JOHNSON DRY GOODS COMPANY
JOHNNIE HARRISON JOHNSON & VERA ANN (MARTIN) JOHNSON

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]