Parley M. Johnson (1848-1938) was born in Peoria, Illinois, and died in Glendale, California. He worked as a dry goods merchant in Galesburg, Illinois, and married Caroline "Carrie" B. Johnson (b. Burlingame) in Knox, Illinois, in 1871. He studied Christian Science with Julia W. Tryon, a student of Mary Baker Eddy. Johnson met with Eddy in March 1887 and wrote to her during the late 1880s for multiple copies of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and Unity of Good. The Johnsons both joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 3, 1897. Johnson retired from the dry goods business and moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1900, where he served as police commissioner. He was a member of the Board of Water Commissioners, and he was a charter member of the Los Angeles City Club, where he also served as a member of its board of governors. He moved to Glendale around 1930.

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