William Johnston

JOHNSTON, LOY, HARDESTY

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 4/20/2009 at 18:05:02

WILLIAM JOHNSTON, a successful farmer and stockraiser of Lincoln Township, was born in Morrow County, near Mount Gilead, Ohio, August 13, 1848. He is the third son of John and Mary Louisa (Loy) Johnston, also natives of Ohio. The father was descended from an Irish family, and the mother from a German family. In 1861 John Johnston removed with his family to Louisa County, and settled on a farm; he had formerly been a carpenter, but from the time he came to Iowa until his death, which occurred in 1874, he followed farming. His wife died the previous year, 1873, in her fifty eighth year. William Johnston passed his youth in Louisa County, Iowa, attending the common schools; later he pursued his studies at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois. After leaving school he entered the employ of Cole Brothers, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and engaged in selling pumps for six years; on account of failing health he was compelled to retire from the business. In the spring of 1876 he came to Audubon County, Iowa, and located on a farm in section 20, Lincoln Township, the first place opened up on the west side of the township. The land was wild, and there were only thirteen voters in the township; in 1888 248 votes were cast in Lincoln Township. Mr. Johnston broke out eighty acres of land, and erected a house for a dwelling; it was a truly pioneer life, which is rapidly becoming a circumstance impossible, as there will soon be no new land to settle. Mr. Johnston has added from time to time until his farm now contains 240 acres, most of which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. At the time of his coming to the county there was no church building in Lincoln Township, and no organized religious societies; at the present time there are five organizations, and two church buildings. Of the thirteen voters before mentioned, six were Democrats and seven Republicans. Mr. Johnston has been very successful in raising hogs; he feeds about 100 head annually, principally of the Poland China breed. In1868 be was married to Miss Emma Hardesty, a daughter of Meredith Hardesty; she was born in Ohio, but removed to Iowa with her parents when she was a child. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnston Blanche, James Owen, Maud L., Frank, Burt, Mamie, Arthur, Fred, and Ray, who died in infancy. Mr. Johnston has been the choice of the people for almost every office in the township, and is the present assessor. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the I. O. R. M. Politically he is a staunch Democrat. He has done much toward the development of the county, from every point of view. At the time he came to time county there was not a grove in Lincoln Township; one of the first things he did was to plant a grove, which has grown to the proportions adequate for holding Fourth of July picnics and other outdoor festivities.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO
pages 811-812