<|,"1">The Johnson (Johansson) Gustafson Family 1895
Paulina Kristina Johansdotter
(J1a2) was born 4/20/1868 at Svedjorna in Ullasjö parish, Älvsborgs, Sweden. She left her family when she turned eighteen to work, possibly as a housemaid, in the town of Torpa. Sometime between 1886 and 1888 she lived in the parish of Ullaryd in Älvsborgs until her and her sister, Anna Maria left Sweden by ship from the town of Göteborg on 3/15/1888. Upon reaching Philadelphia her name was changed to Paulina Cristina Johnson. Not too much is known of her before she was married except she may have lived with her sister in her sister's boarding house. She and Gustav Melcher Gustafson were married 11/9/1895 at the Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church located in south Philadelphia. They continued to live at his residence at 1409 S. Percy St. in Philadelphia. Around 1896, which was the year that their first child was born, they moved to 1125 Daly St. They lived there for several years and by 1905 were living at 1837 Ritner St. The Gustafsons attended church regularly three times on each Sunday. This church was probably the same church in which he and his wife were married. They opened a tailor shop on Ritner St. Around 1912 the family moved to a large four-bedroom home at 5545 Media St. in west Philadelphia. It had a dutch hall so the parlor was only open when the Pastor or friends visited and at Christmas time. Gustaf was a tailor and made men's suits. He used one of the bedrooms as his tailor shop. Pauline helped him on the shop table as well as taking care of the six children. She did her own baking, washed on a board, etc. Gustaf was involved with the Wayne Lodge No. 3, IOOF, the Scandinavian Brotherhood of Philadelphia and the Swedish Beneficial Society of Philadelphia. Gustaf died 11/28/1912 (Thanksgiving morning). His funeral was from his late residence. He was buried at Section W, Lot 23 of Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery in south Philadelphia. In 1914 the twins were put into a boarding school. Pauline died 12/11/1915 and was buried next to her husband. The Lindberg family then took in the children, except for the twins. By 1919 Mr. Lindberg became the legal guardian of the minor children. There was a family living in Kensington by the name of Edmonds. Mr. Edmonds was thought of as a cousin of Gustaf. He made that safe your dad had which I believe Ed Hull now has. [For more information about Gustaf Melcher Gustafson see The Gustafson Genealogy].
Carl Arthur Gustafson (J1a2a) was born on 6/15/1896 in Philadelphia, PA.
Esther Marie Gustafson
(J1a2b) was born 7/18/1898 in Philadelphia, PA. She was remarkably fast with figures and she wrote the same way. During the last 20's and into the early 30's she worked as a cashier for Cudahy Packing Company. Around 1930 she was renting an apartment at 5420 W. Jefferson St. in Wynnefield, Philadelphia. After losing her job due to the Depression she went to live with at 2080 Anchor St. and kept house while Pauline went out to work in a tannery. She lived there until she and Ernst Hirche were married 12/12/1936. She then went to live with him in his house on Benner St. in northeast Philadelphia. Ernst was born in Sweden and was a glassblower by trade. Esther nursed him through many months of his final illness in their home until he died around 1956. After his death she went to live with her sister, Pauline, on Ditman St. Esther died and was buried 2/2/1989 next to her parents and her younger brothers in Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery. She and Ernest didn't have any children, though, Ernst had several children grown from his first marriage. One of his sons was the organist at the Hope Lutheran Church that Pauline and Esther attended.
Jennie Christina Gustafson (J1a2c) was born 3/26/1900 in Philadelphia, PA.
Julius Edward Gustafson
(J1a2d) (twin) was born 4/12/1905 at 1837 Ritner St. in Philadelphia. He was admitted to Girard College 9/2/1914 and graduated 6/12/1923. Julius and Gustave were described as two good boys who never smoked <|,"4">or drank and joined the church as soon as they left school. The church that they joined was probably Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church. They also got involved with the Patterson Memorial Presbyterian Church and Trinity Lutheran Evangelical Church. Julius died 7/20/1925 of tuberculosis at the House for Consumptives, Chestnut Hill Sanitarium in Chestnut Hill, PA. His funeral was 7/23/1925 from the David G. Frankenfield Bldg., E17 N. 52nd St. in Philadelphia. He was buried next to his parents at Section W Lot 23 of the Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Gustav Adolf Gustafson
(J1a2e) (twin) was born 4/12/1905 at 1837 Ritner St. in Philadelphia. He was admitted to Girard College 9/2/1914 and graduated 6/12/1923. He died 7/19/1928 due to pulmonary tuberculosis at the Mt. Alto Sanitarium in Franklin County, PA. He was buried next to his brother and parents at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.
Pauline Eugenia Gustafson (J1a2f) was born 6/9/1908 in Philadelphia, PA.