Grandpa Johnson's cooper shop, Forreston, Illinois. Standing, left to right, great, great grandsons Jerry, Steve, and Mike.
H. Johnson, the Cooper,
makes tubs for your butter,
Hoops for your buckets and pails.
His work is first class
and guaranteed to last,
And you'll find him down
next to the rails.
"Aunt Jennie made this up. It was used at rallies where candidates spoke, and Jennie carried a small butter tub. Grandpa Johnson worked cutting wood when he first came to America. He then learned the cooper trade working for a cooper in Davis, Illinois. The four oldest children were born there. He then started his own business in Forreston, just off main street. (Recollection by Zwaantje Johnson Holtzman, as told to granddaughter Jan Hey Dean.)
George Johnson
in front of his father's cooper shop
about 1949-1950
Grandpa Johnson's cooper shop, Forreston, Illinois. Seated, left to right, great, great grandsons Jerry, Steve, and Mike.