Garnet L. (Peterson) Johnson (1909 - 1991)

Born 23 Apr 1909 in Michigan

Ancestors

Wife of Carl Edward Johnson — married 21 Jul 1928 in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, USA [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1991 at age 82 in Kent County, Michigan

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Rick Bowers [send private message] and Debra Wilson [send private message]

Biography

She is the daughter of Harry Peterson and Lizzie Kuhn. ^[1]

No more info is currently available for Garnet Peterson. Can you add to her biography?

Garnet was born in 1909. She passed away in 1991. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Rick Bowers, Oct 16, 2011
2. ↑ Source will be added by Debra Losey by 27 Oct 2020.

• Rick Bowers, firsthand knowledge. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Rick and others.

Garnet L. Peterson was my Grandfather's (Harold J. Peterson's) only sister or sibling. I knew both my Grandmother (Ivell Peterson) and Grandfather very well because I lived with both of them for a number of years.

I only vaguely recall my Grandfather ever mentioning his sister Garnet in my presence. Also, I have no memory at all of my Grandfather ever speaking of his Father, Harry Peterson or his Mother, Lzzie Kuhn.

Right now and with a lot of research under my belt, I have come to believe that Lizzie passed away sometime after the 1910 Federal Census was taken, although I can not prove it at this time. But Lizzie certainly does seem to vanish after that particular census was taken. It was when the 1920 census was taken that Harry was listed as being "Widowed".

Due to the census records that I was able to find online, I am now certain that Garnet went to live with Lizzie's sister, Aleta Kuhn (Rood). What follows here is a lot of records that help support my conclusions.

A couple of weeks ago, I found some very interesting census records while reasearcing Harry, Lizzie and Garnet.

I found a census record listing Harry as being "Widowed" which of course means that a spouse had passed away (meaning Lizzie Kuhn in this case). And then on a later census record I found Harry listed as being "remarried". After that, I found yet another census record with a "Garnet L. Peterson" living with a John and Leta Rood, which turned out to be Garnet's Aunt and Uncle. Aleta (Kuhn) Rood was Lizzie's sister.

So here's what I think happened to both Lizzie and Garnet. I believe now more than ever that Lizzie passed away sometime after the 1910 census was taken as I have indicated prevouisly. Of course if this is what really happened, then Harry would have found himself alone with two young children at home without Lizzie there to help care for either of them.

When the Federal Census was taken in 1910, Lizzie's sister Aleta was already married to a man by the name of John F. Rood. In that year, both John and Aleta were living with Lizzie and Aleta's Mother and Father...John and Louise Kuhn. The place of residence at the time was Casnovia, Muskegon, Michigan.

You will see later that Garnet L. was living with only John Rood and Aleta (Kuhn) Rood when the 1920 Federal Census Record was taken. The place of residence was Newaygo County, Michigan. After that, I can find very little info on Garnet. No record of marriage or the birh of any children.

If Lizzie really did pass away, this would all make pretty good sense. I don't know for certain but I think that Harry may have kept Harold at home at this time thinking that he was old enough to take care of himself while Harry himself was away at work. Harold J. would have been about 15 years old in 1920. Garnet was about 4 years younger and Harry probably would have needed a sitter for her much of the time, something that Harry probabaly couldn't afford. The cure? See if Lizzie's sister Aleta and her husband would be willing to take Garnet in. I think that's exactly what happened. This would give Garnet someone close that could be a mother to her.

First, here is the census record showing Lizzie, Harry, Son Harold J. and Daughter, Garnet L. all living together in Casnovia, Muskegon, Michigan.

United States Census, 1910 for Garnet L Peterson

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MLRV-73R

Name: Garnet L Peterson Birthplace: Michigan Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter Residence: Casnovia, Muskegon, Michigan Marital Status: Single Race : White Gender: Female Immigration Year: Father's Birthplace: Michigan Mother's Birthplace: Wisconsin Family Number: 190 Page Number: 11 Household Gender Age Parent Harry Peterson M 40y Parent Lizzie Peterson F 28y Harold J Peterson M 5y Garnet L Peterson F 1y....D.O.B. 1909.

The next census record shows John Rood and Leta D. Rood living with Leta (or Aleta) and Lizzie's Mother and Father, John and Louise (or Louisa) Kuhn.

