John Francis Johnston (1938)

COLTRANE, GUILLIAMS, JOHNSTON, MCGINNIS, ROBERTS, SWITZER

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 7/6/2006 at 06:03:44

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, April 27, 1938

John F. Johnston, prominent St. Charles banker and one of the most widely-known men in Madison county, died at his home in St. Charles last Saturday evening. He was 84 years of age.

Mr. Johnston had been in failing health for the past two years, and his final illness was of brief duration.

Mr. Johnston had been a name in banking circles since 1900, the year in which he built the bank in St. Charles which still bears his name. For most of the 38 years since the organization of that bank, he actively directed its operation. However, in the past few years, he had withdrawn from active work.

During the nation-wide "bank holiday" declared by President Roosevelt, in March of 1933, Johnston's bank held the distinction of being the only one in Madison county which remained solvent and continued business.

Mr. Johnston was born and reared on a farm near St. Charles. For the past 60 years, he had been a resident of St. Charles. As a young man he was engaged in the livestock buying business.

He was married to Miss Louisa Coltrane of this county. They were the parents of one daughter, Carrie Avanella, who is now Mrs. C. C. Guilliams. His wife died in 1925, and since then he had made his home with his daughter.

In addition to his daughter, he is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Mollie Roberts, and Mrs. Jemima McGinnis of St. Charles, and Mrs. Hester Switzer of Lake Worth, Fla.; and three brothers, Aleo Johnston of St. Charles, Albert Johnston of Ft. Madison, and Wesley Johnston of Maxwell.

Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. E. L. Patterson from the Methodist church Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock. Burial was made in the St. Charles cemetery.
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Coordinator's note: Middle name taken from his Iowa Death Certificate.

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Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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