October 6, 1799, was a joyful day for Elizabeth and George Johnson. Their son James was born on a beautiful fall day in Chesterfield/ Derbyshire County, England. For weeks his parents and brother George were eagerly waiting for his arrival. It was a day to celebrate!

James was born into a loving family living in a very busy town. Chesterfield’s economy was booming. James' father worked as a bookkeeper in the Griffin Foundry. For thirty years, from the outbreak of the American War of Independence 1775 and through successive wars with Spain and Holland to the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800’s, the Griffin Foundry was kept busy – and profitable - making ordnance, cannon and cannon balls for the British war machine. George Johnson had a good and sturdy job while Elizabeth took care of the children and the household.

Little James was a dreamer, always imagining beyond what his eyes could see. When he got older he felt the " Wanderlust" and he decided to explore new possibilities in Latvia. Saying goodbye to his beloved family and town was not easy, but he had to follow his heart. After arriving in Latvia, it didn't take James long to appreciate the beauty and history of the mystic land of the Teutonic Knights. James decided he wanted to nurture his passion and talent for working with wood. In the following years, he acquired great skills as a carpenter by working as an apprentice in several manors in Kurland, the southern region of Latvia. It was there when he met the ranger's daughter, Anna Helena Lange born in Eleja, Latvia, who he married on Aug. 28, 1832, in the church of the Zaļenieki Manor. This manor is also called Zaļā Manor, also called Grünhof – Zaļenieki. Surrounded by a 27-hectare landscaped park with ponds and lakes, it was one of the oldest properties of the Livonian Order in Zemgale.

James and Anna Helena Johnson had six children:
1. Carl Georg Johnson - 1833
2. Constanze Elizabeth Johnson ( Bimbirski ) - 1835
3. Eduard James Johnson - 1837
4. Henriette Auguste Johnson ( Müller ) - 1840
5. Gertrud Johnson ( Berggrün ) - 1844
6. Valerian Julius Johnson - 1847

Their first child, Carl George Johnson, was born March 19, 1833, at the Dorotheenhof - Miltinu manor estate. James was offered work at the Grünhof - Zaļenieki manor estate where their daughter Constanze Elizabeth Johnson was born on Jan. 23, 1835. The following year the family moved to the Herzogshof - Vitolini manor estate where their third child Eduard James Johnson was born on July 31, 1837. After completion of his apprenticeship, the family settled for the next years to come at the Budberg manor estate- Bauska county. Budberg was a small but economically well to do settlement on the Nemunelis river close to the border of Lithuania. While living in Budberg, Anna Helena and James welcomed two daughters. Henriette Auguste Johnson was born on Sep. 15, 1840 and Gertrud Johnson on Feb. 22, 1844.

As the entire northern region of Lithuania and the manor estates started to flourish James decided to move the family to Grūžiai Lithuania. Their youngest son Valerian Julius Johnson was born on March 7, 1847, in Keliuotiškiai and baptized in the evangelical reformed church in Švobiškis. While James Johnson and his family attended church in Švobiškis, they met the organist and teacher in Švobiškis, Mateus Eduard Berggrün, and his family. The families were united by the marriage of their children Gertrud Johnson and Wladislaw Rudolph Berggrün on Feb. 7, 1866. Gertrud and Wladislaw Rudolph raised their children Eduard Rudolf ( 1866 ), Henriette Helene ( 1870 ), Adele Helene ( 1871 ), Berta Konstantine ( 1874 ), Otto Paul ( 1877 ) and Ottilie Gertrud ( 1879 ) in Švobiškis/ Lithuania.

While Anna Helena and James Johnson settled for years to come in Grūžiai, their children left home one by one in the years who followed. Constanze Elizabeth Johnson married Thaddeus Bimbirski on Oct. 14, 1862. Henriette Auguste Johnson married on Oct. 15, 1880, Carl Ludwig Wilhelm Müller, born in Berlin Germany, a master carpenter in Grūžiai. Eduard J. Johnson and Valerian Julius Johnson followed their father's drive for opportunities.

