Joseph H. Johnson, senior member of the firm of Johnson & Sons, proprietors of the Phoenix Foundry and Machine Works, Paducah, was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., in the year 1829. He remained in his native city until twenty years old, meantime acquiring a practical idea of the business, connected with his father's foundry and machine shops. In 1849 he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he engaged in foundry work until removing to Paducah in 1855. That year he started his present extensive business in Paducah under the title of the Plain City Iron Works, and soon became established in a remunerative trade. His prosperity however was materially checked in 1868 when his entire shops were destroyed by fire. His enterprise was nevertheless equal to his emergency and in consequence of the speedy rebuilding of the works they recieved the appropiate name which they now bear. In 1851 in St Louis, Mr Johnson married Miss Elizabeth A. Yandell, a native of Tennessee. They have reared a family of four children, viz.; Charles S., Mendal W., Joseph Y., and Chloe Neal wife of J.P. Wilson- the later two residents of St Louis, and the elder two members of the business firm of Paducah, Ky. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Christian Church, K. of H., A.O.U.W., and is a Knight Templar.

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