Sam Johnston 1861-1949

JOHNSTON, COX, THOMPSON, SONDROL

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/12/2010 at 19:50:45

Sam Johnston Dies Today
Longtime Resident of Estherville

Sam Johnston, 88, long time Estherville resident and retired salesman, died 1:45 a.m. today at Holy Family hospital. Death was attributed to the infirmities of old age and to complications from a heart ailment. He had been in ill health for more than a year and had been hospitalized for two days.

The deceased was born Jan. 6, 1861, in Portadoun, Ireland, 14 miles from Belfast, and at 16 years of age came to New York City with his parents. Later they bought a Connecticut farm and he attended Upson college in Connecticut.

Later he worked in New York City in a button and linen store and also operated a tea and coffee store, before moving to Manchester, Ia., where he clerked in a general store. In two years, he moved to Boston and again operated a tea and coffee store.

Nov. 24, 1886, he married Jennie Cox in Boston, and the couple moved to Iowa, living variously at Belmond, Manchester and Dows. The couple moved to Estherville in 1895. Johnston traveled for 35 year as a salesman, 16 years for Fowler company of Waterloo and later 19 years on the same territory for Estherville Grocery company.

Survivors include two sons, R. S. Johnston and C. R. Johnston of Cedar Rapids; two daughters, Mrs. Blanche Thompson and Mrs. Romaine Sondrol, both of Estherville; a nephew, Attorney William S. Johnston of Estherville, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death in July of this year by Mrs. Johnston and in 1929 by a son, Dr. Harry Johnston. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, November 12, 1949)