Olive Stark (Johnson)

Suggested Research Sources for Olive Stark (Johnson) (1896–1963, Orem, Utah County, Utah)

Olive Stark (Johnson) lived her entire life in Utah, primarily in Utah County (Orem area), during a period spanning the late 19th to mid-20th century. This aligns with key U.S. federal census enumerations (1900–1950), Utah vital records (births from 1898/1905, deaths from 1904/1905), and potential LDS Church records given the region's demographics. Her Swedish-immigrant heritage via grandparents (e.g., Andrew Gustave Johnson and Charlotta Christina Anderson) suggests immigration and naturalization records for parents/grandparents. Below are targeted suggestions by category, prioritized by relevance to her lifespan and location. Access many for free via FamilySearch or at affiliates; others require subscriptions (e.g., Ancestry, MyHeritage).

1. Census Records

• U.S. Federal Censuses (1900–1950): Search for Olive Johnson/Stark in Utah County, Utah. She'd appear as a child in 1900/1910 (with parents Charles G. and Edith R. Johnson), and as head/spouse in later years (e.g., 1930/1940 with Wilford Stark). 1950 census is newly indexed and covers her at age ~54.
  • FamilySearch: Free collections under "United States Census" > Utah > Utah County. Specific: 1940 Census shows Utah County households.
  • Ancestry.com: "1940 U.S. Federal Census" and "1950 Census" (search "Olive Stark" + "Orem, Utah").
  • MyHeritage: "U.S. Federal Censuses 1790–1950" with Utah filters.
• Utah State Censuses (1850s–1890s fragments): Less relevant post-1896, but check parental records.
  • Source: FamilySearch Utah Online Genealogy Records (familysearch.org/en/wiki/Utah_Online_Genealogy_Records).

2. Military Records

• Unlikely for Olive (female, non-combat era), but check spouse Wilford Joh Stark (b. 1893) for WWI Draft (1917–1918) or WWII records, as Utah men often registered locally.
  • FamilySearch: "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918" (Utah > Utah County) and "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942".
  • Ancestry.com: "U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918" and "U.S., Select Military Registers, 1815–1894" (for any family service).
  • Fold3 (via Ancestry): Utah-specific draft cards.
• Broader: Utah Military Records wiki lists forts/camps in Utah County (e.g., Camp Floyd era, but post-WWI focus).
  • Source: FamilySearch Utah Military Records (familysearch.org/en/wiki/Utah_Military_Records).

3. Vital Records (Birth, Marriage, Death)

• Birth (1896): Pre-state system; seek LDS Church ordinances or delayed certificates.
  • Utah County birth ledgers (1898+ partial).
• Marriage: Likely to Wilford Stark ~1910s–1920s in Utah County.
• Death (1963): Utah death certificate available (post-1904).
  • FamilySearch: "Utah Death Certificates, 1904–1965" and "Utah, County Birth and Death Records, 1892–1951".
  • Utah State Archives: Online index at vitalrecords.utah.gov (certified copies for fee).
  • MyHeritage: Utah vital collections in "Utah, United States – Vital Records".
• Source: Library of Congress Utah Vital Records Guide (guides.loc.gov/utah-local-history-genealogy/vital-records) and FamilySearch Utah County Genealogy (familysearch.org/en/wiki/Utah_County,_Utah_Genealogy).

4. Historical Documents and Local Records

• Probate, Land, and Court Records: Utah County deeds (homesteads near Orem) or probate for parents.
  • FamilySearch: "Utah, County Probate Records, 1850–1985" > Utah County.
• Newspapers/Obituaries: Provo Daily Herald or Orem-Geneva Times (1963 obit likely).
  • Newspapers.com (via MyHeritage/Ancestry) or Chronicling America (free, loc.gov).
• LDS Church Records: Baptism/endowments (FamilySearch temple records, ID: KWZT-J6X).
  • Source: FamilySearch Utah Courthouse Records (guides.loc.gov/utah-local-history-genealogy/courthouse-records).

5. Online Genealogy Databases

Start with FamilySearch (free, comprehensive for Utah/LDS families), then cross-reference Ancestry/MyHeritage for images. For Swedish roots, add Ellis Island records (1890s arrivals). Utah County's wiki has county-specific links.

Sources Cited:

• FamilySearch: Utah Online Genealogy Records (familysearch.org/en/wiki/Utah_Online_Genealogy_Records); Utah County Genealogy (familysearch.org/en/wiki/Utah_County,_Utah_Genealogy); Utah Military Records (familysearch.org/en/wiki/Utah_Military_Records).
• MyHeritage: Utah Family History Records (myheritage.com/wiki/Utah_family_history_records).
• Library of Congress: Utah Vital & Courthouse Records (guides.loc.gov/utah-local-history-genealogy).
• BillionGraves/FamilySearch context for baseline (billiongraves.com/grave/Olive-Stark-Johnson/14011).

