JOHNSTON, W. H. - 1914

JOHNSTON, HOLLINGSWORTH, MCINTOSH

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/8/2009 at 00:19:21

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

W. H. JOHNSTON.

W. H. Johnston, a well known farmer of Cherokee county, owning an excellent tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Pitcher township, was born in Minnesota in 1875. He is a son of H. M. and Isabelle Johnston, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York state. Their marriage occurred in Iowa, whither they came among the early settlers, and they afterward moved to Minnesota, where the father proved up a homestead claim. This he afterward sold and returned to this state, settling in Monona county, where he purchased land. After operating this for eight years he sold the property, engaging in farming on a rented tract for two years thereafter. He then purchased another farm in Monona county but shortly afterward sold this and turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, operating a store at Preparation for two years. At the end of that time he again rented land and after farming for two years moved to Onawa, where he spent four years while his children were attending school. From there he moved to Sac county, this state, and afterward followed farming in that vicinity for two years and in Crawford county for three years. In 1899 he sold all of his personal property and moved to Houston, Texas, where he bought a forty acre farm, which he operated until 1907. He then returned to Ida county, this state, and there his death occurred in 1909. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in 1861 in the Second Iowa Volunteer Cavalry and served for three years. His wife survives him and makes her home in Onawa, at the age of sixtythree. To their union were born four children: J. B., of Idaho; Charles H., who makes his home in Crawford county, Iowa; W. H., of this review; and Addie, the wife of Dean Hollingsworth, of Texas.

W. H. Johnston acquired his education in the public schools of Iowa and he began his independent career when he was twentyone years of age. He worked as a farm laborer for four years and then rented land, upon which he continued to reside until 1909. In that year he bought a one hundred and sixty acre farm in Ida county and nine months later sold this property at a profit, purchasing another one hundred and sixty acres in Sac county. This he traded three months afterward for another farm in Ida county and after owning that for only a few days sold it at a profit. In 1910 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Pitcher township, the land lying on section 23, two miles south of Aurelia, and he has greatly improved and developed this property, which is now in a high state of cultivation.

In 1900 Mr. Johnston married Miss Blanch Mclntosh, a native of Iowa and a daughter of John and Luella M. Mclntosh, the former a native of this state and the latter of Ohio. After their marriage the parents settled in Poweshiek county, this state, whence in 1883 they moved to Sac county. There they resided until 1909, when they moved to Ida county, where they still live upon their farm. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston became the parents of two children: Willard C., who died in infancy; and Orphaess H., born in 1902.

Mr. Johnston is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a progressive republican in his political views. He has been very successful in his farming operations and has now risen to a position where he is numbered among the countys substantial farmers and most highly respected citizens.