Eduard J. Johnson married Adelheid Christine Vielhaber on Sep. 21, 1865. Her father Carl Vielhaber was the manor/estate tenant of Asatischek. Eduard J. Johnson became a carpenter ( Zimmermann) building structures, later he was a miller in the town of Kedgin and Seduva. Adelheid Christine and Eduard had seven children:
1. Rudolph Julius Johnson was born July 15, 1866, in Juodikoniai. He married Ella Emilie Charlotte Deglau on July 7, 1892, in Seduva. Rudolph Julius Johnson became the manor estate agent/manager of the Rotenhof/ Raudondvaris bordering Seduva for decades until 1941. Ella and Rudolph's three children were born in Raudondvaris. Herbert Eduard Johnson was born on May 25, 1893. Klara Ella Caroline Johnson on May 2, 1895. Elizabeth Gerda Viktoria Johnson on Dec. 24, 1905.
2. Aline Johnson, born in 1868. She was a teacher in the town of Panevėžys. She married Heinrich Otto Carl Friedrichsohn, master miller in Schakarn on Dec. 19, 1893.
3. Auguste Helene Johnson, born on Sep. 26, 1871, baptized in the Lutheran Church Kedainiai/ Lithuania
4. Bernhard Wilhelm Johnson, born on Aug. 24, 1873, baptized in the Lutheran Church Kedainiai/ Lithuania
5. Olga Alexandra Johnson, born Jan. 8, 1875, baptized in the Lutheran Church Kedainiai/ Lithuania
6. Emilie Lidia Johnson, born Nov. 28, 1882, baptized in the Lutheran Church Kedainiai/ Lithuania
7. Berta Johnson, married Eduard Knappke

Valerian Julius Johnson always dreamed big and looking for large accomplishments in his personal and professional life. He married on May 19, 1874, at the age of 27 the miller's daughter Anne Adelheid Lange. Her father, Wilhelm Lange was the miller of the town of Juodikoniai. Anne Adelheid and Valerian Julius moved to the large farmstead Marimpolis, about three kilometers from Upyte. Valerian Julius worked the land of the farmstead and he was also the miller of the windmill in Stultiškiai, two kilometers south of Uypte. Later his son Adolf took over the farmstead and windmill until 1941. Today the windmill hosts the only linen museum in Lithuania. Please use this link Malūnai, Mills, Mühlen to enjoy the pictures of this very unique place.

Marimpolis became the birthplace and playground for the twelve children of the Valerian Julius Johnson's family:
1. Bertha Emma Johnson born Sep. 18, 1874
2. Wilhelm Ernst Johnson born July 11, 1876
3. Friedrich Alfred Johnson born Nov. 22, 1879
4. Adolph Julius Johnson born Aug. 4, 1881
5. Rudolph Johnson born Feb. 18, 1883
6. Hermann Ludwig Johnson born July 27, 1884
7. Wanda Johnson born April 12, 1886
8. Anna Ida Johnson born Dec. 18, 1887
9. Marie Johnson born April 17, 1889
10. Helene Johnson born Aug. 29, 1890, died Jan. 27, 1891
11. Richard Johnson born Oct. 31, 1891
12. Adolf Johnson Nov. 9, 1900

Today we still researching the lives of the descendants of James Johnson of Chesterfield in England. His granddaughter Bertha Emma Johnson and her husband Adolph Berggrün emigrated to the United State of America in 1907 and raised their family in Wilmington/ Delaware.

Some Johnson's who were in part ethnic Germans followed the call "Heim ins Reich" in 1941 and left Lithuania. The family of Rudolph Julius Johnson ( son of Eduard James Johnson ) and the family of Adolf Johnson ( youngest son of Valerian Julius Johnson ) arrived in Germany. The total of Johnson's leaving or remaining in Lithuania is so far unknown.

The descendants of James Johnson inherited having the courage to pursue their dreams, having and holding on to a vision, and always being determined and dedicated. And this for generations to come!

We enjoy our membership at the Chesterfield & District Family History Society to learn about the beautiful place our ancestors called home. We like to thank all of the CADFHS members for our warm welcome!

