BIOGRAPHY: Richard M. JOHNSON, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 603-604.

  RICHARD M. JOHNSON, M. D., McVeytown, Mifflin county, Pa., was born near 
Middleburg, Snyder county, Pa., April 22, 1841.  He is a son of William and Mary 
Anne Johnson.  His paternal grandfather, John A. Johnson, was of Scotch descent.  
He owned a large number of slaves, who tilled his extensive farms in New Jersey, 
where he paid particular attention to raising high grade horses.  William 
Johnson, Dr. Johnson's father, had one brother, David, and one sister, Phoebe 
(Mrs. James Quick).  When quite young William Johnson began business for 
himself, manufacturing leather and farming at Millerstown, Pa., later near 
Middleburg, Pa.  In 1843 he sold his land in Snyder county and after spending 
six years in the mercantile business at McAlisterville, Pa., he removed to 
Shirleysburg, where he was engaged in the mercantile and tanning business.  In 
1867 he invented a new process of tanning, retiring from business in 1870.
  William Johnson was married in 1832 to Mary Anne, daughter of James Pillar and 
Sarah Anne (Van Horn) Moore, who were respectively of German and Scotch-Irish 
lineage.  They had eleven children:  James M.;  Sarah A., deceased;  Mary E., 
deceased;  Dr. Richard M.;  Dr. William Horace;  Clara L.;  John K., deceased;  
Oliver A.;  Isaac M.;  Cassius M.;  and Emma, deceased.  William Johnson and his 
wife were consistent Christians, members of the Presbyterian church.  He died in 
1873, aged sixty-nine;  his wife in 1891, aged seventy-eight.
  Richard M. Johnson attended the public schools and finished his education at 
the seminary at Shirleysburg, Pa.  After teaching for four years he engaged in 
the tanning business, after which he began the study of medicine, and was 
graduated at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, February 23, 1877.  
He began his professional career at Manor Hill, Pa.  In 1884, he removed to his 
present home in McVeytown, Pa., where he continues the practise of medicine.  He 
is a member of Bright Star Lodge, No. 705, I. O. O. F., and also of the 
Commandery No. 26, Knights Templar, at Lewistown, Pa.  He is a member of the 
Board of Examiners under the pension service.  Dr. Richard M. Johnson was 
married December 4, 1862, to Orleannah Alice, daughter of Samuel and Mary Anne 
Wharton.  They have three children:  Dr. Charles M., a graduate of the Jefferson 
Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa.;  M. Lucretia;  and Anna J.  Dr. Johnson and 
his family are members of the Presbyterian church.