Harry Greenfield Johnston 1889-1929

JOHNSTON, LEGG, SONDROL, THOMPSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/12/2010 at 20:45:16

H. G. Johnston Ends His Life With Shotgun
Dr. Harry G. Johnston, dentist, took his own life with a shot gun yesterday afternoon on the basement steps of his home on north 2nd Avenue. His badly mutilated body was found at 5:39 in the afternoon by his wife, shortly after her return home from shopping and it is thought he had been dead at least an hour. No one heard the report of the gun.

Dr. Johnston had been in ill health for many months and recently suffered a nervous breakdown, finally finding it necessary to dispose of his dentist practice. He told his friends not long ago that he was completely worn out and needed a vacation, which he had denied himself for years.

He was a very popular man in Estherville, being affiliated with the Masons, the Elks, and the American Legion, and was an active member of the Methodist church. Last winter he was elected commander of the Legion but declined the honor because he did not feel he had the time and energy to fulfill duties of the office. He was elected president of the golf last winter above his protest.

Dr. Johnston is survived by his wife, two daughters, LaVon and Gretchen, and a son, Maurice, all of whom live at home. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Johnston of this city. (Estherville News, Estherville, IA, August 22, 1929)

Rites Held for H. G. Johnston
Services Conducted at Methodist Church

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon for Dr. Harry G. Johnston, dentist, in the Methodist church. The Rev. R. T. Chipperfield conducted the service at the church and the Masons were in charge at the Oakhill cemetery. The Estherville Male quartet furnished the music and Dr. A. Birney, J. M. Fredericksen, S. G. Ewen, B. T. Osher, John Osgood and M. R. Ellsworth acted as pall bearers.

Harry Greenfield Johnston, oldest son of Samuel and Jennie Johnston, was born Nov. 16, 1889, at Boston, Mass. When two years old his parents moved to Manchester and later lived at Dows. In 1895 they came to Estherville, where they have lived since.

He was graduated from the Estherville high school at the age of 16 and soon afterward entered the Iowa State college of dentistry, where he was graduated at the age of 20. He immediately began the practice of dentistry, continuing in the profession for 21 consecutive years up to until a very short time before his death. He located in Dakota, later moving to Estherville.

Dr. Johnston was married Oct. 1, 1909, to Miss Marie Legg. The family consisted of three children, a son, Maurice, and two daughters, LaVon and Gretchen, all of whom live at home. Besides his wife and children, Dr. Johnston’s death is mourned by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Johnston, two brothers, Clyde of Cedar Rapids and Raymond of Seattle, Wash., and two sisters, Mrs. Romaine Sondrol and Mrs. Blanche Thompson, all of whom were at the services.

He was a member of the Masonic Order, Maurice Doyle Post of the American Legion, the Elks, and was an enthusiastic worker in the Methodist church, in which he was baptized in early life.

Dr. Johnston sold his practice a few weeks before his death because of ill health from which has suffered for the past few months. He took his own life Aug. 21, while mentally depressed. He was highly esteemed by the members of his profession and also by the entire community. (Estherville News, Estherville, IA, August 29, 1929)