JOHNSTON, Stephen B.: 1854-1922

JOHNSTON, BESWICK, WILMOTH, ELY, DUNN

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 12/14/2013 at 09:29:25

DEATH CLAIMS A PIONEER AND NATIVE BORN SON

Stephen B. Johnston, a Well Known Resident of this City Died at His Home on Last Monday.
**Handwritten: d. 5 JUNE 1922

In the death of Stephen B. Johnston son of Stephen and Elizabeth Johnston, former residents of the Utica neighborhood, where he was born, the city and community loses one of its best pioneer men.

Mr. Johnston's death occurred at his home on East Woodrow street in this city on last Monday night at about 9:50, from kidney and liver complications. He had been an invalid for a year or more but not in a really serious condition until the last few weeks. He was a most highly esteemed citizen, attending at all times most strictly to his own business, not caring to meddle in the affairs of his neighbors, and by these actions in his almost sixty-eight years of life he was enabled to make many warm friends who remained steadfast to him thruout life.

Mr. Johnston was born on September 26th, 1854, on a farm one mile west of Utica, and had spent his entire life in this vicinity, moving of. his farm, just south of Utica, about three years ago to is town property, built and formerly owned by the B.R. Boleys.

Mr. Johnston leaves to mourn him three daughters and one son and a loving wife, formerly Miss Alice Beswick whom he married in 1880. The son is C.C. Johnston, living on a farm just west of Utica; and the daughters are: Mrs. Ely, of Des Moines, Mrs. Wilmeth, of St. Louis; and Mrs. Mabel Dunn, of this city.

The fneral(sp) services were held on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 from the Christian church in charge of Rev. Bro. L.R. Puutnam, who spoke most eloquently on the text: "This is not your rest." He preceded his sermon by reading as the Scripture a part of the Psalms and from the Book of Job. The services at the grave were in charge of Workman Lodge 634 A.F. & A.M., with Brother J.C. Silver as Master. Brother Johnston was a charter member of this order here, but owing to his illness he was only permitted to attend but two of its sessions. Of the order he had been a number of more than a quarter of a century, demitting her from Belmont Lodge 545, at H??sbo?. Brother Johnston's was the first funeral of Workman Lodge, it having been ??? only over a years.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 371, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA