President of the Johnston Optical Company, manufacturing opticians, is one of the representative citizens and business men of the city. The company of which he is the head is one of the foremost establishments of its kind in the United Stales and was founded by Mr. Johnston in young manhood, — in 1876. Its continual progress and present high standing is due to his splendid executive ability, originality and unimpeachable methods, and he stands as one who has contributed in largo measure to the high industrial and commercial standing of the city.

Mr. Johnston was born in Taylor, Cortland county, New York. August 20, 1851. His father was Rev. Isaac Johnston, one of the pioneer preachers of Michigan and New York state, and the mother was Jane Louise (Camp) Johnston, the year of the birth of both being 1819. The father was a native of Ireland and came to America with his parents on a bailing vessel when only six months of age. Shortly after arriving on our shores the little family located near Rochester. New York. The mother was a native of the Empire stale and was of Welsh descent. In 1856, when he was a child of about live years, Mr. Johnston's parents removed to Michigan and located at Hudson. Lenawee county, where the father engaged in his ministerial duties. He was a Methodist in denomination and he preached in numerous places in this state, including Detroit. The demise of this worthy gentleman occurred in Chicago in 18113, his wife surviving him until 1899. Both are buried in that city. To Rev. and Mrs. Isaac Johnston were born five children, one of whom died in infancy, and the remainder surviving. A L. resides in this city; J. M. is a citizen of Portage, Wisconsin; and A. C. is established in Joliet, Illinois. Mr. Johnston, of this review, is the youngest in order of birth. All claim the Empire state as a birthplace with the exception of the child who is deceased and who was born in Michigan.

Shortly after arriving in Michigan Mr. Johnston became of school age and he received his education in numerous towns in the state, in the manner of most ministers' sons, his father being sent by the Methodist conference to different locations. After finishing his public school education he entered Adrian College at Adrian. Michigan, and upon leaving its portals the young man began to look about him for a means of livelihood. His first position was extremely important from the fact that it determined his subsequent career, it being as a commercial traveler for optical goods. By dint of much thrift and good management he was in a short time able to establish himself upon a more independent fooling and in 1876 he founded the present business of which ho is both president and treasurer. Twelve years later, in 1888,

Mr. Johnston erected the commodious building in which his business is housed at the present day. He is an important property owner, and in addition to other realty owns his handsome residence at 468 Woodward avenue.

On May 20,1883. Mr. Johnston laid the foundation of a happy household and congenial life companionship, his chosen lady being Carrie R. Hendrickson, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she was reared and educated. She is the daughter of Samuel and Romelia (Spencer) Hendrickson, and represents an old Ann Arbor family. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are the parents of four children. The only daughter, Marguerite A., is now the wife of Alan Lyle Corey, of New York, son of W. E. Corey, former president of the United States. Steel Corporation. Mrs. Corey was educated at the Leggett School of Detroit and her husband was a graduate of Yale (1911) and well known for his splendid work with the Yale football team. They wore married July 5, 1911, shortly after Mr. Corey's graduation, and left immediately for a trip around the world, going first to Bonn* and then to San Francisco, where they set sail. The eldest sou. S. Hendrickson Johnston, is now associated with his father in the optical business and lives at home. He attended the Detroit University School and also spent one year at school in Norwalk, Connecticut, George Oliver Johnston is a student at the Motehkiss School at ...ville, Connecticut, preparatory lo Yale. Foreman Spencer Johnston is at home attending school. All were born in Detroit with the exception of S. Hendrickson, whose birthplace was Ann Arbor. Air. and Airs. Johnston and their family, by virtue of many good gifts of mind and heart, hold high place in Detroit, in which their interests are centered.

Since the Johnston Optical Company is one of those concerns which have important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of the community, it is eminently fitting that some more detailed description of its scope and importance be incorporated within these pages. As previously mentioned, it was founded in the foil of 1876 by George Johnston, who is still its president. Its office and workshop in the beginning of its career was in the Merrill Block, Jefferson and Woodward avenues, and comprised only four hundred square feet of floor space. Almost immediately its founders secured a profitable jobbing business, which made it necessary to secure adjoining rooms, and their business continued to grow until they occupied two floors in the Merrill Block, with 3,500 square feet floor space. In 1884. having outgrown all space obtainable in the Merrill Block, they were obliged to move their plant to 146-148 Woodward avenue, where they continued to do business until 1888. The company then purchased the northwest corner of "Washington avenue and State street and erected a four story building which was built especially adapted to carrying on their mammoth business. Their present floor space occupies 13,500 square feet.

The president of the company early in his career realized that the optical business should be treated as a profession and not as a commodity of business, and for the purpose of carrying out this thought the company for several years published a monthly paper called the Eye Echo and afterwards the Eye, giving a series of articles on eye study. It was indeed the pioneer publication in this country on advanced work in the optical profession, and one of its most important results was that it led the trade papers to recognize the existence of such a field, and now the majority of these publications carry a department devoted to optics. The company were likewise cognizant of the fact that with advanced education along this line there would result a higher standard of proficiency in the mechanical department of the business. They themselves have spared neither time nor money to make the prescription department absolutely reliable. They hove every known appliance and facility that contribute to making this department successful.

The Johnston Company have placed on the market many useful and valuable devices of their own invention, for which they hold letters of patent, and which have resulted in making the name famous throughout this country and Europe. Not the least item of their manufactured output is their very complete line of trial cases, all of which arc made up in their own factory under the direct supervision of experts in this line, every caw being thoroughly tested and inspected by tinhead of the department him) guaranteed absolutely perfect in every particular. They not only manufacture a very large line of stock cases, but an: prepared to make to order any special cases to met the requirements of the trade. The latest of their many time-saving products to the optician, which has tilled a longfelt want for the busy optician, enabling him to diagnose any error of refraction and directing him to n speedy correction. This instrument has had a phenomenal sale, the demand making it necessary for the company to double their floor space in that department of the factory to accommodate the greatly increased trade. The Company has in all departments a large and increasing trade which is handled by an efficient corps of expert workmen, all prescriptions returned complete the same day as received.

It is not to be gainsaid that the Johnston Optical Company is one of the finest equipped optical establishments in the country. It not only shifts goods to every state and territory in the Union, but the sun never ceases to shine upon the goods manufactured by it, and its name is familiar with every nation that belts the globe. Its customers have reached the number of 6,500.

History of Detroit: A chronicle of its progress, its industries ..., Volume 2 By Paul Leake 1912