SIDEWALK SIGNATURES 
C. W. Johnson

Long Beach’s sidewalks contain impressed “signatures” of many pavers who plied their trade in the city. If your ancestor owned a construction company or worked for one of those cement contractors, our “Sidewalk Signatures” series will be of interest to you.

photo: QHGS

In the 1923 Long Beach City Directory, C. W. Johnson is listed like this: “Johnson Chas W (Annie) cement contr h 334 E 17th,” and in the 1928 Long Beach City Directory, he is listed like this: “Johnson Carl W (Annie S) cement contr h 235 E 16th.” Looking at census records from 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940, we can surmise that Carl/Charles was born in Sweden c.1872 and became a naturalized citizen in 1922. More research would have to be done to prove either date, however.

RESEARCH NOTE: Information about C. W. Johnson was surprisingly difficult to find. The QHGS Blogger used FamilySearch.org, Ancestry.com, and the Long Beach Public Library website, but Carl’s date of death, burial place, and obituary remain elusive.