Johnston, W. R.

JOHNSTON, JORDAN, LIPTON, BRANNIAN, ORR, MCDONALD, GILMORE, HUTCHINSON, HALL

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/2/2012 at 14:29:36

A record of service covering twenty-nine consecutive years as township trustee is one of which any man might be proud, for it indicates clearly the confidence and trust of his fellowmen. This is the record of W. R. Johnston, who is also a prominent farmer of Scott township, owning three hundred and twenty acres on section 22, this land having been in possession of the family since 1867.
Mr. Johnston comes of a long line of Irish ancestry and his birth occurred in County Fermanagh, Ireland, April 5, 1842. He was a lad of six years when his parents, John R and Jane (Jordan) Johnston, emigrated to the United States. The mother was born in Ireland, April 16, 1816, and they were married in that country, May 5, 1840. Five children were born to them ere their emigration to the United States in 1848. They established their home in Rock Island county, Illinois, and there eight more children were born. The father engaged in general farming in Illinois and was identified with the interests of Rock Island county for two decades, when, in 1868, he removed with his family to Poweshiek county, Iowa, but had purchased his land here the year previously. This tract constitutes the one now owned by out subject and is located on section 22, Scott township. As Mr. Johnston expressed it, there was nothing but a "wolf and an Indian" on the land when he took possession, indicating the unsettled condition of the country and the task that lay before the pioneer settlers. He at once set to work to improve and develop his land and in due course of time had a good property, improved with substantial buildings. He died here, November 17, 1881, at the age of sixty-six years, and his wife, surviving for many years, departed this life, December 31, 1904, when in her eighty-ninth year.
The record of their children is as follows: John R., a resident of Rugley, North Dakota; W.R.., of this review; Mrs. Bessie Jane Lipton, now deceased; Joshua and James R., who have also departed this life; Anna, a resident of Brooklyn; Margaret, deceased; Laura, the wife of John W. Brannian, of Deep River township; Mary, the wife of Thomas Orr, of Brooklyn; Samuel and Robert, who reside in South Dakota; T.R., a resident of Scott township; and Henry, who makes his home in Delaware county, Iowa.
W.R. Johnston was reared and educated in Rock Island county, Illinois, and was a young man of twenty-five years when he came with the family to Poweshiek county. He assisted in the arduous task of establishing a home on the frontier and the lessons which he learned in early life have proved of value to him in his later years of labor. He now owns the homestead property of three hundred and twenty acres and his time is fully occupied in its management and cultivation.
Mr. Johnston was married in 1870, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Jane McDonald, who was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, June 1, 1852, a daughter of James and Jane (Clarke) McDonald, the former born in Nebraska and the latter in Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have been born twelve children, namely: Mary, who died at the age of one year; Sarah Jane, who died when a month old; Joshua, who makes his home in Scott township; Maude, the wife of J. E. Gilmore, a resident of Montana; Nettie, who departed this life June 30, 1902, when twenty-four years of age; Elmer, at home; William, also at home; Sadie, the wife of Frank Hutchinson, also of Scott township; Margaret the wife of Elza Hall, also of Scott township; and Clare, Laura and Clinton, all still under the parental roof.
Mr. Johnston's study of the political issures of the day has led him to give stalwart support to the rupublican party. He has for twenty-nine consecutive years filled the office of township trustee, his loyalty and faithfulness being proven in the fact of his long service. He has also serve as a member of the school board. Mr. Johnsoton was reared in the faith of the Episcopal church but as there is no church of that denomination in his home locality he attend and supports the Methodist Episcopal and the United Presbyterian churches. His fraternal relations are with the Orangemen. Possessing the indominable perseverance of his race and endowed by nature with a good constitution, he early developed all the attributes that make the successful man. Although he has led a busy and useful life in the conduct of his private business affairs, he has yet found time to become interested in affairs of a public nature, lending his aid and influence in the cause of every good movement and heartily promoting the progress and advancement of his community.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 298-299