The History Of The Finn-Johnson Family Reunion

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The first Finn-Johnson Family Reunion was organized in 1976 by Rosie Anderson (Johnson), Evelyn Johnson (Marvin) and Bertha Weaver-Bey (Phinn). The gathering took place July 31-August 1, 1976, in Detroit, Michigan with a group of 100 people.

 

Since 1976 our group has grown to nearly 250 family members. We have reached out to relatives in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

 

The Finn-Simmons-Rudolph-Johnson-Williams Family History

 

Oral histories and government records show the Finn and Johnson families lived in Fort Deposit and Mount Willing in Lowndes County, Alabama from 1880 until the early 1900s. Between about 1915 and 1920 many moved south to Castleberry and Evergreen in Conecuh County, and Brewton in Escambia County. From the late 1920s to the 1940s, our family joined the great mitigation north, with some settling in Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama, and others continuing to Michigan, New York, and Ohio and other areas. Still others moved further south to Pensacola, Florida.

First Generation

Sarah Howe was born in Alabama around 1843 and had three children prior to her marriage to Simon Johnson: Green Finn, Mack (Finn?) Simmons, and Eliza Finn (Rudolph).

Sarah Howe and Simon Johnson had at least two children: Jeff Johnson and Mattie (who may have died during childhood).

Simon Johnson was born around 1840, possibly in Tennessee or Missouri. He also had at least one daughter, Nancy, with Fannie McDaniel.

 

Allen Williams and Matilda Goldster (or Golston) were the parents of sisters Viola and Frances Williams. Viola married Green Finn and Frances married Jeff Johnson. Little else is known about Allen and Matilda.

 

Second Generation

Green Finn and Viola Williams had 13 children: Viola, Daisy, Raphea, Mattie, Willie, Lizzie, Mack, Grant, Annie Lee, Earnest, Green, Jr., and Ludie. The name of the thirteenth child is not known.

 

Mack Simmons married Mary Hinson and had five children: Alonzo, Herbert, Arthur, Randolph, and John Alvin. He later married Lovie Shanks.

 

Eliza Finn married Joe Rudolph and had seven or eight children: Josephus, Walker, Sarah Janie, Paul and Silas (twins), Murray and Elvira.

 

Jeff Johnson and Frances Williams had at least 14 children: Simon, Andrew, Irene, Ivory, Mamie, Artis, Willie, Rebie, Thomas, Emma, Elmire, Ethel, Elmire and Elizabeth (who died during infancy). Jeff Johnson also had three other children: Pete, Sarah and a daughter (possibly named Kate) in Fort Deposit, AL but nothing else is known about them.

 

The Descendants of Green Finn and Viola Williams

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Third and Fourth Generations

1. Viola Finn and Rubin Johnson likely had at least six children: Tommy, Susan, Esther, Jane, Randolph and Burl (however we only have information about Burl). Following Viola’s death, Rubin and Mittie Garrett had 12 children: Dise, RJ, Beatrice, RE, Willie, Ellis, Mary, Rosa, Arthur, Phillip, JC, and an infant that died at birth.

2. Daisy Finn and Burl Johnson had eight children: Viola, Willie Lee, Earl, Rubin and Rufus (twins), Lucille, Daisy, and Margaret.

3. Raphea Finn/Phinn and Pinky Bowie had four children: Herbert, Leamon, Eleanor and Bertha. Raphea changed the spelling of his name from Finn to Phinn before leaving Alabama.

4. Mattie Finn and Robert Ford Dudley had a daughter, Annie Lee, who died in infancy.

5. Willie Finn married Mary Boskins and had five children: Aziline, Mecile, Mamie, Will Jr. (Bill), and Elizabeth (Lizzie). He later married Ida Lee Sanders and had four children: Morris, Idell, Harold, and LaJoyce.

6. Lizzie Finn and E.L. Knight did not have any children, but raised her sister, Ludie’s sons James Knight and Fred Letts.

7. Mack Finn and Vera Timmons had no children, but he helped raise his sister, Annie Lee’s son, Raphea Casey.

8. Grant Finn -It is unknown if he married or had children.

9. Annie Lee Finn and Charlie Casey and had five children: Gus, Raphea, Daisy, Mattie and Flora.

10. Earnest Finn and Lillie Peterson had eight children: Anderson, Lillie, George, Edward, Mary, Ella Frances, Charles and Earnest Jr.

11. Green Finn, Jr. married Emma Lloyd and had two children: Earnest and Murdis. He later married Christine Moorer and had two daughters: Lillie Ruth and Corean.

12. Ludie Finn and Willie Letts had two sons: James Knight and Fred Letts.

 

 

The Descendants of Mack Simmons and Mary Hinson

Third and Fourth Generations

 

1. Alonzo Simmons -It is unknown if he married or had children.

2. Herbert Simmons and Laura had one child, Mary. He later married Bertha Sullivan and had one son, Theoples.

3. Arthur Simmons and had one child, Alonzo Simmons. He married Lizzie Thigpen. It is unknown if they had children.

4. Randolph Simmons married Easter. It is unknown if they had children.

5. John Alvin Simmons and Laura Ellis Blackmon had one son, John Ellis.

 

The Descendants of Eliza Finn and Joe Rudolph

Third and Fourth Generations

 

1. Sarah Janie Rudolph and Joseph Thomas had 12 children: Elvira, Elisha, Elbert, Joseph, Lisha Bell, Clinton, Walter, Katherine, Herman, Moses, Clemmie, and Willie.

2. Paul Rudolph and Lucy Lasker had eight children. Clara, Joseph, Frances, Anna M, Walter, Dorsey, Luella and O’Neill.

3. Murray Rudolph and Bessie Parmer had four sons: Paul, Silus S., Solomon, John Murry.

1. It is unknown if Josephus Rudolph, Walker Rudolph, Silus Rudolph or Elvira Rudolph married or had children.

 

The Descendants of Jeff Johnson and Frances Williams

Third and Fourth Generations

 

1. Simon Johnson -It is unknown if he married or had children.

2. Andrew Johnson and Minnie Manual had two children: Lola Mae and Frances.

3. Irene Johnson and Carl L. Marvin had 10 children: Judge Arnold, James Enoch, Bertha Mae, Jeff, Herman, Carrie Lee, Gertrude, Rosie Frances, Evelyn Louise, and Carl Jr.

4. Ivory Johnson and Lumon May had four children: Hasque, Eric, Arnetta and Theophalis.

5. Mamie Johnson and Phillip Robbins had one daughter, Arnetta.

6. Artis Johnson and Mary Phillips had one daughter, Patricia.

7. Willie Johnson and Bill Rudolph did not have children.

8. Rebie Johnson had one daughter, Annie Lee and married George Trawick.

9. Thomas Johnson had one son, Leroy.

10. Emma Johnson and Charlie Wingate had one son, Andrew.

11. Ethel Johnson and Frank Montgomery had four children: Willie Frank, Binna Mae, Artis and Emma.

12. Elmire Johnson and Vincent May had two children: Evelyn Frances and Nell Curtis.

13. Elizabeth Johnson died at birth.

 

Prepared by Karen L. Palmer July 2023 revision

 

 

 

Tenure of Presidents and Vice-Presidents

 

President, Rosie Anderson                  July 1976 – July 2000

Vice-President, Willie Cleveland Marvin (WC)

 

President, Alexander Goodwin          August 2000- July 2004

Vice-President, Nathavia Cranford (Tootsie)

 

President, Lisa Smith                           August 2005 – July 2017

Vice-President, Craig Marvin

 

President, Angelo Johnson                  August 2017 – present

Vice-President, Karen Jenkins