Charles Ellis Johnson

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Charles Ellis Johnson

Birth
Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA
Death
21 Feb 1926 (aged 68)
Willow Glen, Santa Clara County, California, USA
Burial
San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, USA Add to Map
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Son of Joseph Ellis Johnson and Eliza Saunders

Married Ruth Young, 30 Jan 1878, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Children - Adella Johnson, Ellis Johnson, Jay Elliot Johnson

In 1860 young Charles and his mother moved to Salt Lake City. In 1861, Joseph (Charles' father) and his two other wives joined them, but Joseph did not like city life and soon thereafter the family moved to Utah Valley. In 1866, they moved even further south to St. George.

As a boy Charles had a variety of interests including printing, botany, Indians, and the theater. In St. George he met Ruth Young, a daughter of Brigham Young, and the two were married in 1878. The couple had three children, but would eventually live separate lives. In 1882, they moved to Salt Lake City where Charles worked as a druggist for ZCMI. In 1889, he and Parley P. Pratt went into business operating a drug store. Charles began to dabble in photography and in 1893 he took over the photo studio of Hyrum Sainsbury. Johnson quickly became known as the unofficial photographer of the Salt Lake City theater. He took many glamour photographs of actresses and even artistic nudes and risqué stereoviews.

In 1897, he met and became friends with the actress Lydia Manreouv Montford who was performing in Salt Lake City. In 1903, Montford returned to Utah and the two left to photograph the Holy Land with the intention of selling the views at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Johnson apparently made little money and he returned to Utah where his business was languishing. Johnson remained a studio photographer and druggist in Salt Lake City for many years. He moved to California in 1917 and died on February 21, 1926.

See Charles' Image Gallery
Son of Joseph Ellis Johnson and Eliza Saunders

Married Ruth Young, 30 Jan 1878, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Children - Adella Johnson, Ellis Johnson, Jay Elliot Johnson

In 1860 young Charles and his mother moved to Salt Lake City. In 1861, Joseph (Charles' father) and his two other wives joined them, but Joseph did not like city life and soon thereafter the family moved to Utah Valley. In 1866, they moved even further south to St. George.

As a boy Charles had a variety of interests including printing, botany, Indians, and the theater. In St. George he met Ruth Young, a daughter of Brigham Young, and the two were married in 1878. The couple had three children, but would eventually live separate lives. In 1882, they moved to Salt Lake City where Charles worked as a druggist for ZCMI. In 1889, he and Parley P. Pratt went into business operating a drug store. Charles began to dabble in photography and in 1893 he took over the photo studio of Hyrum Sainsbury. Johnson quickly became known as the unofficial photographer of the Salt Lake City theater. He took many glamour photographs of actresses and even artistic nudes and risqué stereoviews.

In 1897, he met and became friends with the actress Lydia Manreouv Montford who was performing in Salt Lake City. In 1903, Montford returned to Utah and the two left to photograph the Holy Land with the intention of selling the views at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Johnson apparently made little money and he returned to Utah where his business was languishing. Johnson remained a studio photographer and druggist in Salt Lake City for many years. He moved to California in 1917 and died on February 21, 1926.

See Charles' Image Gallery

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