This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: RMunns7272 Surnames: Smith, Johnson Classification: biography Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.wisconsin.counties.lacrosse/2329/mb.ashx Message Board Post: >From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 792. City of La Crosse JOHN SMITH, proprietor of the Mississippi House, was born in Sweden in 1834, and was a son of Johannes Smith; came to the United States in 1859. He was a sailor, and sailed from New York City one and a half years in the coast trade; then went to Mobile, Ala., and stayed till 1861. He was then in the army till the close of the war, and came to La Crosse in 1866. He commenced building the Mississippi House in the fall of 1874; has accommodation for about forty boarders and stabling for eighteen to twenty horses. He was married in La Crosse, in 1872, to Mrs. Paulina Johnson, widow of Andrew Johnson. She had two children by the first husband - Oscar and Albert - and two by the present husband - Ida and Joseph Emil. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!] Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.