Los Angeles County
Biographies
GENERAL
EDWARD PURNELL JOHNSON
Though a quarter of a century has passed since the death of General Edward Purnell Johnson, he is well remembered by the older residents of Los Angeles as one of the leading and influential citizens of the community, actively identified with its development for more than thirty years as merchant and capitalist. He was born in Sparta, Indiana, February 10, 1843, his parents being John De Shield and Sarah (Bromley) Johnson, of Baltimore, Maryland. He came of a family of English origin whose American progenitor was the father of Governor Tom Johnson, first governor of the state of Maryland. The representatives of the family have always been men and women of the highest character.
Edward P. Johnson spent his boyhood days on his father’s farm at Sparta, Indiana, and was educated at Moores Hill College of that state, where he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil war with the Sixth-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he fought for four years, participating in many major engagements of the southwest, including the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Nashville. He was made a first lieutenant at the age of nineteen and was detailed to the staff of General Grosvenor of Ohio as assistant adjutant general. Later he was made a captain and served as aide-de-camp under Major General Thomas. He was a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota, for ten years prior to 1876, and from then until 1879, or for three years, engaged in ranching near Santa Fe Springs, California, and in mining for several years following in California and Arizona. For more than thirty years he contributed consistently to the growth and prosperity of this city as a merchant and public-spirited citizen. He was vice president and treasurer of the Bankers Alliance Insurance Company of Los Angeles and president of the Los Angeles Furniture Company.
In 1865 General Johnson married America Frances Blasdel, daughter of Elijah Sparks and Margaret (Cox) Blasdel. To them were born three sons and two daughters, namely: Sarah Loretta Johnson; Sparks Blasdel; Edward Purnell, Jr., who is mentioned at length on another page of this work; Benjamin Franklin; and Mrs. Gertrude (Johnson) Dick. All of the above named were born in St. Paul, Minnesota.
An active worker in the local ranks of the republican party, General Johnson served as a delegate to the state convention of 1890, when he was largely instrumental in the nomination of his friend and partner, Colonel H. H. Markham, for governor of California. He was a delegate to the republican national convention at Minneapolis in 1892. Meanwhile, in 1888, he had been made a brigadier general of the California National Guard by Governor Waterman. He was made commander of Stanton Post, No. 55, Grand Army of the Republic, in Los Angeles, and was also a member of the Loyal Legion. He was a charter member of the California Club and fraternally was identified with the Masons, while his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the First Methodist Church of Los Angeles. An earlier biographer wrote: “While a man of marked courage and determination, his temper was always even and unruffled and his manner kind and courteous. He discharged every duty that came to him in life with honesty and integrity.” He passed away in Los Angeles, April 23, 1908, when sixty-five years of age.
Transcribed
3-13-13 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages
677-678, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2013 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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BIOGRAPHIES