History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

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HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

great-grandfather, Samuel Johnson, was born in Massachusetts, in which
state he remained until his death, and served in the war of the American
Revolution. Grandfather William Johnson, a native of Massachusetts,
married Parmelia Dudley, a descendant of Sir Thomas Dudley, who was
the second colonial governor of Massachusetts. In I630 he emigrated
from England to Massachusetts as deputy governor under Winthrop.
He served thirteen years as deputy governor and was four times governor
of the colonies, in I634-40-45-50. The father of the Detroit manufacturer was Philo Johnson, who was born in Massachusetts and who married
Eliza English. Both died in Brooklyn, New York, where Philo Johnson
for many years had been prosperously engaged in merchandising.
Mr. Johnson's education was acquired in the public schools of New
York, and his business career began in I865, at the age of eighteen. He
was employed in the counting room of a large New York tobacco manufactory until 1871, and that experience was followed by his connection
with a large toy manufacturing concern in New York. In I873 he was
given an interest in the latter business and continued with the house until
1877. Failing health terminated his career as a toy manufacturer in New
York city, otherwise he might probably have continued in business in the
eastern metropolis throughout his active years. For recuperation he went
to Denver, Colorado, where he lived several years. In 1879 he began
manufacturing and handling toys and kindred lines of goods in Denver,
where his enterprise continued on a modest scale until 1884. In that
year he located in Detroit, which has since been his permanent home.
In Detroit Mr. Johnson became manager of the Detroit Knitting and
Corset Works, and directed the business management of that concern
until 1887. In the meantime, in I886, Mr. Johnson had become associated
with Homer Pennock and William Penberthy, three men who organized
and incorporated the Penberthy Injector Company for the purpose of
manufacturing an improved form of steam injector invented by Mr. Penberthy. Of the new company Mr. Johnson became secretary and treasurer. The Penberthy injector was by all odds superior to anything at the
time in use, but the three associates had only moderate capital, and they
proceeded cautiously with investment in plant and machinery, but exploited
the sale and distribution of the product most vigorously. In a few
years the Penberthy Injector had an established reputation as a mechanical
appliance, and the factory at Detroit grew in proportion. Since that time
it has become the largest concern of its kind in the world, and supplies
all markets with the Penberthy Injector and other steam appliances. Its
plant at Detroit occupies several acres of ground, with a large branch
situated at Windsor, Canada. For fifteen years Mr. Johnson was president and general manager of the plant and company, and to his management during that period has been due much of the success of the enterprise. His son, Homer S. Johnson, who succeeded him as manager, has
continued in that position ever since with wonderful success.
Besides his influential leadership and work with the Detroit Employers' Association, as already related, Mr. Johnson is a member of the Detroit
Board of Commerce, the Detroit Club, the Country Club, the Detroit
Athletic Club, the Old Club, the Au Sable Fishing Club, and in Masonry
has taken thirty-two degrees in Scottish Rite and belongs to the Mystic
Shrine.
In New York City on June 5, 1873, occurred the marriage of Mr.
Johnson to Miss Lilla Louise, daughter of George and Sarah (Bissell)
Sturtevant of New York City. Mrs. Johnson is a niece of George H.
Bissell, the discoverer of petroleum in America, and who donated to Dartmouth College the gymnasium which bears his name on the campus of that:;o:? 0