Please notice that Leta's "relationship to head of household" here is listed as "Daughter" even though her surname is now "Rood" and that she is 27 years old at the time. You will also see that John and Leta's birth dates are consistant throughout.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MLRJ-9SH

United States Census, 1910 for Leta D Rood

Name: Leta D. Rood Birthplace: Wisconsin Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter Residence: Casnovia, Muskegon, Michigan Marital Status: Married Race : White Gender: Female Immigration Year: Father's Birthplace: Wisconsin Mother's Birthplace: Wisconsin Family Number: 12 Page Number: 1 Household Gender Age Parent John Kuhn M 55y Parent Louise Kuhn F 47y Elmer Kuhn M 20y Henry Kuhn M 18y Clyde Kuhn M 12y Gertrude Kuhn F 9y John Rood M 27y....D.O.B 1883. Leta D Rood F 22y....D.O.B 1888.

The next document is the marriage record that puts Leta D. Kuhn together with John F. Rood as a married couple. Leta D. Kuhn = Leta D. Rood.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCC9-8V2

Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995 for John F. Rood

Groom's Name: John F. Rood Groom's Birth Date: 1883....Correct D.O.B. Groom's Birthplace: Groom's Age: 25 Bride's Name: Leta D. Kuhn....Now Leta D. Rood! Bride's Birth Date: 1888....D.O.B. is dead on! Bride's Birthplace: Bride's Age: 20 Marriage Date: 26 Feb 1908 Marriage Place: Bailey, Muskegon, Michigan Groom's Father's Name: Erick E. Rood Groom's Mother's Name: Emma A. Brisbin Bride's Father's Name: John Kuhn Bride's Mother's Name: Louisa Anderes Groom's Race: Groom's Marital Status: Groom's Previous Wife's Name: Bride's Race: Bride's Marital Status: Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M01456-9 System Origin: Michigan-EASy Source Film Number: 1320182 Reference Number: 6543 p95

This next census record is very important. The year is 1920. Harry is 52 years old and is now listed as "Widowed". He is shown to be living in Kent County, Michigan by himself. I have to assume here that Lizzie is deceased. Garnet is now living with John Rood and Aunt Leta. Where is son Harold J Peterson? And why isn't he shown to be living with his father? Harold would have only been about 15 years old in 1920.

Interestingly enough, Harry's son, Harold J. Peterson (again, my Grandfather), lived in Kent County, Michigan during the years that I lived with him and he died there as well (Nov. 15, 1988).

United States Census, 1920 for Harry Peterson

Name: Harry Peterson Residence: Kent, Michigan Estimated Birth Year: 1868 Age: 52 Birthplace: Michigan Relationship to Head of Household: Self Gender: Male Race: White Marital Status: Widowed Father's Birthplace: Mother's Birthplace: Film Number: 1820779 Digital Folder Number: 4311617 Image Number: 00848 Sheet Number: 8

Now here we are 1 year later. Harry has now remarried. I know that this is correct because I know who Harry's parents were. I am still wondering where Harold J. has gone to?

Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925 for Harry Peterson

Groom's Name: Harry Peterson Groom's Race: Groom's Age: 53 years Groom's Birth Date: 1867 Groom's Birthplace: Newaygo, Michigan Bride's Name: Grace Cornerine Sholes Bride's Race: Bride's Age: 38 years Bride's Birth Date: 1882 Bride's Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Michigan Marriage Type: Marriage Date: 05 Aug 1920 Marriage Place: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan Groom's Father: Samuel Peterson Groom's Mother: Irene Redick Bride's Father: James Cornerine Bride's Mother: Emma Carman Groom's Marital Status: Groom's Previous Wife: Bride's Marital Status: Bride's Previous Husband: Film Number: 2342738 Frame Number: Digital Folder Number: 4032471 Image Number: 56 Reference Number: v 3 p 191 rn 11296

The next census record is the one that puts Garnet L. Peterson living with Johnnie F. Rood and Aleta (Kuhn) Rood. Note that all Birth Dates are correct. Most importantly, Garnet is listed as being a "Niece" which was just too much to hope for when I found this document. This of course means that Garnet is the daughter of one of Aleta's sister's. Since Lizzie had a daughter named Garnet, Lizzie has to be that sister. There are no other possibilities.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZQ2-VQ4

United States Census, 1920 for Garnet L Petersen

Name: Garnet L Petersen Residence: , Newaygo, Michigan Estimated Birth Year: 1910 Age: 10 Birthplace: Michigan Relationship to Head of Household: Niece Gender: Female Race: White Marital Status: Single Father's Birthplace: Mother's Birthplace: Film Number: 1820787 Digital Folder Number: 4311625 Image Number: 00788 Sheet Number: 6 Household Gender Age Johnnie F Rood M 37y..D.O.B. 1883 Aleta F Rood F 32y..D.O.B. 1888 Garnet L Petersen F 10y..D.O.B. 1910

At the time of the 1920 census (above) it looks like the D.O.B. for Garnet is off by one year. This doesn't shock or worry me. I've seen this kind of thing about a million times already. I think that the evidence supporting Garnet living with Lizzie's sister Aleta is overwhelming and indisputable!

