Johnson, Donald, 1862-1926.

Dr. Johnson was born on June 3, 1862 to Gilbert and Sibella (McKay) Johnson in Bruce Twp. and County (Ontario). He had eight siblings. Dr. Johnson was educated at Underwood and Trinity Medical College of the University of Toronto. Before graduating, he taught for three years in Manitoba and Ontario schools. In May 1891, Dr. Johnson graduated and took the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons' exam. In Aug. 1891 he moved to Marion (Mich.), in answer to an ad for a doctor. Dr. Johnson had an extensive practice in Osceola County and neighboring counties. He also served as a physician for the Ann Arbor Railroad. A special human being, with a great love for children and his patients, Dr. Johnson would bribe children with gifts to get well and allowed them to write on his pants legs with chalk while he examined them. Dr. Johnson was widely respected as both a surgeon and physician of skill and good judgement. Ann Arbor physicians referred their patients to Dr. Johnson when he was in Ann Arbor. Dr. Johnson traveled with his patients who needed to be hospitalized at Univ. of Mich. (UM) Hospital, staying with them until they recovered. He regularly contributed case studies to research at UM Medical School. On Sept. 27, 1893, he married Jennie Thomson, with whom he had six children: Mary, John, Mark, Frank, Gilbert, and Jennie. He was a founding member of the Marion Lodge 181 of the Knights of Pythias in 1894. In 1917, Dr. Johnson suffered a stroke, which paralyzed his right side. Yet, he continued to practice medicine, instructing others in the proper way to set broken bones, and delivering a baby with one hand. After a bout of pleuro-pneumonia, he died on May 9, 1926. He was survived by his wife, five children, five brothers and a sister. Isaac Hall (1837- ) served in Co. D of the 151st Ohio Volunteers during the Civil War. Helen Johnson attended Central Michigan University (CMU), 1940-1943. (Information from the collection and CMU Yearbooks.).