The Berggrün family

James Johnson list of five generations of descendants

1 James Johnson b. 6 Oct 1799 in Chesterfield, England d.
m. Anna Helena Lange b. 4 Sep. 1809 in Eleja, Latvia d. 10 Sep 1880 in Lithuania
2 Carl George Johnson b. 19 Mar 1833 in Miltinu, Latvia d.
2 Constanze Elisabeth Johnson b. 23 Jan 1835 in Zalenieki, Latvia d.
m. Thaddeus Bimbirski b. 1835 d.
2 Eduard John Johnson b. 31 Jul 1837 in Vitolini, Latvia d. 1903
m. Adelheid Christine Vielhaber b. 23 Oct 1843 d. 1922
3 Rudolf Julius Johnson b. 15 Jul 1866 in Juodikoniai, Lithuania d.
m. Ella Emilie Charlotte Delgau b. 1 Nov 1869 in Riga, Latvia d. 1925
4 Herbert Eduard Johnson b. 25 May 1893 in Raudondvaris, Lithuania d. 15 Jul 1966 in Oldenburg, Germany
m. Margareta Anne-Marie Ritzky b. 9 Sep 1906 d. 6 Jul 1998
5 Siegfried Johnson b. 6 June 1928 in Raudondvaris, Lithuania
m. Hildegard Fester b. 2 May 1928 d. 16 Mar 2013
6 Gerhard Herbert Johnson b. 14 Jan 1964 d. 6 Feb 1973
4 Klara (Taly) Ella Karoline Johnson b. 2 May 1895 in Raudondvaris, Lithuania d.
4 Elisabeth Gerta Victoria Johnson b. 7 Dec 1905 in Raudondvaris, Lithuania d. 16 Mar 1970
m. Theodor Knappke b. 30 Jan 1898 d. 30 Jul 1990
5 Werner Gustav Knappke b. 22 Jul 1934 d. 12 Oct 1934
5 Helga Adelheid Knappke b. 27 Feb 1936 d. 24 Feb 1992
5 Horst Knappke b. 3 Jul 1938 d. 16 Apr 1959
3 Aline Johnson b. 1868 in Makeviškiai, Lithuania d.
m. Heinrich Otto Carl Friedrichsohn b. 11 June 1844 in Īle, Latvia
3 Auguste Helene Johnson b. 26 Sep 1871, baptized Kedainiai/ Lithuania
3 Bernhard Wilhelm Johnson b. 24 Aug 1873, baptized Kedainiai/ Lithuania
3 Olga Alexandra Johnson b. 8 Jan 1875, baptized Kedainiai/ Lithuania
3 Emilie Lidia Johnson b. 28 Nov 1882, baptized Kedainiai/ Lithuania
3 Berta Johnson d.
m. Eduard Knappke
2 Henriette Auguste Johnson b. 15 Sep 1840 in Budbergo Panemunė, Latvia d. 9 Oct 1914 in Šimoniai, Lithuania
m. Carl Ludwig Wilhelm Müller b. 1828 in Berlin, Germany
2 Gertrude Johnson b. 22 Feb 1846 in Budbergo Panemunė, Latvia d. 24 July 1913 in Šimoniai, Lithuania
m. Wladislaw Rudolf Berggrün b. 1842 in Švobiškis, Lithuania d. 11 Dec. 1879 in Švobiškis, Lithuania
3 Eduard Rudolf Berggrün b. 25 Nov 1866 in Lauksodis, Lithuania d. 19 Feb 1949 in Gustävel, Germany
m. Amalie Adelheid Berggrün b. 30 Jun 1872 in Biržai, Lithuania d. 19 Jul 1930 in Švobiškis, Lithuania
4 Ida Emma Berggrün b. 26 Jan 1898 in Riga, Latvia d. 1981 in Germany
4 Emil Berggrün b. 7 May 1902 in Riga, Latvia d. 11 Jan 1975 in Westfield, WI, USA
m. Emma Annette Ozolin b. 10 May 1910 in Riga d. 14 Jan 1998 in Oak Lawn, IL, USA
5 Edmund Berggrün
5 Reinhold Berggrün b. 17 May 1941 in Posen, Germany d. 13 Oct 2009 in Chicago, IL, USA
