hermans marriage record to Margaret. Second reason is that on other records Herman is listed as born in Finland and his parents both born in Sweden. Since the name Johnson has several variations in Sweden, and in Finland, it could possibly be Johnsson, Jonsson, Johansson, Johnsson, Johnston, Jonson, Jonsson and many more versions.

Wikipedia says:  ""Johnson is a surname of Danish, English, Scottish and Swedish origin. The name itself is a patronym of the given name John, literally meaning "son of John". " and "The name has been extremely popular in Europe since the Christian era as a result of it being given to St John the Baptist, St John the Evangelist and nearly one thousand other Christian saints. Johnson is the ninth most common surname in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia, second most common in the United States and 154th most common in the world. As a Scottish family name, Johnson is occasionally a variation of Johnston, a habitational name." Read More Here

Herman's death place, date, cause, or burial is not known. He died or disappeared before the 1930 census when he would have been 42 years old, That is when his wife, Margaret, was listed back in Maine living with her half brother. He is one of my brick walls and I hope some day to find that one little piece of information that will help me find his ancestors.

1888 Herman August Johnson was born on September 22, 1888, in Nurmes, Ita-Suomen Laani, Finland. The date and place, Nurmes, is from the WWII draft cards. Nurmes is a town and municipality of Finland. It was located in the former province of Eastern Finland until 2010 and is now in the North Karelia region. Itä-Suomen lääni is also a part of Eastern Finland.

1905 at age 17 Herman arrived in the USA, this year is stated in some sources but no other details are known.

1910 age 22, cannot find Herman on the census, searched both of the directory address, were not on the census, in 1910 was 20 Belmont St (ward 2, ed 1858) and in 1911 was 6 Newport St (ward 2, ed 1859). But Herman is listed in the Worcester, Massachusetts, City directory as:  Johnson Herman A baker 15 Pleasant bds 20 Belmont / Walter Clayton Bakery 15 Pleasant h 8 Cottage

1911 age 23 Herman is listed in the Worcester, Massachusett directory as: Johnson Herman A baker 15 Pleasant bds 6 Newport

1912 age 24 cannot find Herman. The Clayton Bakery was sold in 1911,  and the 1912 directory showed Zaeder Julius C & Co (F.J. Zaeder) Zaeder's Cafe at 15 Pleasant, h 73 Merrick, NO sign of Herman until 1915 marriage.

1915 at the age of 26 Herman married Margaret Katherine Devine in Portland, Maine, on April 6, 1915.  Their marriage record shows his parents as both deceased. Showed his father was  Carl J  Johnson and his mother was Anna C/E Strom. Herman also listed his place of residence as Worcester Mass but I have not found him in the directories there. Marriage intention was filed March 30, 1915, married by C.H. Davis res Portland, married in Portland.

1916 at the age of 27 Hermans daughter Irene Dictoria was born on February 12, 1916, in Woodstock, Vermont.

1917 at the age of 27 Herman filled out the WWII Draft Registration listing his residence as Woodstock, Vermont, and his relative as his wife & 3 children, states that he was born 22 Sep 1888 Finland, is employed as a baker at EC MacFarland in Woodstock VT.

1917 at the age of 29 Hermans son Richard Frantz was born on October 19, 1917, in Woodstock, Vermont.

1920 at the age of 32 Herman and the family had moved to Massachusetts. They were listed on the  Boston Ward 11, Suffolk, Massachusetts census at 156 East Cottage St; the census shows 5 children using the last name Johnson: Margaret (born Fischer), Carlton (born Pease), Irene, Richard, Auburn (last 3 are Johnson). (Margaret and Carlton will be listed under their mothers post).
1920 was also the year their son  Herman Auburn was born, this child died in 1921.

1921 at the age of 33 Herman was listed in the Boston, Massachusetts, directory as:  Johnson Herman A baker h 12 Wait Rox (Roxbury)

1922 at the age of 33 Hermans son Francis Herman Alburn August was born on January 16, 1922, in Boston, Massachusetts. He is also listed in the Boston, Massachusetts, directory as: Johnson Herman baker h 3144a Wash J P (Jamaica Plains) (in 1918 there was a Pratt Bread Company at 3190 Washington St)

1924 at the age of 36 Herman is listed in the Boston, Massachusetts, as: Johnson Herman A baker h 22 Southern av Dor (probably means Dorchester)

1926 at the age of 38 Herman is now missing. His son, Eugenes, birth record that was filed late states that his mother, Margaret, lived in Egleston Square (intersection of Columbus Avenue and Washington Street at the border between Jamaica Plain and Roxbury) Jamaica Plains but I am confused over this because her residence should have said Maine. 