The only other thing that bothers me here (very little though) is that Aleta shows up in the 1920 census as Aleta F. Rood instead of Aleta D. Rood as I would expect. The penmanship of the enumerators taking the actual census wasn't always very good in the first place (sometimes very, very poor indeed) so this doesn't suprise me all that much. Otherwise everything else is an extremely good match.

I had a very difficult time connecting Lizzie to her correct parents until now, I mean getting everything together to a point where it could not be disputed (rock solid evidence).

There were many John and Louise Kuhn's living in the State of Wisconsin at about the right time and Lizzie was never listed with her parents on any census record when I wanted her to be or with enough siblings at home to be absulutely sure.

Additionally, Lizzie was a very young bride and was absent as a family member early on. There were other problems also but Garnet fixed "everything" for me. First I found that Garnet was with Lizzie, Harry, and brother Harold just as I expected. Later I found Garnet living with John and Leta Rood and finally I found Leta and John Rood living with John and Louia Kuhn. A perfect trail!

I wish that I could say that I know what happed to Garnet after she was with John and Leta but I don't. I cant' find anything at all that is 100% certain anyway.

I still don't know much about what may have happened to Harold J. right after Lizzie passed away. I do know that Harold was young when he married Ivell Blue. I also know for a fact that Ivell lied about her age at the time of marriage but I don't know by how much?

Update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See below!

It bothered me so much that Harold dissappeared at around age 15 (no longer shown to be with Father, Harry Peterson) that I decided to go back and look at every Harold J. Peterson, born in 1905 in Michigan, that I could find, to see if I could find any clues or connections at all to solve this mystery.

After going through many old census records and finding nothing I clicked on yet one more Harold Peterson, this time a 1920 Federal Census Record. When I first opened the new document, I wasn't expecting much. Then I glanced down to the bottom of the page. There I found the following three names.

Walter S Peterson M 59y Anna J Peterson F 43y Harold Peterson M 15y

This didn't mean to much to me at first. I didn't recognize anyone's name right away except for Harold's. Then, when I continued to examine the document I saw the following.

Relationship to Head of Household: Nephew

When I saw the word "Nephew" I seriously about fell out of my chair! Right away I went back to find the names of Harry's brother's. Sure enough, there it was right in front of me......Walter S. Peterson was one of Harry's brothers.

This has been quite the puzzle. After Lizzie passed away, Garnet went to live with her married Aunt Aleta and Harold went to live with Harry's brother and his wife.

Below is the complete census record that I found on Familysearch.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZQL-7Q6

United States Census, 1920 for Harold Peterson

Name: Harold Peterson Residence: , Newaygo, Michigan Estimated Birth Year: 1905 Age: 15 Birthplace: Michigan Relationship to Head of Household: Nephew****************** Gender: Male Race: White Marital Status: Single Father's Birthplace: Mother's Birthplace: Film Number: 1820787 Digital Folder Number: 4311625 Image Number: 00805 Sheet Number: 3 Household Gender Age Walter S Peterson M 59y Anna J Peterson F 43y Harold Peterson M 15y

Well....I have solved quite a mystery here but I still don't know why Harry would have given up both of his children. I do know that by the look of the Peterson house (I have just one photograph of it) Harry was not a wealthy man by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe it was just a matter of economics He probably just didn't have the money to support his children properly and simply wanted them both to have a chance at a better life. I can see that it would have been really tough for Harry to raise both of his children by himself.

Just as a side note I guess, I don't know what happened to John and Leta after they lived with John and Louisa Kuhn either. They also seem to evaporate for no apparent reason. I did find a death record for an "Aleta Rood" which I believe is correct. Name, Birthdate, and Place of last residence all fit perfectly. Here, the estimated age at death is 100 years. Aleta sure didn't leave much of a trail for someone that lived to be 100 years old!

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VSZS-Z22

U.S. Social Security Death Index for Aleta Rood

First Name: Aleta Middle Name: Last Name: Rood Name Suffix: Birth Date: 16 September 1887 Social Security Number: 369-38-3982 Place of Issuance: Michigan Last Residence: Newaygo, Michigan Zip Code of Last Residence: 49327 Death Date: June 1987 Estimated Age at Death: 100

Probable death notice for Garnet. I can find no further info.

U.S. Social Security Death Index for Garnet Peterson

First Name: Garnet Middle Name: Last Name: Peterson Name Suffix: Birth Date: 13 February 1909 Social Security Number: 359-09-6225 Place of Issuance: Illinois Last Residence: Zip Code of Last Residence: Death Date: May 1977 Estimated Age at Death: 68

More to come as I find it............