Today I’m reflecting on my grandmother, Iva Johnson. She was born on this day 102 years ago at the Carley Farm located on Sayers Road in the rural community of Munith, Michigan. The house were she was born had been built by her grandfather Oren A. Carley who was a Civil War veteran and a local magistrate. Iva was the second daughter born to Jesse Carley and Anna Smith.
Her childhood must have been filled with many wonderful mysteries. The farm was being fully operated with live stock, the raising of grains and other crops. These activities must have filled a child with much curiosity. Great Grandma Carley once recounted the story of Iva’s early “cooking” adventures. I’m sure in an effort to mimic the baking activities of her mother, Iva was known to venture into the hen house and retrieve eggs to use in the mud pies she was preparing for her make-believe play. Anna Carley always smiled with a mother’s amazement when she recalled this story to her great-grandchildren.
Iva’s formal education began at the Kennedy School, a one room school house located about one mile north of her home on Sayers Road. Judging from surviving certificates and awards, Iva must have been a good student and she received recognition for her perfect attendance throughout the years. Later, Iva would attend school in the village of Munith, where she graduated from the 8th grade. It isn’t clear, but I believe she may have attended one year of high school at Stockbridge, but that would end her formal education pursuits. Like so many families in rural farm communities her labor was needed to assist the growing Carley family. Soon, we discover that Iva was working as a domestic in the residence of the Harr family of Munith. She would also hold jobs in some retail establishments, including Stillman’s department store in Jackson.
Aunt Nellie Walz’s house was the scene of many delightful dances and parties for the young people in the Smith-Carley-Walz clan. On one of these occasions Iva met David Benjamin Johnson of nearby Leoni, Michigan. Dave was tall, thin and handsome. He had served in both the U.S. Navy and Army and was probably working on the railroad at the time of there meeting. They courted and in October of 1934 they eloped at the World’s Fair in Chicago, Illinois.
Dave and Iva began their married life living in Jackson and would eventual build a home on the corner of the Carley farm in Munith. They were the parents of one daughter, Betty Ann, who was born on May 15, 1935 at the Eastside Hospital in Jackson. Iva would continue as a domestic worker for various neighbors and families in the Stockbridge-Munith area while rearing her daughter. Dave would find long-term employment at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Jackson and also worked as a farmer laborer for the large Reno and Dixon farms in Munith.
Iva was always a faith Christian. As a young girl she attended the Munith Methodist Episcopal Church, where she was baptized in 1928. Later she would help to organized the Munith Church of the Nazarene in the 1950’s, where she maintained her membership the remainder of her life. She was a leading figure in the congregation, serving as church treasurer, pianist and organist, Sunday school teacher, Superintendent of Sunday schools, and representing the congregation at District meetings. Iva loved her church and prayed often for it and its members.
Dave would become a member of the Richard H. Reno, Jr. Post of the American Legion. Iva would join the ladies auxiliary as well. Her commitment to the American Legion was very strong. Like her church membership, she would serve the American Legion’s Auxiliary as President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. When it was time to prepare food for the large gatherings, Iva and fellow auxiliary member Doris Warden could always be found in the kitchen at the legion hall.
Dave battled several episodes with breathing problems. Iva was a great caregiver to her husband during these trying illnesses which required many trips to the Veteran’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. Dave would eventually succumb to his illness in 1967, after 32 years of dedicated marriage.
After Dave’s death, Iva remained busy with her church and Ladies Auxiliary activities. Her home would often be the gathering place for events such as the meetings of the Henrietta Helping Hands and for many quilt tying parties. After dinner in the evening, she could always be found sitting in her chair watching a game show or two with a sewing needle in her hand making a quilt, or a ball of yarn in her lap and a crochet hook in hand working on hats, scarves, or a sweater as a gift. Never was there an idle moment in Iva Johnson’s life.
Iva’s home was always open for her family. When her mother was no-longer able to live on her own at the big old farm house, Iva’s door was open and Anna would reside with Iva for her remaining years. Likewise, when here younger sister Clara was stricken with blindness, Iva’s door was open. But it wasn’t to long after that and Iva’s own health began to decline. Her granddaughter KenNetha came to live and care for Iva. Although she still attended church fairly regularly, her activities slowed steadily. Iva went to sleep peacefully on May 17, 1993 surrounded by her daughter and several of her grandchildren.