Early Life and Family Background

Olive Johnson (later Stark) was born on September 22, 1896, likely in Utah, into a large pioneer-descended family with deep roots in the state's Mormon communities. Her parents were Charles G. Johnson and Edith R. Johnson (née Ash), part of a sprawling family network that included at least 15 siblings, such as Hazel E. Bullock (Johnson), Cyril George Johnson, Harold Charles Johnson, and others like Joseph Richards Johnson, Eliza Miller (Johnson), and Leona G. Johnson. This extensive sibling group reflects the large families common in early 20th-century Utah Valley households, often tied to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) culture emphasizing family and self-sufficiency.

Her grandparents included Swedish immigrants like Andrew Gustave Johnson, Charlotta Christina Anderson, Johannes Andersson, and Kajsa Lisa Johansdotter, alongside British/Welsh lines such as Joseph Ash, Fanny Salisbury, Matthew Richards, and Mary Ann Major. This heritage points to transatlantic migration waves in the mid-1800s, with ancestors arriving via LDS gathering to Utah during the pioneer era. Census records from the early 1900s would show the Johnson family in Utah County, engaged in farming or ranching amid the Provo/Orem area's agricultural boom, supported by irrigation from the Provo River and Utah Lake.

Sources: FamilySearch.org person profile KWZT-J6X (https://familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KWZT-J6X); BillionGraves record (https://billiongraves.com/grave/Olive-Stark-Johnson/14011).

Marriage, Children, and Adulthood

Olive married Wilford Joh Stark (born August 7, 1893; died April 26, 1967), with whom she shared a headstone in Orem Cemetery marked "MOTHER" and "FATHER." They raised at least two daughters: Carol Stark (later Swenson) and Margaret Stark. Grandchildren included John Y. Swenson, Rex J. Walker, Stephen John Swensen, Robyn Swenson, and others like Lynn R. Winterton and David Swenson, indicating a multi-generational family centered in Utah.

Her life spanned pivotal eras in Utah history:

• 1900s–1910s (Childhood/Young Adulthood): Grew up during Utah's statehood (1896) and homesteading expansion. World War I (1917–1918) brought rationing and Liberty Bond drives to LDS wards; women like Olive likely contributed through church auxiliaries like Relief Society, canning food and sewing.
• 1920s–1930s (Marriage and Great Depression): U.S. Census data (1920, 1930) places similar Johnson/Stark families in Utah County precincts like Orem or Provo, working fruit orchards (cherries, peaches) or dairy farms. The Depression hit rural Utah hard, but church welfare programs provided communal support—Olive's homemaking role would involve preserving food, raising children amid economic hardship.
• 1940s–1950s (WWII and Postwar): WWII saw Utah Valley as a training hub (e.g., near Wendover Army Airfield); families endured shortages while supporting war efforts. Postwar suburban growth transformed Orem from farmland to "Family City USA," with new homes and shopping centers. Olive likely participated in LDS temple work and community events.
• 1960s: Passed away on October 18, 1963, at age 67, just before major changes like the Vietnam era.

Local newspapers in Utah County, such as the Provo Daily Herald or Orem-Geneva Times, often covered obituaries and family notices for residents like Olive, highlighting church service and family legacies.

Sources: Utah County Newspapers and Obituaries index (https://ldsgenealogy.com/UT/Utah-County-Newspapers-and-Obituaries.htm); FamilySearch.org census linkages via KWZT-J6X; historical context from FamilySearch Utah County wiki (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Utah_County,_Utah_Genealogy).

Daily Life and Historical Context

As a mother in conservative, faith-centered Orem (pop. ~3,000 in 1920, booming to 25,000 by 1960), Olive's days revolved around homemaking: gardening, quilting, canning, and ward activities. Utah's dry climate and high altitude shaped routines around irrigation seasons and harsh winters. No military service noted for her or spouse, but family ties suggest quiet patriotism. Her epitaph "MOTHER, FATHER" on the floral-etched granite headstone underscores enduring family values.

This life exemplifies Utah Valley's "everyman" pioneer spirit—resilient, community-oriented, and rooted in multi-generational ties amid America's transformation from agrarian to modern society.

Primary Sources Cited: BillionGraves (headstone/image); FamilySearch (pedigree/census). Additional research via genealogy databases confirms no immigration records for Olive (native Utahan), focusing on local vital stats.

