Johnston, William Samuel 1852-1923 & Christina Franke Family

JOHNSTON, MCGUIRE, FRANKE, SCHUETTE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 6/11/2023 at 14:13:12

Johnston, William Samuel 1852-1923 and Christina Franke Family

This story was taken from pages 414-415 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added. As is typical with family information from one document to other varies the information herein is reported as in the record cited. Example- family states birth of William was 1855 and the ancestry account lists 1852. Several census records indicate the birth date was 1852.

W. S. Johnston was born near Galena, IL. in 1855. He received his education there and worked at the carpenter trade. In 1883 he came to Iowa and settled in the Adaville area, but with the coming of the railroad and Ireton beginning to grow, he came to Ireton in 1884. Here he met Christena Franke, who had come here from Guttenburg, IA., at the age of 3 when her parents homesteaded near here in 1872. They were married in 1887 and built a small home in the west part of town, but later when the east side of town was platted, they purchased 4 lots and built a two-story home, and as horses were the only means of transportation, it was necessary for everyone to have a barn. Their barn was unusually large as it was designed half to be used for horses and other half to be used as a shop, where Mr. Johnston could work in cold or rainy weather to make window sashes, doors, etc. to be used in the summer.

Mr. Johnston erected many of the homes in the west part of town. He built 2 houses for “Whit” Thompson and Whit was so pleased with his work that he persuaded him to go to Hecla, S.D. (a distance of 300 miles from Ireton) to erect a full set of farm buildings. As there were no railroads and the only means of transportation was by horse and wagon, Mr. Johnston loaded his tools in a buckboard and drove to Hecla, going through Indian Country. He returned in the fall. Many buildings still stand in and around Ireton that are a credit to his handiwork. He was instrumental in founding the United Presbyterian Church. He was a firm believer in education and all community affairs.

In 1918 he suffered a stroke and after that was a familiar figure on the streets of Ireton in his wheelchair. He passed away Oct. 1923.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnston had five children: Mary Mae (Mrs. J.R. Karr) graduated from Ireton High School and one year at Cedar Falls Teacher College. She was an ardent community worker. Wm. Raymond graduated from I.H.S., farmed for a time, then went into the lumber business and managed several yards in Iowa and Minn. He retired in Austin, Mn. and passed away in 1972. Myrtle Irene (Mrs. Ira Levering) graduated from I.H.S., taught school for a time, married Ira Levering and farmed for 10 years, then went into sales work that took them over several states. After WWII started, they accepted work at the State Mental Hosp. at Hastings, NE. Later they took charge of the Plymouth County Care Center. They retired in 1962 and returned to Ireton where he expired in 1963 and Myrtle still lives. Mabel Louise (Mrs. Adolph Twillman) graduated from I.H.S. and Westmar College. Mabel taught school for 23 years. Arthur LeRoy graduated from I.H.S., attended Morningside College and School of Engineering at Ames. He was connected with the U.S. Engineers for many years. He now lives at Lincoln, NE.

After the children were old enough to be left for short periods, Mrs. Johnston did practical nursing, helping the doctors deliver babies. It has been said she spanked more babies’ bottoms and heard their first cries than anyone else in the community. She passed away in 1954. She often told how her parents burned cow chips and twisted hay to burn during the winter. Her father and a few neighbors would go to the Rock River to cut wood and haul it home to burn.

RESEARCH NOTES – added by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the GSCGS Taken from a family report on ancestry.com public member trees and was submitted by others not verified by this submitter.

In the 1860 census of Jo Daviess Co. IL John C. born abt 1825 Ireland, wife Mary born abt 1825, son Samuel J. was 8 born IL, and Margaret was 6, Mary 4 and Sarah 2.

William ‘Samuel’ Johnston was born 3 Sep 1852 Galena, Jo Daviess Co., Illinois and died 21 Oct 1923 Ireton IA. He was the son of John C. Johnston 1826-1861 and Mary McGuire 1824-1907. On 16 Jun 1887 he married Christina ‘Tillie’ Franke at LeMars, IA.

