Johnston, J.B.

BURMAN, FITKIN, JOYNER

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 12/15/2009 at 10:37:48

J.B. Johnston, a well known merchant of Janesville, dealing in groceries, feed, clothing and shoes and conducting also a furniture and undertaking establishment, was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1862, a son of Job and Margaret Johnston, natives of Ireland. The parents came to America in their early years and their marriage occurred in Pennsylvania, the father afterward following the weaver's and gardener's trades in Philadelphia until his death in 1864. Afterward the mother came to Iowa and settled in Butler county, where with the assistance of her children she operated a farm. She died July 26, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Job Johnston were the parents of four children: Jennie, who died in Philadelphia; Joseph, who passed away in Butler county in 1878, when he was twenty-two years of age; William, who is in the real-estate business in San Francisco, California; and J.B., of this review.

The last named acquired his education in the public schools of Butler county and began teaching when he was nineteen years of age, having received a first-class teacher's certificate. For twelve years thereafter he followed this occupation during the winter months and engaged in farming during the summers. In 1895 he sold his property in Butler county and moved to Janesville, where he purchased a grocery and feed store. He has since added clothing and shoes to his stock and he conducts also an undertaking and furniture establishment. In December, 1898, his store was destroyed by fire at a loss of fifteen hundred dollars, but he immediately afterward built a forty-four by sixty-six-foot brick structure, in which he has since continued business. He is a licensed state embalmer and since the establishment of his undertaking department has conducted over three hundred funerals and his business is constantly increasing, for his prices are reasonable and his methods honorable and upright. He owns two business houses and a fine residence in Janesville and is numbered among the prominent and substantial citizens of the community.

In 1886 Mr. Johnston married Miss Hattie A. Burman, a daughter of C.E. Burman, of Bremer county, and they have become the parents of six children: Claude, who was born on a farm in Butler county, February 11, 1888, and who married Miss Bertha Fitkin; John Carl, who was born December 21, 1889, and is now engaged in farming in Alberta, Canada; William Ray, whose birth occurred January 2, 1892, and who is secretary of the Iowa Mausoleum company in Waterloo; Rosetta M, who was born October 30, 1893, and who is stenographer for the William Galloway Company of Waterloo; Floyd E., who was born May 8, 1896; and Hattie E., born April 19, 1898. Mr. Johnston's first wife died in 1901, at Janesville and was laid to rest in Oakland cemetery. In March, 1903, Mr. Johnston was again married, his second union being with Miss Bertha Joyner, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Abel and Emma Joyner. The father died in Waterloo in March, 1908, and is survived by his widow. They were the parents of a large family of children, seven of whom survive. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have three children: Naomi R., who was born April 11, 1904; Grace E., whose birth occurred February 19, 1907; and Winnie B., born January 10, 1912. Mrs. Johnston is a member of the Rebekahs, the Royal Neighbors and the Fraternal Union of America and has passed through the chairs of the two former organizations.

Mr. Johnston is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is clerk of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Royal Neighbors and holds membership in the Fraternal Union of America at Denver, Colorado. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is justice of the peace and a notary public. His religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Presbyterian church and he is a man of deep religious feeling and a profound believer in the efficacy of prayer, a faith which he takes every means of publicly affirming. In support of his belief he is fond of relating the following incidents. At one time while he was at a meeting in a little country church the pastor related how a certain minster felt a call to do special work in a neighboring town. He boarded the train and after paying his fare found that he had not enough money to pay his hotel bill over night. As the train pulled up at the station a man in the depot reached in his vest pocket and handed the minster a ten dollar bill, saying: "You might need this." When Mr. Johnstone came to Janesville in 1895 he had about two thousand dollars, fifteen hundred of which was lost in the fire of December, 1898. Notwithstanding this he built his new store and in order to pay for it was obliged to borrow sixteen hundred dollars from the bank. Just at this time his wife became ill and after lingering for two and a half years died of consumption. Mr. Johnston ran heavily into debt and asked God for assistance. In his time of need a neighbor came to him and handed him one hundred dollars, saying: "Keep this and use it until I want it." Later the same man handed Mr. Johnston two hundred dollars and at another time another of his friends offered him seven hundred and fifty dollars. At last a distant relative on the Atlantic coast died, leaving Mr. Johnston three thousand, three hundred and twenty-two dollars. These facts Mr. Johnston relates in order that he may honor God in a public way by telling of his goodness to future generations who may read of the help he has obtained and be encouraged to trust the Almighty Father. Mr. Johnston is a man of exemplary character and high standards, never deviating from the path of honest and upright living, and his name is held in high honor and respect wherever it is known.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914