John B. Johnson homesteaded 160 acres at what is now 36th Avenue North and Douglas Drive. He came from Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1854. He was the first treasurer of Crystal Village. He and his wife had four children, William Henry (born in 1855). George O., Ann, and Grace.
This picture was taken September 24, 1898 on William Henry Johnson’s farm which was either part of his father’s or adjacent to it, as it was on Douglas Drive at about 38th Avenue North. William Henry married Elizabeth Kuch, daughter of an early settler. They had ten children, but lost two little girls in 1886 during the diphtheria epidemic.
The juice was boiled in a large vat; barrels held the finished syrup. Mr. Roth had the farm next to the Johnsons on 36th Avenue and Douglas Drive. He received his farm—96 acres southwest of Robbinsdale proper—from Uncle Sam in payment for his services in the Indian Wars. Mr. and Mrs. Roth had three children, Hiram, Bert, and Louise. After his wife died, Roth married Margaretta Raguet of Eden Prairie. They had two daughters, Etta and Ida. Etta taught school in Robbinsdale from 1910 to 1913 and again 1930 to 1932. She served with the Red Cross in World War One. Bert Roth operated a grocery store in Robbinsdale. Mr. Roth built a new house in April 1891 which, as of this writing, is still in use on 36th Avenue North. Roth passed away in 1909.
This material was gathered from the North Hennepin Post and the diaries of Ellen M. Bisbee, (sister of Mrs. J. P. Shumway and Nathan F. Russ). It was compiled and edited by Evelyn and Esther Shumway for a Robbinsdale Historical Society slide show in 1980. A few details have been updated along the way.
The image at the top of the post features the Johnson Family bringing in their sorghum.