5 Regina Berggrün
m. Jerry Everett d.
5 Reinhilde Berggrün
4 Artur Berggrün b. 25 April 1904 d. 1987 in Sydney, Australia
m. Valeria Alperowitz b. 3 Aug 1903 d.
5 Wanda Berggrün b. 1933 in Lithuania
5 Aldona Berggrün b. 1935 in Lithuania
5 Eduard Berggrün b. 1937 in Lithuania d. in Australia
4 Harry Georg Berggrün b. 18 Jul 1911 d. 19 Jul 1997 in Chicago, IL, USA
m. Natalia Leskauskas b. 28 Aug 1909 d. 14 Sep 2000
5 Olga Rosa Berggrün
m. Robert Gregory Hackenberg
5 Erika Berggrün
5 Lydia Berggrün d.
4 Eduard Otto Berggrün b. 27 Oct 1914 in Švobiškis, Lithuania d. 14 Mar 1983 in Frankfurt, Germany
m. Magdalene Helene Kulick b. 25 Oct 1926 in Bankau, Germany d. 12 Sep 1974 in Frankfurt, Germany
5 Angelika Siglinde Emilie Berggrün
m. Olga Grau d.
5 Arnold Berggrün b. 12 Sep 1940 Kovno, Lithuania d. 1952
5 Siegfried Berggrün b. 1942 in Greiz, Germany d. Jul 1985 in Offenbach, Germany
5 Reinhold Berggrün b. 1945 in Greiz, Germany d. 16 Oct 2005 in Butzbach, Germany
m. Natalie Borchert b. 9 Dec 1889 in Šėta, Lithuania d. 1974 in Hemmelte, Germany
3 Henriette Helene Berggrün b. 23 Jan 1870 in Švobiškis, Lithuania d. 2 March 1872 in Švobiškis, Lithuania
3 Adele Helene Berggrün b. 4 April 1871 in Švobiškis, Lithuania d.
m. Alexander Julius Grützmann b. 1841 in Šeduva, Lithuania
4 Helene Berta Grützmann b. 13 Sep 1890 in Švobiškis, Lithuania d.
4 Rudolph Carl Grützmann b. 6 April 1893 in Briužiai, Lithuania d.
3 Berta Konstanze Berggün b. 12 Sep 1874 in Švobiškis, Lithuania d. 22 May 1953 in Schöningen, Germany
m. Otto Ludwig Grube b. 14 Dec 1857 in Stumbriškis, Lithuania d. Saratov, Russia
4 Georg Johann Grube b. 24 Mar 1893 in Panevėžys, Lithuania d. Schöningen, Germany
4 Gertrud Julianne Grube b. 14 Jul 1894 in Stumbriškis, Lithuania d. Schöningen, Germany
Wladimir Petrow d. Saratov, Russia
5 Lydia Petrow b. 1918 d.
6 Senta Petrow
5 Waldemar Petrow b. 28 Oct 1921 in Švobiškis, Lithuania d. Frankfurt, Germany
4 Otto Adolph Grube b. 19 Oct 1895 in Panevėžys, Lithuania d.
4 Berta Henriette Grube b. 10 June 1897 in Toliūnai, Lithuania d. Schöningen, Germany
m. Klein
4 Felicia Grube b. 18 Jul 1900 in Toliūnai, Lithuania d. Oldenburg, Germany
m. Johnson
4 Senta Grube b. 13 Jan 1902 in Toliūnai, Lithuania d. 10 Jul 1951 in Schöningen, Germany
m. Juozas ( Josef ) Strolia b. 11 Jul 1897 in Velykūnai, Lithuania d. 15 Feb 1969 in Chicago, IL, USA
5 Vytautas Strolia b. 2 Mar 1928 in Mažeikiai, Lithuania d. 29 Mar 2007
5 Faustas Strolia b. 28 Feb 1831 in Tauragė, Lithuania d. 31 Dec 2014 in Chicago, IL, USA
5 Herkulis Strolia b. 3 Mar 1937 in Šiauliai, Lithuania d. 14 June 2003 in Chicago, IL, USA
3 Otto Paul Berggrün b. 19 Apr 1877 in Švobiškis, Lithuania d. Riga, Latvia
