ohn Johnson was born in Yettermark, Finland in 1892 and immigrated to the United States in 1909 at the age of seventeen. He first entered Alaska at Valdez, where he was employed as a hard-rock miner for four years. In 1915 he moved to the tent city of Anchorage and, like many of the new arrivals, was employed by the Alaska Railroad.
Esther A. Bloomquist was born in Seattle, Washington in 1893 and came to Alaska with her parents, landing in Valdez in 1912. It was there she first met John Johnson, and when the family moved to Anchorage in 1918 they met again and in that same year were married. John was employed as a carpenter for the Alaska Railroad until his retirement in 1943. Esther was employed as secretary to attorney Leopold David, who later became Anchorage’s first mayor.
The couple had two sons. Forrest married Gunvor Wikstrom, and they had three children: Lynn Irene Pratt, Judith Ann Osborne and Eric Forrest Johnson. Son Russell and his wife Nona Hall had two children, Gayle Justine Cowley and David Wayne Johnson. Esther Johnson died in 1950, and John in 1964. Both are buried in the Anchorage Memorial Park.
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- John S. Johnson, born in Yettermark, Finland, 1892. Died in Anchorage, 1964 and Esther A. Bloomquist Johnson, born in Seattle, Washington, 1893. Died in Anchorage, 1950.
- Isak and Amanda Bloomquist, front, with their son (name not given) and daughter, Esther.
- Caption on photo reads: “Isak Bloomquist and Amanda.”
- Esther Johnson with her parents, Amanda and Isak Bloomquist.
- John Johnson with sons Forrest and Russell.
- Johnson home at 1121 6th Avenue, built in 1917 by Isak Bloomquist.
- Forrest Johnson, born in 1923.
- Log homes built by Isak Bloomquist, 536 and 546 L Street, 1917.
- Russell Johnson, 1924-1968.
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