Grace and Edna Visit

Grace or Edna at the Pueblo Observatory.

     Photographs from Grace and Edna's trip in1908 to Pueblo to visit their aunt Ada and her husband, Morris Johnson. Grace and Edna were ages 22 and 20.

     The first one is of the Pueblo Observatory. It may be still in existence, but in my internet searches I can't tell for sure. But it may now be part of Colorado State University.

Union Station at Pueblo

     The next is of the Union Station at Pueblo. It is still there even though it was built in 1890. Pueblo Union Depot 
      (I added a photo of trains in case Steve looks at the blog).

     Speaking of Steve, he was instrumental in helping me identify the courthouse. I wanted to make it the capitol building in Denver, but Steve pointed out to me it was probably Pueblo.

Train waiting at the depot.

     The last two I believe are in Mineral Palace Park. Apparently Pueblo, to celebrate their prominence in Colorado and the world, built this large park, including a building to display minerals. Their fame was short-lived when a flood from the Arkansas River did major damage to the town. Apparently Pueblo never recovered from the 1921 disaster. The park still exists, although quite a bit was lost to Interstate 25. The town's palace, though was shabbily built and didn't last all that long. Pueblo History

Edna in front of the Pueblo County Courthouse

Edna and Grace relax in Mineral Palace Park .

Ada Catherine Sharpe and Morris Cornelius Johnson

  

     Betsy Sharpe and all of her family left England in 1870 or 1871 and came to Kansas. The Sharpe children ranged in age from the 19 or 20-year old William, Jr. down to the infant Herbert. Among the children was Ada, who at four, was the next to youngest daughter. The Sharpes settled in Morris County with their children. Betsy was the first to be married, but over the years, the other children married and established their own homes. In 1881, Rebekah Sharpe died - at that time Ada and Maude, the two youngest children, were in their early teens. The two of them continued to live with their father until marrying in the 1890s.

     In 1895 Ada married Morris or Maurice Johnson, who just happened to be from her hometown in England, Mareham le Fen. According to census records he emigrated in 1875, but I haven't discovered any records that indicate where he lived in the U.S. Other coincidences, his father's name was Richard Sharpe Johnson and he had a sister, Ada. I've assumed that somewhere in the past the families intersect, but so far I haven't found the connection.

Ada and Morris Johnson Pueblo CO 1912

     After their marriage in 1895 or so, Ada moved to Pueblo, CO, to join Morris. Pueblo was then the largest city in Colorado. Prior to his marriage, Morris ranched and operated a farm implement business.

      In 1908 Edna and Grace then 20 and 22, traveled to Pueblo, Colorado to visit their mother's sister, Ada Sharpe Johnson. The Johnsons had moved into their recently completed home at 1927 Greenwood.

Morris Johnson, Edna and Grace Walker, 1908

Below is a link to an application for the home to become a landmark.  (Erin and I looked at the listing for their first home in Pueblo and Erin didn't believe it was this one. Turns out Erin was right.) In the Google street view, it's obstructed by trees, etc.
Ada Sharpe Johnson home in Pueblo Co

I've never found a date of death for Ada, but she appears to have died sometime between 1917 and 1919. In the Pueblo city directory of 1919 another couple is living in the home. I could find neither Ada or Morris in the 1920 US census, but Morris appears again in the 1930 Pueblo US census. According to the application for landmark status, he died in Pueblo in 1952.

     Tomorrow I hope to post photographs from Edna and Grace's trip to visit the Johnsons.