JOSEPH C. JOHNSON.

     Joseph C. Johnson, a member of the firm of J. Johnson & Sons, clothiers and furnishers at New Haven, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut July 27, 1871. His father, the late Jacob Johnson was the founder of the clothing business. He was a native of Posen, Germany, and came to America in 1848, when fifteen years of age, first settling at Waterbury, Connecticut, where he was apprenticed to learn the tailoring business. He completed his term of indenture with a good knowledge of the trade and at the age of twenty-two years he embarked in business on his own account, beginning in a small way at Waterbury. The excellent work which he did commended him for a liberal patronage and he continued successfully in business at that place until 1876, when he removed with his family to New Haven, where he opened a branch store. This, too, had a small beginning but it developed rapidly until it became the leading business of the kind in the city. The Waterbury store was continued for ten years after Mr. Johnson’s arrival in New Haven and was then sold to his brother-in-law, Meyer Kaiser, while Mr. Johnson remained an active factor in the ownership and control of the New Haven establishment for many years. He died in 1910, at the age of seventy-seven. He was a Mason and was one of the active and leading members of Mishkan Israel Temple. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Caroline Kaiser, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, and at the age of nineteen years came to the new world, setting in Waterbury, where she married Mr. Johnson, becoming his wife on the 25th of December, 1858. She is still living at the age of eighty-three years. They celebrated their golden wedding December 25, 1908. It was largely attended and was one of the leading social events of that month. Mrs. Caroline Johnson became the mother of seven children, of whom three survive: Albert J., who is senior partner in the firm of J. Johnson & Sons; Hattie E., the widow of Samuel Goodman, of New Haven; and Joseph C.

     The last named, on attaining his majority, was admitted to a partnership in the clothing and men’s furnishings goods business which had been established by his father. At that time the father retired from active connection therewith and the sons have since continued the business with remarkable success. They are today recognized as the leading firm in this line in New Haven if not in the state of Connecticut. In 1913, as a matter of sentiment, Joseph C. Johnson opened a branch store in Waterbury which, like the parent establishment, has grown and developed until it is the leading store of that city carrying a line of men’s furnishings and clothing. It is conducted under the original trade name of J. Johnson & Sons. Joseph C. Johnson is also a director of the Mechanics Bank and of the National Savings Bank of New Haven.

     On the 28th of March, 1895, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Clara Hyman, a native of Chicago and a daughter of the late Sigmund Hyman, a prominent pioneer jeweler of that city and Caroline (Schwartzschild) Hyman. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have a daughter, Jane Caroline.

     Politically Mr. Johnson is a republican, and while he has never sought nor desired office, he is yet interested and active in civic affairs, doing all in his power to advanced those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and pride. He is identified with various fraternities and clubs, holding membership with the Masons, the Elks, the Eagles and the United Workmen, with Harmonie Club, the Racebrook Country Club, the Union League Club, the Adelphi Literary Association, the B’nai Ami Club, the New Haven Yacht Club, the New Haven Publicity Club, the New Haven Business Men’s Association and the Chamber of Commerce, of which he was formerly vice president. He is chairman of the Red Cross Membership Committee and one of its most active workers, having helped to increase its membership from two hundred and fifty-three to over 40,000. He is also a member and secretary of the Senior Service Corps and first lieutenant in the Connecticut Home Guard on Colonel North’s staff. In a word, his interests are broad and varied. He is a successful business man, a popular club man, and an active factor in organizations for the promotion of trade relations, but above all he is a patriotic citizen, counting his duty to his country his first interest.

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