James Johnstone

JOHNSTONE

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 12:55:45

There is much credit due James Johnstone for what he has achieved because he began his career in a comparatively humble position and today owns a prosperous bakery in Boone, being numbered among the substantial business men of the city. He was born in Inverness, Scotand, December 26, 1868, and is a son of James and Margaret (Ross) Johnstone. The grandfather, James Johnstone, was a butcher and drover and a successful man in that line of business in his day. He died in the little town of Petty, near Inverness, Scotland. The father who was born about 1843, after attending the public schools, worked as a drover and butcher. He drove cattle through all the section of Scotland and located on the Scotch coast, north Inverness. He ships live stock to the London markets by the boat route and is a substantial business man of his little city. Hie wife died in 1898. She was a strict Presyterian, to which faith her husband also gives his allegiance. They are the paretns of the follwoing children: Margaret, who is married and resides on a farm near Aberdeen, William of Perth, Scotland, who is married and is employed as an engineer on the Highland Railroad, Janet, of Tain, Scotland, who married James Sangster, a contractor, James our subject, Christina, who is married, her husband following carpentering in Aberdeen Scotland, Alexander a drover of Ballinotre, John a capenter of Boone, Iowa, George a hotel-keeper of Johannesburg, South Africa who is married and served with the scouts in the British army during the Boer war, and David of Ballitore, Scotland.
James Johnstone of this review passed his boyhood in Inverness and Ballintore, both romantic and historic old towns of Scotland. There he attended the public schools, receiving thorough instruction until fourteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to the baker's trade in Inverness, serving for four years. After having completed his indenture he set sail from Glasgow for New York, where he arrived in May, 1886. After a short stay he removed to Boston, where he was employed at his trade for three years, and then went to Chicago after having visted various states. He spent the years 1892, 1893, and 1894 in Chicago and then proceeded to Des Moines, Iowa were he had charge of the S B Garton bakery for a time. This was the largest estblishement of its kind there in those days. Mr Johnstone next came to Boone, finding employment with the Perrine bakery for about three years. At the end of that period he stated in the same business independently in the old Crary building, on the sitr of the present garage and removed from there one and one half years ago, to his present place, his establishment turning out a grade of goods which is eagerly demanded by a large list of customres. Mr Johnstone is a thoroughly up to date business man, having equipped his place with modern machinery and using the most sanitary methods in the manufacture of his goods. He enjoys a high reputation for fairness-a reputation which is merited.
In May 1895, James Johnstone married Miss Alice Reed, of Rose Hill, Iowa a daughter of William Reed. They have three sons, Horatio, William and George. The parents are member of the Presbyterian church and politically Mr Johnstone is a stanch republican, ever upholding the issues and candidated of his party. He is thoroughly well informed upon all public questions and particularly interested in those affecting his city and county, He has been prime mover in promoting a number of valuable measures which have at heart the progerss of the community. He is esteemed and respected by all who know him in a business or social way and is well entitled to the confidence and trust with which he is met on all sides.

1914 Boone County History Book