William Thomas Johnson was born April 3, 1863 in Stanford, Canada. He came to the United States to Lapeer County, Michigan at the age of 3 years old. In 1885, William came to Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan and married Flora McPhee on June 12, 1892 in Saginaw. Flora was born on March 18, 1872 in Park Hill, Canada to Roderick “Rory” and Flora Curry McPhee. At the time of William and Flora's marriage, he was working for the railroad.

William and Flora had the following children:

1. William Thomas Johnson, Jr. was born December 18, 1893 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. William served in the United States Army during WWI. He died on February 1, 1976.

2. Celia Johnson was born April 16, 1897 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan. She married Harry Nohel on January 10, 1916 at the Sacred Heart Church, Merrill, Michigan. Celia died July 6, 1956.

3. Sara Johnson was born June 1, 1901 in Fremont Township, Saginaw County, Michigan. She married John F. McInnis on March 1, 1927. She attended County Normal and Central Michigan College and taught in many Saginaw County Schools from 1921 until 1960.

4. Flora Johnson was born January 30, 1906 in Fremont Township, Saginaw County, Michigan. She married James Madden on December 26, 1927 at the Sacred Heart Church in Merrill, Michigan. Flora graduated from Chesaning Normal, Ferris and Central Michigan Colleges. She started teaching in 1925 where she taught at three rural schools for several years. Her last ten years of teaching was at Merrill Community Schools, Merrill, Michigan. Flora died on April 20, 1993.

William and Flora lived in Fremont Township, Saginaw County, Michigan for 15 years before moving to Lakefield Township. They purchased a 40 acre farm in Section 26 from Charles and Nellie Nohel on

October 31, 1910. Later, William purchased another 80 acre farm in Section 25, across the road from his 40 acre farm. Both properties were located on Chapin Road between Nelson and Grabowski Roads.

Flora belonged to the Lakefield Ladies Society.

Flora died on July 30, 1930 and William died on January 14, 1948.

SOURCES: 1916 Lakefield Township Plat Map; 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 U.S. Census; granddaughter, Fran McInnis Siler; William and Flora Johnson's marriage record; William Thomas Johnson Sr. death record; Della Miller McKay's obituary collection.