Johan Otto Gran (1887 - 1947)

Born 21 Jun 1887 in Torsåker, Västernorrland, Sweden

Ancestors

Husband of Anna Potentia Tulander (Hjerpe) Gran — married 18 Jun 1910 in Sweden

Descendants

Died 27 Nov 1947 at age 60 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

Biography

John was born in 1887 In Torsåker, Sweden, ^[1]though later records, WWI draft registration ^[2], note his birthplace as “Nyland”.

Based on census data he also lived in Köping, Västmanland ^[3] and Stockholm^[4].

According to his 1917 U.S. draft registration he served in the Swedish military in a field artillery unit for three and a half years as a private. It also describes him as blue eyed, light haired, tall and slender.

He married Anna on 10th June in1910, and his first son, Gus, was born in Sweden. He immigrated to Canada, and entered the United States on July 16, 1911 via rail in Port Huron Michigan^[5]. Family history holds that the family moved to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and worked in the lumber camps until the family moved to Detroit for better work with Henry Ford. In 1917 he was employed at Ford as a fireman.

In 1917 his address is 490 Lincoln street, Detroit, in what by 1923 would be incorporated as the village of Berkley.

In 1924 he naturalized his citizenship. At that time he was employed by Ford as a machinist. He lived then in Royal Oak at 3174 Oakshire, which is today part of Berkley. He was 5ft 11in, 180lbs with red hair and blue eyes.

John and Anna raised 3 children, Gus, George, and Jesse in Berkley. John passed away in 1947.

Sources

1. ↑ "Sweden, Household Examination Books, 1880-1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG5B-8QBK : 28 August 2019), Johan Otto in entry for Carl Petter Gran, from 1896 to 1905; from "Sweden Household Examination Books, 1860-1920," database and images, MyHeritage (https://www.myheritage.com : n.d.); citing from 1896 to 1905, 108447233, AIIaa1, various Lutheran parishes, Sweden.
2. ↑ United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6NK-QV7 : 26 December 2021), John Otto Gran, 1917-1918.
3. ↑ "Sweden, Household Examination Books, 1880-1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLPB-YT4N : 27 August 2019), Johan Otto Gran, from 1903 to 1907; from "Sweden Household Examination Books, 1860-1920," database and images, MyHeritage (https://www.myheritage.com : n.d.); citing from 1903 to 1907, 9929093, AIIa2, various Lutheran parishes, Sweden.
4. ↑ "Sweden, Household Examination Books, 1880-1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG5Y-GV6X : 28 August 2019), Johan Otto Gran in entry for Anna Kajsa Gran F. Halsstyf, from 1905 to 1920; from "Sweden Household Examination Books, 1860-1920," database and images, MyHeritage (https://www.myheritage.com : n.d.); citing from 1905 to 1920, 108448162, AIIaa2, various Lutheran parishes, Sweden.
5. ↑ "Michigan, Eastern and Western Districts, Naturalization Records, 1837-1993", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CYPN-R4ZM : 2 December 2021), John Otto Gram, 1924.

"Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFWV-LXQ : 13 March 2018), John Otto Gran, 27 Nov 1947; citing Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing; FHL microfilm 1,972,924.