JOHNSON DRY GOODS COMPANY
JOHNNIE HARRISON JOHNSON & VERA ANN
(MARTIN) JOHNSON
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Located in Hamilton on the West side of the square,
Phone No. 303, carries Complete Line of Ladies’ Ready-to-Wear. Gent’s
Furnishings and Piece Goods, under the Management of John H. Johnson.
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Hamilton has an unusual number of native young men who
have either established or built up a business of the town or that are
carrying on a business very successfully that was founded by their
fathers. Among these home-built enterprises is the Johnson Dry Goods
Company, founded, owned, and managed by John H. Johnson, a Hamilton man.
C. J. Johnson, the father of John H. was a native of
Mississippi and came to Texas in his early youth, settling in Hamilton
county where he farmed and raised cattle for several years, then came to
Hamilton and engaged in the furniture business. The mother of John H.
Johnson is Mrs. Cora (Tate) Johnson, born in Tennessee and brought to
Hamilton by her parents. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Tate came to
Hamilton when the town was a small village. Mr. Tate drove the mail route
from Hamilton to Hico every day for many years and is known for and wide
for his dependability and courtesy and care of his passengers who rode
with him to board the train for the wide world.
John H. Johnson was educated in the Hamilton schools and
Baylor University. After coming home he enlisted in the army for the World
War and was stationed in Long Island, New York, but was never sent
overseas. When the war ended he went to San Antonio and worked in a man’s
clothing store, later returning to Hamilton where he was employed for a
time with a dry goods firm. In 1920 he entered the dry goods business for
himself in the old Spurlin building, one of the first business houses in
Hamilton.
Mr. Johnson states that his capital was limited and
prices were extremely high, ordinary sheeting selling for 85¢ a yard. He
had a big store building and due to the fact that his stock was small he
conceived the idea to camouflage his stock by filling the back part of the
store with empty boxes to make his stock fill the space.
In 1921 he bought 136 bales of cotton at 21 cents per
pound. The price dropped to 11 cents and he held the cotton two years and
sold it for 18 cents, and in three years he made his losses back and since
thene there has been a steady growth in his business until the depression
came and then he has made some profit
In 1922 Mr. Johnson married Miss Vera Martin, daughter
of Frank M. Martin and Sallie (McGee) Martin. Mr. Martin was a Confederate
veteran and fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. He was a native of
Mississippi as was Mrs. Martin. Her father was a prominent land and slave
owner of that state. After the marriage Mr. and Mrs. Martin came to Texas
and have given their time and energies to developing the resources of
their adopted state. Their daughter, Vera (Martin) Johnson assists her
husband in carrying on the successful business under the firm name of
Johnson Dry Goods Company.
The company carries a complete line of ladies’
ready-to-wear, men’s furnishings, and piece goods. They handle some of
the best known brands of clothing and their courteous treatment, square
dealing, and moderate prices have built for them an enviable reputation
and large trade. In this Historical and Trade Expansion Edition of the
News we urge our readers to visit the complete dry goods store.
The Hamilton County News, Vol. IV, Number
11--Section Two
Historical and Trading Expansion Issue
W. F. Billingslea, Editor-Publisher
Subscription Price ONE YEAR ..$1.00
June 29, 1934
[I remember that the
ladies-wear department was in the mezzanine and the shoe department was
located at the front of the store on the northside of the front
door. It featured a long row of wooden theater seats facing the
shelves of shoes.
Charlie Jackson Johnson,
father of Johnnie, was treasurer of Hamilton County Baptist Association
for many years. Daily during the summer Mr. Johnson came
downtown searching for buyers carrying a wicker basket
filled with with his home-grown vegetables.
The Johnson Dry Goods Store
was on the west side of the square at 117 North Rice.--Elreeta Weathers]