George Lovey Johnson was born in Toronto on August 5, 1852. His father, George Lovey was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1805, his mother Elizabeth "Betsy" Hill was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England in 1824. The 1861 Census lists the family is living in York, York, Canada. By 1871, the Census has them living in Downie Township, Perth South on a farm. George had an older brother James, younger sisters Ann, Emma, Barbara, his brother Thomas, sister Mary Anne and brother Alfred R. His profession is listed as a drover-someone who job is to move groups of animals, especially cows & sheep from one place to another. His father passed on March 6, 1880, and is buried in the Avondale Cemetery in Stratford.
In the 1880-1881 city directory, his mother, George, and siblings are listed as living on Albert Street near Nile Street crossing. George is listed as a butcher at the Market House. The 1896 city directory shows that George, and his brother Alfred, had a meat market called G & A meat market at 88 Downie Street. The market continued until 1904, when Alfred was a liveryman and George was a drover. George had many titles; drover, cattle dealer, grocer but butcher was the one most used.
Mary "Ellen Edith" Dunsmore was born on May 28, 1865, in Downie Township, Perth County to Father James (18421921) and Mother Nancy Adair (1847-1933). She became George's wife on February 13, 1883, in Stratford. Maude
Elizabeth, born February 29, 1884, was their first child, followed by Zeta May, born July 9, 1886, Ellen Edith, born October 20, 1888, George William, born July 10, 1892, Hazel Agnes, born October 31, 1894, and their last child, Elgin Dunsmore, born on August 7, 1900.
George and his family were living on Erie Street in 1898 until 1904. They moved to Linton Avenue in 1905. They then moved to 260 Coburg Street by 1909. George purchased the property at 264 & 270 Mornington Street in 1915. The assessment records both properties had small houses on them, by 1916, the building's value had increased to show larger houses built on the properties.
In the 1915 assessment record, his married daughter, (Maude) Mrs. John Murray was living at 264 and he, George, Hazel & Elgin are living at 270. His wife, Ellen Edith, passed on June 6, 1915. His son, George and his family of four were the tenants at 264 the next year. In 1917, George sold the house at 270 to E. Montgomery and he was he moved into 264. By 1919, the house at 264 was sold to Lamont Farr. George and his son, Elgin moved in with daughter Zeta, her husband Robert Hayhow and children at 46 Centre Street the same year. He continued to live with Zeta's family until his death on August 26, 1922. He is buried alongside his wife in the Avondale Cemetery.