1930 Hermans wife and children are listed on the Maine census, Margaret is listed as Widowed which leads me to believe that Herman died between 1926 and 1929.

Ellen Sawyer

My mother was Mary Ellen Martha Sawyer who was born on November 11, 1927, in Arlington, Massachusetts, her father, Fred Emerson Sawyer, was 36, and her mother, Georgiena Elizabeth Waitt, was 33. Ellen died on May 10, 2017, in Portland, Maine, at the age of 89.

1930 at age 2 5/12 Ellen is listed on the census in Lexington, Middlesex, Massachusetts, with her family including: F E Sawyer age 39, Georgien Sawyer age 36, Howard H Sawyer age 16, Georgien F Sawyer age 8, Mary E Sawyer age 2. This is also the year that Ellens younger sister, Frances, was born after the census was taken.

1935 Ellens family is still living in Lexington, Middlesex, Massachusetts, per the 1940 census.
Photo of Ellen and Frances in Plum Island approximate date around 1935

1936 at age 9 Ellens mother,Georgiena Elizabeth passed away on November 13, 1936, in Norfolk, Massachusetts, at the age of 42. The photo below is not known when it was taken but was probably around 1936-1938, it is all 3 of the girls, Freda, Ellen and Frances camping.

1940 at the age of 12 Ellen and her sister Frances were listed on the census as a lodger with the Hargess family. Her older sister Freda was listed as a maid.  After their mother died Mary & Frances were boarded out & Freda worked as a maid while Fred worked long hours at the Lexington Fire Dept and spent every weekend or days off with the girls.

1942, approximate date, Ellen on a pony in Heniker, NH. Some time between Jun 1941 & Apr 1942 Fred moved to Derry, NH (that was a short stay) and then he moved to Henniker NH with his daughters. This pic is of Ellen in Henniker on a pony.

1945, actual date unknown, but Ellen was a teenager in this photo

1947 at age 20 Ellen gave birth to her 1st child a daughter.

1949 at age 22 Ellen married Eugene Curtis Johnson in Limerick, Maine, in November 1949.

1950 at age 22 Ellen gave birth to her 2nd child a daughter.

1951 at age 23 Ellen gave birth to her 3rd child a son.

1953 (approximate date) Ellen and her first 3 children at York Beach

1953 at age 26 Ellen gave birth to her 4th child a daughter.

1960 Ellen gave birth to her 5th child a son.

1973 at age 45, Ellens sister Frances Eleanor died on March 31, 1973, in Portland, Maine.

1978 at age 50 Ellens father Fred Emerson Sawyer passed away on April 3, 1978, in York, Maine, at the age of 86.

1986 at age 58 Ellens brother Howard Henry died on September 6, 1986, in Westborough, Massachusetts.

1987 at age 59 Ellens ex-husband Eugene Curtis Johnson passed away on August 5, 1987, in Meredith, New Hampshire, at the age of 60.

2006 at age 78 Ellens sister Georgiena Freda died on September 14, 2006, in Conway, New Hampshire.

2017 at age 89 on 10 May 2017 Mary Ellen Martha Sawyer died in Portland, Maine

Eugene C Johnson

My father, Eugene Curtis Johnson, was born on June 29, 1927, in Parsonsfield, Maine, his father, Herman August Johnson, was 38 and his mother, Margaret Katherine Devine, was 38. Eugene  married 3 times and had several children. He died on August 5, 1987, in Meredith, New Hampshire, at the age of 60.

Eugene Curtis Johnson was born on June 29, 1927, in Parsonsfield, Maine, to Margaret Katherine Devine, age 38, and Herman August Johnson, age 38. His birth certificate gives his date of birth as June 29, 1926, in Parsonsfield, Maine. But my mother, Ellen, his death record & the 1940 census give his year of birth as 1927. It is said that Eugene wanted to go into the Navy but he was 1 year too young so Margaret went to the Parsonsfield Town Hall to register his birth and lied about the date to make him old enough to join the Navy. His birth was not recorded at the time of his birth.

The death of his father, Herman August Johnson, is not known but all other records lead us to believe that his death was between 1924 and 1929. More about Herman in another post.

