Los Angeles County
Biographies
EDWARD
PURNELL JOHNSON, JR.
Edward Purnell Johnson, Jr.,
prominent insurance broker and highly respected citizen of Los Angeles, had been a resident of this city
for about a half century when he passed away on the 2d of December, 1925. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota,
July 18, 1869, his parents being General Edward Purnell
and America Frances (Blasdel) Johnson, the former a
leading capitalist, mining operator and Civil war veteran whose career is
reviewed in another part of this publication.
Of ancient English stock, he was a descendant of Hon. Tom Johnson, Maryland’s first
governor.
Edward P. Johnson, Jr., began his education in the public
schools of St. Paul, Minnesota,
and continued his studies in the public schools of Los
Angeles following the establishment of the family home in California in 1876. His more advanced intellectual training was
received as a student at the University
of Southern California. His initial experience in the business world
was gained in the service of the Bankers Alliance Insurance Company of Los Angeles, and in this
connection he learned much that proved of value to him later as an independent
insurance broker. In 1890 he was
appointed as executive secretary to Governor Markham at Sacramento, California. He was for a brief period in the employ of
the Grand Trunk Railroad of Canada and next was with the Southern Pacific
Railroad. Subsequently he organized the Terminal Warehouse Company, which was
later merged with the Wholesale Terminal Warehouse Company of Los Angeles.
Eventually, however, he returned to the insurance field as a member of
the firm of Johnson, Bogue & Miller. Afterward he became an independent broker,
thus remaining active to the time of his death.
A contemporary writer said: “His business interests encompassed a broad
scope and invariably all ventures which he touched in major capacity were
successful.”
On the 23d of September, 1891, in Los Angeles, Mr. Johnson married Florence
Perry, daughter of William Hayes Perry, a prominent capitalist of this
city. Of this union were born six
children who survive their father: Mrs. Katherine (Johnson) Munroe, wife of
William Robert Munroe; Robert Perry Johnson; Mrs. Margaret (Johnson) Wells,
wife of Howard Hawley Wells; Eleanor (Johnson) Huenergardt,
wife of Alfred George Huenergardt, M.D.; Edward Purnell Johnson (III), who married Frances Alexander; and
Ben Johnson, who married Patricia Colby. The mother of the above named still
resides at 833 West Twenty-eighth
street in Los
Angeles.
Mr. Johnson was always
active in municipal and state politics and his friendships with leading men of
the state formed in public connections became lasting friendships. At the time of his death he was said to know
and to be the friend of more men than the average person has as mere
acquaintances. He was a popular member
of the California Club and attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Masonry, and was a member of Al Malaikah
Temple of the Mystic Shrine in Los
Angeles. While
Mr. Johnson was most actively occupied with his business affairs, he never
neglected the duties of citizenship and supported all projects looking toward
the advancement of community, commonwealth and country. We quote the following well deserved tribute:
“He lived his religious beliefs in daily life, abiding by the Golden Rule, and
indulging in charitable acts quietly whenever he saw help was appropriate. He will be recalled through succeeding
generations as one of the leading men of Los
Angeles, as a significant political factor in the
development of city and state, as a devoted husband and father and friend.”
Transcribed
7-19-12 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages
203-204, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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