Abbott L. Johnson

Abbott L. Johnson
Among the progressive business men who have contributed to raise "Magic Muncie" to her present advanced position as a manufacturing and general business center, is A. L. Johnson. Abbott Livingston Johnson was born in Ohio, Herkimer county, in the state of New York, Aug. 26, 1852. He was a son of Henry Isaac Johnson, a farmer, and Eliza Ferguson Johnson, a thoroughly good woman and a devoted Christian of the Methodist faith. He attended public schools at Ashtabula, O. In 1874 he was sent to Bluffton, Ind., to superintend the starting of bent wood machinery. These works are now the property of J. H. Smith & Co., of Muncie. This was the first time that Mr. Johnson had been away from home. With his naturally quick intelligence he saw an opportunity to engage with profit in the timber business. Four years later he associated himself with J. T. Arnold, of Montpelier, Ind., in the general hardwood lumber business. The firm name was A. L. Johnson & Co. Two years later he moved to Muncie and from that growing city operated several hardwood mills. Two years later, on the retirement of Mr. Arnold, J. C. Johnson came into the firm and the business was continued successfully by the two brothers until October, 1896. It was then sold to J. C. Wood & Co. For thirteen years prior to his purchase Mr. Wood had been employed in the same business as superintendent. Mr. Johnson had at that time acquired interests in several other enterprises which demanded his attention. His business training had been only such as is acquired by close attention to such business as he may have had in hand. In all this, however, he had been diligent, attending carefully to whatever came before him to be looked after, and had observed the strictest business integrity in all his dealings. He is now president of the Weis & Lesh Manufacturing company, manufacturers of spokes and butchers' skewers, with factories in Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee and Mississippi; president of the Live Poultry Transportation company, of Chicago; vice-president of the Muncie Natural Gas company, of Muncie, Ind. He is also a stockholder in the Ashtabula Water Works company, of Ashtabula, O.; The Muncie Water Works company, of Muncie, Ind.; the Indiana Iron company, of Muncie; and controlling owner of the Johnson block, a building of which any city might well be proud. The erection of this fine block is an evidence of the unbounded confidence which Mr. Johnson has in the remarkable and flourishing city in which he lives. Mr. Johnson was married at Ashtabula, O., Dec. 28, 1871, to Miss Florence Merriman, a lady of many accomplishments. They have three children, their two sons being named John Edgar and Ray Prescott; their daughter, Florence Grace. His residence is at No. 330 East Washington street, Muncie. In politics Mr. Johnson is a Republican. In religion his affiliations are with the Baptist church, of which his wife is also a member. He is a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Muncie. He is also a member of the Commercial club of Indianapolis. As a man he is much respected for his strict integrity. As a public-spirited citizen he stands in the front rank among those who have given Muncie her justly-earned reputation for progress and development, and in all this wonderful Union there is no better type of true progress than Muncie.
Men of Progress, Indiana. The Indianapolis Sentinel Company, 1899.

Among the progressive business men who have contributed to raise "Magic Muncie" to her present advanced position as a manufacturing
and general business center, is A. L. Johnson. Abbott Livingston Johnson was born in Ohio, Herkimer county, in the state of New York,
Aug. 26, 1852. He was a son of Henry Isaac Johnson, a farmer, and Eliza Ferguson Johnson, a thoroughly good woman and a devoted
Christian of the Methodist faith. He attended public schools at Ashtabula, O. In 1874 he was sent to Bluffton, Ind., to superintend
the starting of bent wood machinery. These works are now the property of J. H. Smith & Co., of Muncie. This was the first time that
Mr. Johnson had been away from home. With his naturally quick intelligence he saw an opportunity to engage with profit in the timber
business. Four years later he associated himself with J. T. Arnold, of Montpelier, Ind., in the general hardwood lumber business.
The firm name was A. L. Johnson & Co. Two years later he moved to Muncie and from that growing city operated several hardwood mills.
Two years later, on the retirement of Mr. Arnold, J. C. Johnson came into the firm and the business was continued successfully by
the two brothers until October, 1896. It was then sold to J. C. Wood & Co. For thirteen years prior to his purchase Mr. Wood had
been employed in the same business as superintendent. Mr. Johnson had at that time acquired interests in several other enterprises
which demanded his attention. His business training had been only such as is acquired by close attention to such business as he may
have had in hand. In all this, however, he had been diligent, attending carefully to whatever came before him to be looked after,
and had observed the strictest business integrity in all his dealings. He is now president of the Weis & Lesh Manufacturing company,
manufacturers of spokes and butchers' skewers, with factories in Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee and Mississippi; president of the Live
Poultry Transportation company, of Chicago; vice-president of the Muncie Natural Gas company, of Muncie, Ind. He is also a stockholder
in the Ashtabula Water Works company, of Ashtabula, O.; The Muncie Water Works company, of Muncie, Ind.; the Indiana Iron company,
of Muncie; and controlling owner of the Johnson block, a building of which any city might well be proud. The erection of this fine
block is an evidence of the unbounded confidence which Mr. Johnson has in the remarkable and flourishing city in which he lives.

Mr. Johnson was married at Ashtabula, O., Dec. 28, 1871, to Miss Florence Merriman, a lady of many accomplishments. They have three
children, their two sons being named John Edgar and Ray Prescott; their daughter, Florence Grace. His residence is at No. 330 East
Washington street, Muncie. In politics Mr. Johnson is a Republican. In religion his affiliations are with the Baptist church, of
which his wife is also a member. He is a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Muncie. He is also a
member of the Commercial club of Indianapolis. As a man he is much respected for his strict integrity. As a public-spirited citizen
he stands in the front rank among those who have given Muncie her justly-earned reputation for progress and development, and in all
this wonderful Union there is no better type of true progress than Muncie.

Men of Progress, Indiana.
The Indianapolis Sentinel Company, 1899.