The 1930 Shapleigh, Maine, census was taken April 7-10. Eugenes brother, Francis, was listed as born in Massachusetts and Eugene was listed as age 2 years and 9 months old and born in Maine. Both brothers fathers birthplace is listed as Finland. According to this census Margaret moved to Maine from Massachusetts before June 1927. on the 1930 census Margaret only had 2 sons living with her, Francis and Eugene. Her other children were:
* Carl was listed on the Levant, Maine, census as age 16 and a helper at the residence of Daniel & Cynthia Watson.
* Irene was listed on the Levant, Maine, census as age 14 and a foster child to Amos & Minnie Adams.
* Richard was listed on the Levant, Maine, census as age 13 and a foster child of Evie Taylor. Also living with Evie was her sister Nellie Lufkin. Evie was Eveline M Lufkin born 1871 in South Levant, Maine, and she married Elmer Taylor. Evie and Elmer were the adopted parents of Frank Devine, Margarets brother. This shows the connection between the families in Levant and Margaret Devine, Eugenes mother.
* William Madison Johnson was listed with Margaret, Eugene and Harold Tripp on the 1940 Parsonsfield, Maine census. William was born in 1930 after that census and a social security applications listed his father as Herman Johnson but that is almost proven not true.

In 1935 they were living in Parsonsfield Maine, per the 1940 census. I have heard that he was raised on Milliken Rd off Middle Rd in Parsonsfield but neither census lists streets.

In 1940 Eugene was 12 years old on the 1940 Parsonsfield, Maine census.  He is listed as Harold Tripp's nephew, and Harold was a half brother to Margaret. I have also been told that his teacher was Edith Smith who is on page 6 of the 1940 census and he on page 7. Edith was the wife to Raymond Smith. Raymond Ven Smith was well known all over Maine, he was a musician and played everywhere. This is probably where my father learned to play the guitar. I remember him playing the steel guitar for us when we were little.

**** obituary for son of Raymond Ven Smith
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87168314/raymond-r-smith
Mr. Smith learned his many musical skills while playing with The Singing Smiths, a group led by his father, R. Ven Smith. That group also included Mr. Smith's brother and two sisters. He started in the band at age 4. "He could play a little drum and his father played a big one," said his wife, Nancy Fadden Smith. "They entertained all over New England. He was a drummer plus a singer."
The band performed at churches, Granges, weddings and anniversaries, and specialized in country music and popular songs.
Later, Mr. Smith formed his own dance band. The Ray Smith Orchestra, and they played at Saturday night dances and at weddings. His oldest son, Gary, played guitar. In recent years, Mr. Smith taught himself to play the musical saw and the vibraharp and he gave demonstrations on old-time folk music. "He played his father's fishbox fiddle and the pitchfork," said his wife. "Another guy played the dishpan banjo that belonged to his father."

Below is a newspaper article about the Smith family.
Clipped from The Progress-Index, 26 Apr 1956, Thu, Page 2, image from newspapers.com
I have a subscription to this newspaper website and I have spent years reading thru the old newspapers.  It is a great site for genealogy information. The article tells how Ven Smith makes musical instruments out of discarded tin cans, mild cans, chopping trays, pans, wooden boxes, lard Kegs. "There's music all around us if we'd listen for it," he says. "There's music when a hammer hits a nail, when two stones are struck together."

1944-1946 Eugene Curtis Johnson served in the Navy during World War II. Eugene Curtis Johnson Sr enlisted in the Navy on April 13, 1944. After boot camp he reported on May 27th, 1944, to USNCTC, Davisville, R.I., then transfered on July 1, 1944, to the 114th Naval Construction Battalion. He was only 17 but he enlisted with a birthdate of 1926 which claimed he was 18. He got his Navy Honorable Discharge at US Naval Personnel Separation Center Boston Mass on 10 Feb 1946. I have all of his military papers.

I am not sure when this image was taken but we assume it is after 1946 when he was discharged from the Navy.  But it could have also been long after that because I do remember him having a motorcycle when I was about 3 years old, and I remember riding with him, my seat was in front of him on the gas tank, and I remember holding his arms tightly.

1946 Eugene married Barbara Briggs in Maine on September 4, 1946, when he was 19 years old. His residence was listed as Newfield, ME and Barbara's as Springfield, ME.

In 1947 his mother Margaret Katherine passed away on May 26, 1947, in Newfield, Maine, at the age of 57. She was born in Cornish Maine in 1889.

In 1949 Eugene  married Mary Ellen Martha Sawyer (my mother) in Limerick, Maine, in November 1949 when he was 22 years old.

In 1958 Eugene was listed in the Portland, Maine directory.
Listing: Johnson Eugene C r 92 State

In 1963 Eugene married Kathleen Rose Harvey in 1963 when he was 36 years old. Kathleen was born in 1943 and died in 2007.

In 1987 Eugene Curtis Johnson died on August 5, 1987, in Meredith, New Hampshire, when he was 60 years old.