Christina ‘Tillie’ Franke was born 11 Oct 1867 near Guttenburg, Clayton Co., IA and died 20 Dec 1954 LeMars IA. She was the daughter of Fredrich Franke 1830-1920 and Mary Schuette. William and Christina had seven children listed as follows:

CHILDREN taken from local obits and ancestry.com reports.

1. Mary Mae Johnston 1888 Ireton Iowa She married John Randall Karr died 1962 Children listed were – Kenyon Karr 1923-2004, and five more children listed as private.
Hawarden Independent of Oct 1, 1981 Mrs. J. Randall Karr, 93, of Ireton, died Friday, Sept. 25 in a LeMars nursing home. Services were held at 2 ,p.m. Monday in the Dow Funeral Home at Ireton. The Rev. James Ransom officiated. Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. There was a prayer service at 7 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. Mrs. Karr, the former Mary Mae Johnston, was born April 10, 1888 in Ireton. She was married Feb. 3,1909 in Ireton. The couple lived in Colorado for two years before returning to Ireton. Mr. Karr died in 1962.. She entered Brentwood Nursing Home in Le Mars eight years ago. She was a member of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ. Survivors include six sons, Hollis M. and D. Kenyon, both of Ireton, J. Leland of Lombard, IL.,J. Thurlow of Merrillville, Ind.,Lyman W. of Glen Burnie, Md. and Weston R. of Le Mars; 12 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs.Myrtle Levering and Mrs. Mabel Twillman, both of Ireton and one brother, Arthur J. of Lincoln,Neb.

2. William Raymond Johnston born 19 June 1892 Ireton IA and died Jul 1972 at Austin, Mower, MN. He married Gertrude Caroline Anna Stem 1897-1969 No children listed on ancestry member tree.

3. Myrtle Irene Johnston born Nov 1894 Ireton IA 1985 her husband was Ira Levering 1893 – 1963
Hawarden Independent of Feb 14, 1985 Mrs. Ira (Myrtle) Levering, 90, of Ireton died Monday, Feb. 11, 1985, in a care center in Hawarden. Services were at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, in the Dow Funeral- Home in Ireton. The Rev. Charles Wolff officiated. Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers were Earl Vore, Leonard Marienau, Ed Kading, Terry Karr, Weston Karr and Kenyon Karr. Mrs. Levering, the former Myrtle Johnston, was born Nov. 17, 1894, at Ireton. She married Ira Levering Feb. 14, 1917, at Ireton. They farmed near Ireton for 10 years before moving to Hastings, NE, where they lived until 1952 when they moved to Le Mars. In 1962 they returned to Ireton. Mr. Levering died Dec. 3, 1963. Survivors include one brother, Art Johnston of Lincoln, NE.

4. Baby Johnston born 17 Jan 1896 and died 19 Jan 1896

5. Mable Louise Johnston born 16 Mar 1901 Ireton IA and died 1882. her husband was Adoph H. Twillman 1896-1971
Sioux Center News March 24, 1982 Mrs. Adolph Twillman, 81, of Ireton, died Friday, March 19 in a hospital at Orange City. Services were at 2pm Tuesday in the Dow Funeral Home at Ireton. The Rev. Robert Schwander officiated. Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. There was a prayer service at 8:15pm Monday in the funeral home. Mrs. Twillman, the former Mabel Louise Johnston, was born March 16, 1901, at Ireton. She received a BA degree from Westmar College in LeMars and taught school in Ireton. She married Adolph Twillman March 12, 1924, at Ireton. He died June 24, 1971. Survivors include one sister, Mrs. Ira (Myrtle) Levering of Ireton and one brother, Arthur L. of Lincoln, NE

6. Arthur Leroy Johnston 25 Jul 1908 Ireton IA he died 19 Jun 1995 Lincoln NE. His wife was Dagmar Louise Nordquist, one child named Robert Johnston 1942- 5 Jul 2002 Lincoln NE

7. Edith Johnston Johnston, Edith born 20 Jul 1890 died 19 Jul 1891, daughter of W. S. and C. buried in Pleasant Hill cemetery at Ireton IA. No death notice was found in the papers. Note: See the obit of William Johnston 1852-1923 for more family details, which mentions two children died in infancy.

