Johan August Johansson Torup/Halland-Des Moines/USA

[Stefan Lejon]

Hello
 
1922 my grandmothers uncle, Johan August Johansson, emigrated to U.S.A. He was borned in Torup (Halland) 1898-10-04. With his wife Ragna he got at least one son, Carl Marvin (b. 1928-09-26?). From a letter to Sweden from the 1940's there is an address to him;  
 
John Johnson
906-Marton ave
Des Moines 16 Iowa
 
John Johnson is probably Johan August Johanssons new name. Could anyone help me get information how I best can get in contact with Johan August Johanssons children or grandchildren, I would be grateful.
 
Best regards Stefan Lejon

[Jan Ek (Janek)]

Stefan,
 
The family is found on the address in the US census 1930 (ED 61, p 18B), but the street name is most likely MOrton Ave, not Marton.
 
John A Johnson 31, carpenter, immigration 1922. Wife Ragna M 38, born in Pennsylvania by Swedish parents. Son Marvin K 4 y 3 mo (2 mo?). House is owned and valued to 3600 dollars.
 
The only thing conflicting with your records would be the sons age, this census suggest he is born sometime early 1926. What source is your birthdate from?
 
If we guess Marvin stayed on in the house there might be a shortcut for you. If you go to Intelius and enter the address 906 Morton, Des Moines, IA in the address search, two records are returned. Since the ages of the couple living at the address are given as approx 70 and 79 it is my guess it's Marvin and wife. You can buy these two records for $7,95, and you then get the names plus phone number. You can't get it from the phone book, it's probably unlisted.
 
You can also try writing the address and hope you get contact. I think those owning the house today are likely to know something about earlier owners, should it be the wrong people. Todays zipcode is
 
906 MORTON AVE  
DES MOINES, IA 50316-1535
 
Here's a map for the address.
 
Good luck,
Jan

[Kay Engman]

Stefan,
In the U.S. Social Security Death Index, there is only one Ragna Johnson listed as living in Iowa at the time of death:
 
RAGNA M JOHNSON  
born:  07 Jun 1891
died:  07 February 1995
Last residence:  Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Social Security I.D. number:  483-58-5705
 
Is it possible for you to check her birth date in Sweden to see if this is the right Ragna?
Perhaps you could request a copy of her newspaper obituary from the Des Moines city library's newspaper archives.  The website address is:
http://www.pldminfo.org
If you click on Contact us at the top and then click on  Email our Reference Librarians, you can ask them how to get an obituary and if there is a fee. (I have found that some U.S. libraries can email a scan of the obituary - others will transcribe it and send by email.)
The obituary usually tells where the surviving family is living (in 1995).
 
Good luck!
Kay Engman