Hello,
Thank you for trying to help and for this information. With another person's help, I found the death registration for my Great Grandfather. His name was Alfred Johnson, but it was recorded as Alfred Johnston and he died on 7 Sep 1885. Mom understood that he died near the time my Grandfather was born due to some type of train accident, as Grandpa was put into an orphanage early in 1884. We realize now with the correct information that when his wife died in Jan 1884, he might have felt he had no way to take care of 4 or 5 young children and go to work. The death registration fits as he worked for the railroad (per several children's birth records) and was crushed between 2 cars during the coupling process. Thanks again. jbm