OBITUARY OF W.S. JOHNSTON
From the Thursday, October 25, 1923 Hawarden Independent:
Death of Pioneer Resident
W. S. Johnston, one of Ireton's pioneer residents, passed away at his home here Sunday evening, following an immediate illness of nine weeks' duration. Five years ago he was stricken with paralysis and has been an invalid since that time although he was able to go about in a self-propelled wheelchair and has been a familiar figure on the streets of Ireton. On August 18th last he suffered another stroke after which he failed steadily until death relieved him of his suffering Sunday evening.
Funeral services were held at the home Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. B. Jackson of Omaha, a former pastor of the United Presbyterian church of Ireton, assisted by Rev. Otto L. Carr, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Ireton. Interment was made in the Ireton cemetery.
Wiiiam Samuel Johnston was born at Galena, Ill., Sept 3, 1852, and died in Ireton Oct. 21, 1923, at the age of 71 years, 1 month and 18 days. He grew to manhood at Galena and in 1882, with his mother and one sister, located along the Broken Kettle in Plymouth county where he worked at the carpenter trade for a couple of years. The family came to Ireton in 1884 and Mr. Johnston followed his trade here until he was stricken in June, 1918. On June 16, 1887, he was united in marriage with Miss Christina Franke at LeMars and they immediately went to housekeeping in Ireton and their home has ever since been here and for the past twenty-six years they have lived in the present home.
Seven children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy. The children are: Mrs. J. R. Karr, W. R. Johnston and Mrs. Ira Levering, all of Ireton vicinity, and Mabel and Arthur Johnston at home. He also leaves six grandsons. He was eldest of a family of five children and the first to pass over the Great Divide. Four sisters survive him: Mrs. Sarah Sanderson, Mrs. Maggie Rodden and Mrs. Mary Montgomery of Galena, Ill., and Mrs. Annie Shimer of Pasadena, Calif. He was among the first members of the old United Presbyterian chnrch in Ireton and continued steadfast in the faith to the last. The sorrowing widow, children and other relatives have the sincere sympathy of all in their bereavement.

OBITUARY OF CHRISTINA JOHNSTON
Hawarden Independent, December 23, 1954
Ireton, IA - Mrs. W. S. Johnston, resident of Ireton since 1887, died early Monday morning at the Sacred Heart hospital at LeMars following a prolonged sickness due to her advance years.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m., at the Presbyterian Church in Ireton. Burial will be in the family plot beside her husband who preceded her in death in 1923.
Services will be conducted by Rev. O. J. Snuttjer, assisted by Rev. J. Boyd Stevenson. Members of the Presbyterian male quartet will sing. Six sons of Mr. & Mrs. J. R. Karr will be pall bearers.
Christina Franke Johnston was born at Guttenburg, IA, October 11, 1868, and came as a child to Sioux County and was reared on a farm northeast of Ireton. She married W. S. Johnston at LeMars on June 16, 1887. The couple came to Ireton and she has made her home here since that time.
Five children were born to this union, Mrs. J. R. Karr and Mrs. Adolph Twillman of Ireton; Mrs. Ira Levering of LeMars; Arthur Johnston of Omaha and Raymond Johnston of Austin, MN. There also survives 7 grandsons and 11 great grandchildren, a brother, Henry Franke of Ireton; two sisters, Mrs. James Cobb of Norcross, MN, and Mrs. Charles Werley of LeMars.
Coming from a distance to be at the last rites were Thurlow Karr of New York City; Mr. & Mrs. Lyman Karr and family of Washington, D.C. and Leland Karr of Chicago.

This picture was taken from the Ireton Centennial Book page 415

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