Melvin Johnson (1877 - 1900)

Born 20 Dec 1877 in Perry Township, Lawrence, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

Died 13 Jan 1900 at age 22 in Sidney, Shelby, Ohio, United States

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Biography

Melvina [sic? Melvin] Johnson was born on 20 Dec 1877 in Perry Township, Ohio to parents Archibald Johnson and Nancy Locke. He died on 13 Jan 1900 in Shelby, Ohio at age 23.

The birth records for Perry Twp., Lawrence County, Ohio recorded the birth of a female child, Melvina Johnston on 20 December 1877. The parents were listed as Archable Johnston and Nancy Lock. ^[1] Unless there was a twin birth^[2] the clerk recorded the sex of the child wrong because in the 1880 census Mels Johnson, a male, was 2 years old and resided with his parents, Archibal and Nancy Johnson, in Perry Twp., Lawrence Co., Ohio^[3] Researcher Jim Bartholomew commented: "Upon close examination of the birth record, it appears there was something erased at the end of the name and the letter “a” was written, perhaps to make it match the sex. Based on the 1880 Census and family recollections, the birth should have been recorded as Male."

The death date, 13 Jan 1900, is NOT recorded in Shelby Co., OH Death Records^[4] so the source of this information is questionable. The Find A Grave record does not have a photo of the tombstone for verification of the death date and no birth date is shown. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003 Lawrence Birth registers 1875-1908 vol 2, p 120 [1]
2. ↑ NOTE: It's possible there was a twin birth and only one child was recorded and one child died and the clerk therefore listed the wrong child who lived. That's pushing it a bit but could be a possibility for the error.
3. ↑ US Census 1880; Perry Twp, Lawrence Co, Ohio; Roll: 1039; Family History Film: 1255039; Page: 263D; Enumeration District: 095; Image: 0521

   Archibal Johnson 43 Head VA Laborer

   Nancy Johnson 40 wife VA

   John H. Johnson 17 son Ohio

   William Johnson 15 son Ohio

   Jesse Johnson 12 son Ohio

   Joseph Johnson 8 son Ohio

   Lindsey Johnson 6 son Ohio

   Edward Johnson 5 son Ohio

   Mels Johnson 2 son Ohio (male)

4. ↑ Shelby Co Ohio Death Records.[2]
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #110954383 Melvin Johnson