m. Henriette Therese Eckloff b. 2 Sep 1888 in Riga, Latvia d. Riga, Latvia
4 Artur Otto Berggrün b. 16 Dec 1909 in Riga, Latvia d. Braunschweig, Germany
m. Gertrud Ewerts d.
5 Egon Berggrün b. 16 Aug 1931 in Riga, Latvia d. 12 Feb 2017 in Braunschweig, Germany
m. Waltraut Sydow
5 Ernst Berggrün
m. Helga
5 Wilhelm Berggrün d.
5 Harry Berggrün d.
4 Erich Otto Berggrün b. 16 Oct 1912 in Riga, Latvia d. in Riga, Latvia
5 Guntis Berggrün d.
4 Lucie Berggrün b. in Riga, Latvia d.
4 Alice Berggrün b. in Riga, Latvia d.
3 Ottilie Gertrude Berggrün b. 2 Nov 1879 in Švobiškis, Lithuania
2 Valerian Julius Johnson b. 7 Mar 1847 in Keliuotiškiai, Lithuania d. in Marimpolis, Lithuania
m. Anna Adelheid Lange b. 1851 in Lithuania d.
3 Berta Emma Johnson b. Sep. 18, 1874 in Lithuania, d. 1960 in Wilmington, DE, USA
m. Adolph Eduard Berggrün b. 21 April 1874 in Šeduva, Lithuania d. Aug 1964 in Wilmington, DE, USA
4 Wilhelm Bruno Alfred Berggrün b. 3 Oct. 1899 in Riga, Latvia d. 24 July 1900 in Riga, Latvia
4 Theodor Bernhard Berggrün b. 6 Nov 1900 in Riga, Latvia d. March 1982 in in Wilmington, DE, USA
4 Christian Hugo Berggrün b. 4 Jan 1902 in Riga, Latvia
4 Adolph Gottfried Berggrün b. 13 March 1903 in Riga, Latvia d. 13 March 1903 in Riga, Latvia
4 Hilda Hermine Berggrün b. 21 Aug 1904 in Riga, Latvia d. 22 March 1906 in Riga, Latvia
4 Irma Ida Berggrün b. 6 Aug 1906 in Riga, Latvia d. 28 Nov 1999 in Elkton, MD, USA
m. Dobrick
4 Margaret Bertha Berggrün b. 10 July 1913 in Wilmington , DE, USA d. 20 Aug 1997 in California, USA
3 Wilhelm Ernst Johnson b. July 11, 1876 in Šepkaičiai, Lithuania d.
3 Friedrich Alfred Johnson b. Nov. 22, 1879 in Marimpolis, Lithuania d.
3 Adolph Julius Johnson b. Aug. 4, 1881 in Marimpolis, Lithuania d.
3 Rudolph Johnson b. Feb. 18, 1883 in Marimpolis, Lithuania d.
3 Hermann Ludwig Johnson b. July 27, 1884 in Marimpolis, Lithuania d.
3 Wanda Johnson b. April 12, 1886 in Marimpolis, Lithuania d.
3 Anna Ida Johnson b. Dec. 18, 1887 in Marimpolis, Lithuania d.
3 Marie Johnson b. April 17, 1889 in Marimpolis, Lithuania d.
3 Helene Johnson b. Aug. 29, 1890 in Marimpolis, Lithuania d. Jan. 27, 1891 in Marimpolis, Lithuania d.
3 Richard Johnson born Oct. 31, 1891 in Marimpolis, Lithuania d.
m. Olga Lange
3 Adolf Johnson Nov. 9, 1900 in Marimpolis, Lithuania d.
m. Anele Juchniewicz b. 9 Nov 1903 in Mikališkis, Lithuania
4 Wilhelm Johnson b. 25 Sep 1930 in Marimpolis, Lithuania
4 Richard Johnson b. 29 Jan 1932 in Marimpolis, Lithuania
4 Heinrich Johnson b. 29 Aug 1936 in Marimpolis, Lithuania
4 Wanda Johnson b. 18 Dec 1938 in Marimpolis, Lithuania
4 Irene Johnson b. 18 July 1940 in Marimpolis, Lithuania