Ralph Raphael (Douyette) Johnson (abt. 1876)

Born about 1876 in Canada [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Gertrude (Selres) Cator — married 3 Jun 1900 in Clark County, Wisconsin, USA

Husband of Claire (McElroy) Borgerson — married 9 Jul 1912 in Minnehaha, Clark County, WA

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Karin Borgerson [send private message]

Biography

This is a tale of two men, identities linked by DNA.

Ralph Douyette was born in Canada around 1876. He married Estella Douyette and had several children. In 1905, they were living on the farm of his father, Moses Douyette.

Other researchers (sources coming soon if I get their collaboration here or permission to share documents they've posted elsewhere) indicate that he left is family seeking work in 1909. The trail went cold.

"John Raphael Johnson" was born around 1880 in Houghton, MI, according to his son's birth certificate.

On 9 July 1912, he married Claire McElroy in Minnehaha, Clarke County, WA, USA. Witnesses were Ben Smith and Dolla Hathaway. Bride and groom were both residents of Wahkiakum County, Washington, USA.

On 12 October 1915, their son Raymond Willard Johnson was born in Cathlamet, Wahkiakum County, Washington, USA. At this time, John was working as a blacksmith.

Birth

Date:

abt 1876^[1]

abt 1880^[2]

Place:

Canada^[1][3]

Houghton, MI^[2]

Residence

1905: Lived in Breed, Oconto County, Wisconsin. Household members: Mose Douyette (head, white, male, 60, widowed), Ralph Douyette (son, white, male, 29, married), Estella Douyette (daughter-in-law, white, female, 24, married), Arthur Douyette (grandson, white, male, 4, single), Beatrice Douyette (granddaughter, white, female, 2, single), Peter Douyette (son, white, male, 21, single). Home was owned, with mortgage, and was a farm.^[1]

1910: Unknown

Census districts checked where he is NOT listed:

Enumeration District 313, Cathlamet, Wahkiakum County, WA.^[4]

1912: Wahkiakum County,WA, per his marriage certificate.^[5]

1915: Cathlamet, Wahkiakum County,WA, per Raymond Willard Johnson birth certificate.^[2]

Education/Language/Literacy

Mother tongue is English.^[3]

Marriages

On 3 Jun 1900, married Gertie Selres in Clark County, WI.^[6]

On 9 July 1912, J.R. Johnson and Claire McElroy were married in Minnehaha, Clarke County, Washington, USA. Marriage was performed by W.R. Wilson, Justice of the Peace. Witnesses were Ben Smith and Dolla Hathaway.^[5]

Occupation

1905: Blacksmith, 8 months of employment listed.^[1]

1915: Blacksmith^[2]

Puzzles

When did he die? I have not been able to find his WWI draft record, nor an entry in 1920 census. Claire McElroy re-married Peter Borgerson (both sons took his name) by the mid-20s.

A newspaper index shows an obituary in the Columbia River Sun for a John Johnson published on October 21, 1915.^[7] Review of Washington State death certificates indicates that a John Lars Johnson died in Cathlamet, WA on 20 October 1915.^[8] This does not appear to be John Raphael Johnson.

Two local newspaper indexes show obituaries of a John Johnson published 5 April 1923.^[7][9] A search of death certificates turns up a John H. Johnson, born about 1848, died 3 April 1923 in Skamkawa (sic), Washington.^[10]. Again, this does not appear to be the John Johnson who is the subject of this profile.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} "Wisconsin State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM3G-RXM : 14 November 2014), Ralph Douyette in household of Mose Douyette, Breed, Oconto, Wisconsin; citing p. 27, line 19, State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,020,979.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Raymond Willard Johnson Certificate of Birth, Washington State Board of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Record # 49, File #19319, Registered #39. See copy attached to this profile provided to Karin Borgerson by Raymond's son.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} 1920 census for children from his first marriage: "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFKH-C93 : 14 December 2015), Arthur Douyette in household of Charley Cator, Minocqua, Oneida, Wisconsin, United States; citing sheet 8A, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,822,008.
4. ↑ Ancestry.com, "1910 United States Federal Census 1910," database, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7884: accessed 11 February 2017), District 0313, Cathlamet, Wahkiakum County, Washington State.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Title: Washington, Marriage Records, 1865-2004 Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. (Original data: Washington State Archives. Olympia, Washington: Washington State Archives.)
6. ↑ "Wisconsin, County Marriages, 1836-1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRL9-8ZB : 3 June 2016), Ralph Douyette and Gertie Selres, 03 Jun 1900; citing , Clark, Wisconsin, United States, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,275,880.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Irene Martin, editor, Index to the Frankfort Chronicle (1892) Columbia River Sun (1905-1938) (Skamokawa, Washington: Skamokawa Community Libary, 1984), 35.
8. ↑ "Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3LK-8QH : 5 December 2014), John Lars Johnson, 20 Oct 1915; citing Cathlamet, Wahkiakum, Washington, reference 10090, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 1,992,324.
9. ↑ Irene Martin, editor, Index to the Grays River Bulder (1936-1944) Skamokawa Eagle (1899-1934) Skamokawa, Washiington: Skamokawa Community Library, 1983), 6.
10. ↑ "Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3GV-RR8 : 5 December 2014), John H. Johnson, 03 Apr 1923; citing Skamkawa, Wahkiakium, Washington, reference 10, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 1,992,973.