Mary Melissa Fast ^{1 2 3 4 5}

   Cause of her death was Indigestion.⁵

  General Notes:

If Bertha's father's name was George Washington Curry that would be interesting because Mary's younger sister, Ruth, was married to George W. Curry in 1878. But if he was married to Ruth in 1878, how could Mary be giving birth to his daughter also in 1878. Well, technically that could happen but it brings up all sorts of unpleasant personal relationships between the three. Unfortunately the 1880 census records for Ruth only add more fuel to the fire because it shows the possibility that Ruth and George were already living separately but even that may be due to an enumerator's error because of some other issues raised that are discussed in the notes for Ruth A. Fast.
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  Noted events in her life were:

• She has alternate birth date of 1852 and a birth location of Ohio.

This birth year was referenced by her age of 8 on the 1860 census.
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• She appeared on the 1860 US Census in Troy Township, Ashland County, OH on 8 June 1860. ³

1860 US Census
Page 29, Roll 930, Dwelling 235, Family 226
Troy Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Mary M. Fast..8..OH
(Living with parents.)

NOTE - If her birth date was 7 Sep 1853, then her age should have been 6 instead of 8.
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• She appeared on the 1870 US Census in Troy Township, Ashland County, OH on 22 June 1870. ⁴

1870 US Census
Page 3-4, Roll 1169, Dwelling 2, Family 21
Troy Township, Ashland County, Ohio
Melissa Fast..16..OH
(Living with parents.)
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• She appeared on the 1880 US Census in Rochester, OH on 23 June 1880. ¹

1880 US Census
Page 578A, District 179, Dwelling 134, Family 143, Roll 1042
Rochester, Lorain County, Ohio
Mary M. Johnson..Wife..26..OH..Keeping House
(Living with 2nd husband, daughter, and her daughter from her 1st marriage.)
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• She appeared on the 1900 US Census in Rochester Township, Lorain County, OH on 12 June 1900. ²

1900 US Census
Sheet 8B, District 84, Dwelling 172, Family 179
Rochester Township, Lorain County, Ohio
Farm owned, no mortgage
Married 21 years
Mary M. Johnson..Wife..Sep 1853..46..OH..5/5
(Living with husband and 3 sons.)
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• She was buried on 19 April 1917 in the Nova Cemetery in Nova, OH.

Mary married George Washington Curry, son of George Washington Curry and Ara Ann Smith, about 1877. (George Washington Curry was born on 22 September 1849 in Ruggles Township, Ashland County, OH ^{6 7 8} and died on 24 February 1915 in Los Angeles, CA ⁶.)

Mary next married Richard Menter Johnson, son of John Johnson and Alingra, in 1879.^{1 2} (Richard Menter Johnson was born on 2 March 1841 in Ohio,^{1 2 9} died on 14 July 1925 in Wellington, OH ⁹ and was buried on 16 July 1925 in Troy Township, Ashland County, OH ⁹.). The cause of his death was Mitral Stenosis.⁵

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1880 US Census in Rochester, OH on 23 June 1880. ¹

1880 US Census
Page 578A, District 179, Dwelling 134, Family 143, Roll 1042
Rochester, Lorain County, Ohio
Richard M. Johnson..Self..39..OH..Lawyer
Mary M. Johnson..Wife..26..OH..Keeping House
Edith Johnson..Dau..5m..OH..Dec
Bertha Curry..SDau..2..OH
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• They appeared on the 1900 US Census in Rochester Township, Lorain County, OH on 12 June 1900. ²

1900 US Census
Sheet 8B, District 84, Dwelling 172, Family 179
Rochester Township, Lorain County, Ohio
Farm owned, no mortgage
Married 21 years
Richard M. Johnson..Head..Mar 1841..39..OH..Farmer
Mary M. Johnson..Wife..Sep 1853..46..OH..5/5
Thomas B. Johnson..Son..Oct 1883..16..OH..Farm Laborer
John L. Johnson..Son..May 1887..13..OH..Farm Laborer
Cloyd E. Johnson..Son..Aug 1890..9..OH..At School

NOTE - Mary stated that she had 5 children but I can account for only 4 children with Richard Johnson. The fifth child must be Bertha Curry, her daughter from a previous marriage and who she listed on the 1880 census but her whereabouts are unknown. (Brian L. Lightfoot)
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