Mining town, California

Johnson was first noted to have worked as a daguerreian in New York City, but moved to San Francisco in 1849. In that year, he established the "Pioneer Daguerreian Gallery" in Sacramento but moved to another location in the city in 1850 which was destroyed by a fire in 1852. He returned to San Francisco and associated himself with various partners, and in 1854, re-established the "Pioneer Daguerreian Gallery" at 142 Montgomery Street in San Francisco. It was noted that he advertised having on display daguerreotypes of President Fillmore and his Cabinet and all members of the U.S. Senate as well as stereoscopic images.