The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 358 HIRAM M. JOHNSON, M. D. Dr. Hiram M. Johnson, actively and successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Toppenish, was born in Washington, Indiana, on the 29th of October, 1873, a son of James M. and Nancy (Allen) Johnson. The former was a son of Hiram and Elibzabeth(sic) (Martin) Johnson, natives of Breckenridge county, Kentucky, whence they removed to Daviess county, Indiana, in pioneer times. It was in that county that the birth of James M. Johnson occurred and after attaining man's estate he took up the occupation of farming as a life work. In his native county he wedded Nancy Allen, who was also born there, and in 1907 they came to the northwest, settling at Burley, Idaho, where they took up government land which Mr. Johnson continued to develop and improve until his death. His widow and son, Charles A. Johnson, still occupy the old homestead there and the son is a prominent attorney of Idaho. Dr. Johnson of this review after pursuing a course at the State Normal School of Indiana devoted three years to the profession of teaching but regarded this merely as the initial step to other professional activity. It was his desire to become a member of the medical profession and with that end in view he entered the Indiana Medical College, in which he pursued a full course and was graduated with the class of 1903. He afterward spent a year in the City Hospital of Indianapolis and in December, 1904, he removed to Custer, Washington, where he resided until December, 1906, when he came to Toppenish. Four other physicians had located here but had been unsuccessful in an effort to establish a paying practice. Dr. Johnson therefore became the only physician and at the time of his arrival there was not a brick building in the city. He had been here for only a brief period, however, when the public recognized his superior worth and ability along professional lines and from the beginning his practice has steadily grown. He built the first hospital in Toppenish in 1908 but it was not a success. That did not deter him, however, from putting forth effective and successful effort in other directions. He was one of the organizers of the Toppenish Commercial Club and became its first president. He realized how necessary is cooperation in the civic development of a community and thus became an earnest worker in behalf of the organization. In 1909 he built a tine garage, which was the second of the kind, and later disposed of that property. In 1915 he erected the Johnson block, having his residence on the second floor. It was also in 1915 that he built the Lois Theater, which is fifty by one hundred and forty feet and has a seating capacity of eight hundred. He then bought two small theaters and developed a theatrical business according to modern, up-to-date ideas. In 1918 be built the Lyric Theater, which seats six hundred. He has also erected several cottages in the town and he owns several hundred acres of fine land in this part of the state. Throughout the entire period he has also conducted his professional interests and has been railway surgeon of Toppenish for the past eight years. He was the first surgeon to practice in the city and the first permanent physician and through the intervening years he has been accorded a practice of large and substantial proportions. On the 2d of November, 1904, Dr. Johnson was married to Miss Bessie M. Rockefeller, a native of Laurel, Indiana, and they have two children, Allen D. and Alice M. Dr. Johnson belongs to Toppenish Lodge, No. 178. A. F. & A. M., of which he became a charter member. He is a loyal adherent of the teachings of the craft and exemplifies in his life its beneficent purposes. Along strictly professional lines he is connected with the County and State Medical Societies and at all times he keeps in touch with the most advanced thought of the profession. In politics he is independent. He served as mayor of Toppenish for two terms -- 1911 and 1912 -- and has for a few terms been health officer of the citti,. As mayor he was instrumental in putting in the paving and planting shade trees in Toppenish and promoted many other projects and interests which have been of great benefit and value. Without invidious distinction Dr. Johnson may be termed one of the foremost residents of the city, his labors having been for many years a contributing force to its upbuilding and progress. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.