Johnson was among the earliest daguerreians in the United States. He apparently lived in New York City in 1839, and may have known John G. Wolf, an early daguerreian camera manufacturer. From New York, it appears that Johnson moved to Binghampton, N.Y.. He left that town, and returned in September, 1841 with Wolf, and the pair advertised daguerreotypes in Mr. Strong's brick building, upstairs. The building was opposite Clapp and Strong's office. The pair advertised they would stay a few days, but remained until November.
Johnson returned to Binghampton in January, 1842, alone this time, and took daguerreian rooms in the same location, over the store of E. Robbins, Jr. Assuming that Johnson returned to New York City, this might have been the time when he reportedly worked as an operator for John Plumbe, Jr.
Nothing is known of his activities until 1845. However, this could be be the "Charles H. Judson" recorded by one source as operating in Syracuse, N.Y. in 1842-1843. Another researcher has noted a "Mr. Johnson" who advertised as a daguerreian in Binghampton, N.Y., from January to March, 1845, and from May, 1847 to January, 1849. The time periods would be appropriate for it to have been Charles E. Johnson.
Also in 1845 he was listed in New Orleans, La., at the "Southern Daguerreotype Portrait Gallery", corner of Camp and Canal Streets, in partnership with E. Jacobs. In 1846 he was listed at the same location, as Johnson & Co.
In the summer of 1846, he apparently sold his gallery to Edward White of New York City, who operated it as a daguerreian gallery and furnishing depot. Johnson may then have returned to New York, and worked intermittently in Binghampton.
One source reported that the daguerreian Abraham Parmalee Hart learned the process from a "Mr. Johnson" at a Binghampton, N.Y. studio in 1847; this was probably C.E. Johnson. The same source indicated that Johnson apparently also had daguerreian rooms in Elmira, N.Y. at approximately the same time, and that Hart operated these rooms for Johnson sometime between 1847 and 1850. The gallery was reported in the Eagle Tavern Block.
On March 15, 1849, he advertised "new" daguerreian rooms at the corner of Superior and Bank Streets, Cleveland, Ohio, noting "Professors Johnson and Clark." The identity of Clark is unknown. (William)? One source indicates he may have worked during the spring for the firm of "Clark and Brothers." There was a firm of William Clark and Brother in Cleveland at the time; the pair apparently split in early 1849, and William advertised himself in partnership with a Mr. Matthews in January of that year. It is possible Johnson worked with the firm early on, then joined with the remaining Clark brother in opening their own studio.
In 1850-1851 he was listed as a daguerreian over the Merchants Branch Bank, corner of Bank and Superior Streets, and advertised he had "just returned from New York with a full assortment of materials." It may have been on the return from that New York visit that he stopped and asked J.H. Ryder to operate his Cleveland rooms so that he could go an open additional rooms in New Orleans, La. Howerer, there is no evidence that he returned to New Orleans at this time.
In 1851, he was noted in partnership with Parker Fellows in Cleveland; the pair did open "additional" rooms in Dunkirk, N.Y. that year. The partnership continued in 1852-1853, as the firm advertised "Premium Skylight Daguerreotype Rooms." In 1852 Johnson also traveled to Westkill, N.Y., to evaluate the claims of Levi Hill and his color daguerreotypes. In 1853, Johnson left for California. In January, 1854 he was associated with T.E. Starr in the "Excelsior Gallery", in Rabe's Building, 163 Clay Street, San Francisco, Calif. By September, 1854 the address was occupied by the firm of Hamilton and Shew, although Johnson continued to be listed in the directory from 1854 to 1856, with his residence boarding at the Crescent City Hotel.
It was at this time, late 1854 or early 1855, that Johnson left for an extended trip to Australia. He probably sold his Cleveland gallery to J.F. Ryder, as 1855 is the first year that Ryder listed himself in the directory at the corner of Superior and Bank Streets.
In April, 1856, Johnson advertised his return from Australia, and operated his daguerreian gallery at the corner of Montgomery and California Streets in San Francisco. 1856 was also the last year he is listed in the San Francisco directories.