Grandma is never far from my thoughts. She was a very kind and loving figure in my life and I miss her everyday. So today, I want to pay tribute to my grandma—one of the most influential person in my life. May she rest in peace!
Her childhood must have been filled with many wonderful mysteries. The farm was being fully operated with live stock, the raising of grains and other crops. These activities must have filled a child with much curiosity. Great Grandma Carley once recounted the story of Iva’s early “cooking” adventures. I’m sure in an effort to mimic the baking activities of her mother, Iva was known to venture into the hen house and retrieve eggs to use in the mud pies she was preparing for her make-believe play. Anna Carley always smiled with a mother’s amazement when she recalled this story to her great-grandchildren.
Iva’s formal education began at the Kennedy School, a one room school house located about one mile north of her home on Sayers Road. Judging from surviving certificates and awards, Iva must have been a good student and she received recognition for her perfect attendance throughout the years. Later, Iva would attend school in the village of Munith, where she graduated from the 8th grade. It isn’t clear, but I believe she may have attended one year of high school at Stockbridge, but that would end her formal education pursuits. Like so many families in rural farm communities her labor was needed to assist the growing Carley family. Soon, we discover that Iva was working as a domestic in the residence of the Harr family of Munith. She would also hold jobs in some retail establishments, including Stillman’s department store in Jackson.
Aunt Nellie Walz’s house was the scene of many delightful dances and parties for the young people in the Smith-Carley-Walz clan. On one of these occasions Iva met David Benjamin Johnson of nearby Leoni, Michigan. Dave was tall, thin and handsome. He had served in both the U.S. Navy and Army and was probably working on the railroad at the time of there meeting. They courted and in October of 1934 they eloped at the World’s Fair in Chicago, Illinois.
Dave and Iva began their married life living in Jackson and would eventual build a home on the corner of the Carley farm in Munith. They were the parents of one daughter, Betty Ann, who was born on May 15, 1935 at the Eastside Hospital in Jackson. Iva would continue as a domestic worker for various neighbors and families in the Stockbridge-Munith area while rearing her daughter. Dave would find long-term employment at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Jackson and also worked as a farmer laborer for the large Reno and Dixon farms in Munith.
Iva was always a faith Christian. As a young girl she attended the Munith Methodist Episcopal Church, where she was baptized in 1928. Later she would help to organized the Munith Church of the Nazarene in the 1950’s, where she maintained her membership the remainder of her life. She was a leading figure in the congregation, serving as church treasurer, pianist and organist, Sunday school teacher, Superintendent of Sunday schools, and representing the congregation at District meetings. Iva loved her church and prayed often for it and its members.
Dave would become a member of the Richard H. Reno, Jr. Post of the American Legion. Iva would join the ladies auxiliary as well. Her commitment to the American Legion was very strong. Like her church membership, she would serve the American Legion’s Auxiliary as President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. When it was time to prepare food for the large gatherings, Iva and fellow auxiliary member Doris Warden could always be found in the kitchen at the legion hall.
Dave battled several episodes with breathing problems. Iva was a great caregiver to her husband during these trying illnesses which required many trips to the Veteran’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. Dave would eventually succumb to his illness in 1967, after 32 years of dedicated marriage.
After Dave’s death, Iva remained busy with her church and Ladies Auxiliary activities. Her home would often be the gathering place for events such as the meetings of the Henrietta Helping Hands and for many quilt tying parties. After dinner in the evening, she could always be found sitting in her chair watching a game show or two with a sewing needle in her hand making a quilt, or a ball of yarn in her lap and a crochet hook in hand working on hats, scarves, or a sweater as a gift. Never was there an idle moment in Iva Johnson’s life.
Iva’s home was always open for her family. When her mother was no-longer able to live on her own at the big old farm house, Iva’s door was open and Anna would reside with Iva for her remaining years. Likewise, when here younger sister Clara was stricken with blindness, Iva’s door was open. But it wasn’t to long after that and Iva’s own health began to decline. Her granddaughter KenNetha came to live and care for Iva. Although she still attended church fairly regularly, her activities slowed steadily. Iva went to sleep peacefully on May 17, 1993 surrounded by her daughter and several of her grandchildren.
Grandma is never far from my thoughts. She was a very kind and loving figure in my life and I miss her everyday. So today, I want to pay tribute to my grandma—one of the most influential person in my life. May she rest in peace!
