BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
Portrait Biographical Album
of
Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio
containing Full Page Portraits
and Prominent and Representative Citizens
of the County
Together with Portraits and Biographies of all the
Presidents of the United States.
Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1890.

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ROBERT JOHNSON, Vice-President of the Mast, Foos & Co. manufacturing concern and also of the Superior Drill Company of Springfield, is one of its prominent and leading citizens, a gentleman of the highest character and of potent influence. He and his wife are members of the High Street Methodist Episcopal Church and are both highly esteemed and loved for their many excellent personal qualities and sterling Christian worth.  Mr. Johnson was born in Clark County a few miles south of the city of Springfield on the old Johnson place, a well-known locality, Jan. 20, 1832.  He is the second son of the late James and Ellen Johnson, natives of Ireland and of Scotch-Irish blood.      The parents of Mr. Johnson came to Clark County in 1824, settling down upon the farm where they spent the Remainder of their lives.  Eight children—four boys and four girls - were born on the place, all of whom are still living (1890).  In 1849, Robert repaired to the city and commenced learning the trade of a carpenter and joiner at which he worked three years.  He then became a partner with his brother James, and they adopted the business of contracting and building which they carried on until 1864, in which year he went to the Pennsylvania oil regions during the excitement incident to the opening of the rich oil field.  After operating there about three years he returned to Springfield.      In 1867, Mr. Johnson joined with others in organizing the Champion Machine Company, which subsequently became the Amos Whiteley Reaper & Mower Manufacturing Company, and was a leading and most efficient member of the company until the year 1881, when he disposed of his interest in the concern.  To Mr. Johnson’s ability as a manager and worker in the company’s operations must be ascribed a goodly portion of its marked success.  Whatever he has undertaken in any department of business has been well and efficiently done.      Soon afterward Mr. Johnson purchased property opposite the First Presbyterian Church, on West Main Street, Springfield, demolished the old and unsightly structures standing upon it and erected a fine, five-story business block, finishing off on the fourth and fifth floors one of the most elegant Masonic halls in the country.  In 1884, he acquired an interest in the celebrated manufactory owned by Messrs. Mast, Foos & Co., and was chosen Vice-President of the company.  In December of that same year he assisted in the re-organization of the Superior Drill Company and was elected Vice-President of this also; he now divides his time and energies in assisting the management and operations of both the companies named.      Mr. Johnson was m irried in 1859 to Miss Adelaide Humphreys, a daughter of the late William Humphreys, an esteemed citizen and a pioneer of Clark County.  This union resulted in the birth of seven children, viz.: Effie A., Charles S., Nellie M., Frank C., Clara B., Jessie J., and Benjamin P.  Mr. Johnson has always taken a prominent and useful part in public affairs and has invariably been recognized as a good citizen. He was elected to the City Council from the old Third Ward in the spring of 1882, serving four years and was President of the Council one terra.  He is one of the stockholders and Directors of the Springfield National Bank and a Trustee of his church.  His residence at No. 197 South Fountain Avenue*, is beautifully situated and forms one of the many very handsome and comfortable homes of Springfield.  Mr. Johnson has acquired a substantial fortune through his industry and enterprise, mechanical abilities and rare qualities as a manager of large enterprises and makes good use of the means he has accumulated. Source:  Portrait Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio, Published Chicago: Chapman Bros. - 1890 - Page 905 * Building no longer there.

MARCELLUS D. JOHNSTON.  The manufacture of cigars in these later days has become an art and a science, and there are few who have a better understanding of the business than Mr. Johnston, who inaugurated his present enterprise in September, 1888, and does a wholesale business in cigars.  His experience in this business commenced in 1868 in the city of Springfield, of which he has since been a resident.  Mr. Johnston was born in New Carlisle, Clark County, this State, Mar. 3, 1851, and is the eldest son of John and Mary (Garst) Johnston, the former of whom was born in the above-mentioned county, Feb. 8, 1825.  The paternal grandfather, James Johnston, was a manufacturer of nails, having established the factory in Springfield in 1816.  The nails were all made by hand and were sold at twenty-five cents per pound.  Later, he turned his attention to farming, which he followed the remainder of his life.      The mother of our subject was a native of Virginia, whence she emigrated with her parents when quite young.  Her father, John Garst, spent his last days in Clark County.  Mrs. Johnston died at New Carlisle, in February, 1863.  The three children of the parental family were named respectively: Wurden, who died when about two years old; Charles E., a traveling salesman for the firm of Johnston & Son; and Marcellus D., our subject.  The latter was a youth of seventeen years when he came to Springfield with his parents.  He obtained a good education, completing his studies by a year's attendance at Wittenberg College.  Later he became a bookkeeper for the firm of Kidder, Johnston & Co., manufacturers and dealers in tobacco, acting in this capacity eight years, and was then admitted as a partner into the business.      In due time Mr. Johnson purchased the interest of Jacob Seitz in the above-mentioned firm, Mr. Seitz having succeeded Mr. Kidder, and the firm now became Johnston & Son, as at present.  They transacted a wholesale tobacco business until 1888, but since that time they have done a very large jobbing business in cigars, and manufacture of the same.  Their trade extends throughout Ohio, Eastern Indiana. Illinois and Chicago.      John Johnston, the father of our subject, was for twenty-eight years a merchant in New Carlisle, Clark County.  Having begun business there in 1837, he sold out in 1865, and in 1868 moved to Springfield, and here became a partner of the firm of Kidder, Johnston & Co.  He is also a stanch Republican and a member of the Methodist Church.  He joined the Masonic Lodge in New Carlisle in 1850, and has attained to the degree of Royal Arch Mason.      The store building of Johnston & Son comprises Nos. 115 and 117, East Main Street, and they give employment to thirty men besides their traveling salesmen.  The family residence is pleasantly located at No. 295, South Fountain Avenue.  Mr. Johnston is a Republican in politics. lie belongs to the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he officiates as a Trustee, and has been Secretary of the Sunday-school for the past eight years.      The subject of this notice was married, Nov. 25, 1875, to Miss Lucy Slack.  Mrs. Johnston was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1855, and is a daughter of Peter and Maria Slack, who were natives of England.  The father is living and the mother is deceased.  The five children of this union were named respectively: Harry W., Viola M., Clarence M., Mabel F. and Laura Ruth. Source:  Portrait Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio, Published Chicago: Chapman Bros. - 1890 - Page 385

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