Charles Johnson

Charles A. Johnson (February 27, 1855 – April 10, 1937) was an American politician who was Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1927 to 1929 and Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue from 1929 to 1931.

Early life Johnson was born on February 27, 1855 in Norriton Township, Pennsylvania to Joseph and Mary (Haupt) Johnson. Joseph Johnson was a prosperous farmer and Charles remained on the farm until 1889, when he moved to Norristown, Pennsylvania. In 1890, he established Brown, Cloud & Johnson, a real estate and insurance brokerage. He also served as a director of the People's National Bank, Albertson Trust and Safe Deposit Company, West Norristown Building and Loan Association, and the Daily Times Publishing Company.

On March 10, 1880, Johnson married Ida Smith. They had one daughter, Mary Elizabeth. In 1907, he became treasurer of the state Republican committee.

In 1911, Johnson was appointed insurance commissioner by Governor John K. Tener. He resigned in March 1916, alleging that Governor Martin Grove Brumbaugh was "attempting to purchase Brumbaugh votes with salaries paid by the state". Johnson's allegations were seen as an attack on Brumbaugh's presidential candidacy by U.S. Senator Boies Penrose, to whom Johnson was allied. In 1917, Johnson was appointed Deputy Pennsylvania Auditor General by Charles A. Snyder. He was retained by auditors general Samuel S. Lewis and Edward Martin. In 1929, Fisher appointed Johnson to head the newly created post of secretary of revenue.

Later life Johnson led the Republican campaign in Montgomery County in the 1932 United States presidential election. Although Franklin D. Roosevelt won in a landslide, Republican Herbert Hoover won Montgomery County by a large margin. Johnson continued to served on the Republican state committee until he suffered a stroke in 1934. Johnson died of a heart attack on April 10, 1937 at Montgomery Hospital in Norristown.