H. L .JOHNSTON, manager and chief engineer of the Hobart Electric Manufacturing Company, has been a resident of Troy, Ohio, for thirteen years. He was born at Bambridge, Indiana, in 1869, and was nine years of age when his parents moved to Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mr. Johnston attended the public schools of Cincinnati, and afterward pursued a course of study at the Ohio State University in electrical engineering, graduating with the class of 1892. He entered the employ of the General Electric Company, in the Cincinnati office, and continued in its service for three and a half years. In 1893 he represented that firm in the installation of the electrical work for the interurban railroad from Troy to Piqua, and continued here as superintendent of the work for six months. This was the third interurban road built in the State of Ohio, and the first to run big cars. After retiring from the superintendency Mr. Johnston became associated with Mr. Hobart in electrical manufacturing, the business being incorporated under the name of The Hobart Electric Company. He was vice-president and treasurer of the concern until about a year ago, when he was made manager and chief engineer. It is one of the principal manufacturing enterprises of the city and transacts an enormous business. Mr. Johnston is the mechanical expert of the Troy Sunshade Company, in which he is financially interested, and is the patentee of several valuable articles used by that firm.

In 1900 Mr. Johnston was united in marriage with Miss Adeline Smith, a daughter of  D. W. Smith, cashier of the First National Bank of Troy, and they have two children, Ed ward and Frances. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Troy Club. In religious attachment he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.