Headstone Analysis

The headstone is a flat, rectangular, polished granite marker with a lighter granite border, located in the Orem Cemetery, Orem, Utah, Utah, United States. It prominently features the surname STARK in raised lettering at the top center. The inscription is divided into two sections:

• Left side (MOTHER):
  OLIVE JOHNSON
  SEPT. 22, 1896
  OCT. 18, 1967

• Right side (FATHER):
  WILFORD JOHN
  AUG. 7, 1893
  APR. 26, 1967

Decorative floral motifs are etched on the left and right sides, with a smaller floral design separating the "Mother" and "Father" sections. The epitaph reads "MOTHER, FATHER," indicating this is a shared headstone for a married couple, emphasizing their parental roles. No military symbols, religious icons, or additional epitaphs are noted. The design is typical of mid-20th-century American cemetery markers in Utah, often associated with LDS (Mormon) families, reflecting modesty and family focus.

Key Vital Details Extracted:

• Full Name: Olive Stark (née Johnson)
• Birth Date: September 22, 1896
• Death Date: October 18, 1963 (aged 67 years and ~26 days)
• Spouse: Wilford John Stark (born August 7, 1893; died April 26, 1967; also buried here)
• Burial Location: Orem Cemetery, Orem, Utah County, Utah, USA (BillionGraves Record ID: 14011)
• Headstone Image: Available at BillionGraves

Sources: BillionGraves (https://billiongraves.com/grave/Olive-Stark-Johnson/14011); headstone description and raw text from cemetery record metadata.

Additional Biographical and Family Information

Olive Johnson Stark was born in Utah, likely in Utah County or nearby, during a period of rapid settlement in the region following Mormon pioneer migrations from the 1840s–1890s. Utah County was a hub for agriculture, mining, and LDS communities, with Orem (originally part of Provo area) developing as a farming and later suburban community in the early 20th century.

Life and Records:

• Parents: Charles G. Johnson (likely Charles Gustav Johnson, Swedish immigrant descent) and Edith R. Johnson (née Ash).
• Marriage: To Wilford John Stark (sometimes listed as Wilford Joh Stark); they appear together in Utah records post-1910s.
• Residence and Census: Likely resided in Utah County (Provo/Orem area). U.S. Census records (1920–1950) would place the family in agricultural or labor roles common to the era, amid events like World War I/II and Utah's sugar beet farming boom. No specific military service noted for Olive or spouse.
• Death Context: Olive passed away in 1963, shortly before major changes like Orem's incorporation as a city (post-WWII growth). No obituary was located in major Utah archives (e.g., GenealogyBank, Legacy.com searches for Orem/ Utah County), but vital records confirm death in Utah.

Family Connections (from genealogical trees; extensive sibling list suggests a large pioneer-era family):

• Children:
  • Carol Stark (married Swenson; grandchildren include John Y. Swenson, Stephen John Swensen, Robyn Swenson, Mary Swenson, David Swenson x2, Jill Swenson).
  • Margaret Stark (grandchildren include Rex J. Walker, Rex Basil Walker, Walker, Carolyn Walker, Lynn R. Winterton).
• Siblings (17 listed, indicating a prolific family): Hazel E. Bullock (Johnson), Cyril George Johnson, Harold Charles Johnson, Joseph Richards Johnson, Eliza Miller (Johnson), Leona G. Johnson, Francis Andrew Johnson, Zina Johnson, Rosa Thorne, Ruth Johnson, Virgil Lamar Johnson, Milton Gustave Johnson, Leona Omer (Johnson).
• Grandparents (Swedish and English roots): Jonas Johnson & Eliza Richards (paternal); Joseph W. Ash & Fanny Salisbury (maternal?); Andrew Gustave Johnson & Charlotta Christina Anderson; Johannes Andersson & Kajsa Lisa Johansdotter; Joseph Ash & ?; Matthew Richards & Mary Ann Major; Anne Marie Larsdotter.

Swedish ancestry on the Johnson side points to late-19th-century immigration waves to Utah's Mormon settlements (e.g., via FamilySearch migration paths from Sweden to Utah, 1860s–1890s).

Sources: FamilySearch.org Person ID KWZT-J6X (https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KWZT-J6X) – comprehensive tree with sources like Utah censuses, vital records; Utah County Genealogy Wiki (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Utah_County,_Utah_Genealogy) for regional context; BillionGraves cross-referenced family links. No immigration/military records found for Olive specifically.

For deeper research, I recommend querying Utah vital records (birth/marriage/death certificates via Utah State Archives) or 1940/1950 U.S. Census enumerations for exact residences/occupations. Let me know if you'd like me to expand on a specific family member or record type!