He was born June 3, 1829, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, the son of Joseph Johnson and Mary Chase.
[2] He married Amelia H. Diffenderffer, a native of St. Louis and soon thereafter made a trip back East.
[2] He purchased property at the corners of Fourth and Wall streets, and, in 1887, at Third and Broadway where he established the Johnson House Boarding, Lodging and Grocery.
[2] He served as the Director of the International Order of Odd Fellows[2] which met in the building opposite the Johnson House.
As president of the board of trustees, he led the effort to get a bridge built over the Sacramento River near Chico.