EDWARD S. JOHNSTON.

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         Edward S. Johnston, who is engaged in farming an eighty acre tract on section 29, Elliott township, was born near Columbia City, Indiana, on the 16th of June, 1866. He is the eldest son of W. R. and Martha D. (Bennett) Johnston, both originally from Ohio, the mother being a native of Worthington, that state. The father, who has always been an agriculturist, is a veteran of the Civil war, having gone to the front in 1862, as a member of Company F, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry. During the period of his enlistment W. R. Johnston saw much active service and was taken prisoner at Macon, Georgia, but made his escape a week later, while at Jonesborough he was wounded in the left arm and now draws a pension. He was at the front about three years, receiving his discharge at Washington, D. C., in December, 1865. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnston as follows: Edward S., the subject of this sketch; Addie, the deceased wife of Jacob Helblig, of Alexandria, Indiana; Nora, the wife of Allie Hill, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Mary, the deceased wife of Wartz Staples, of Columbus City, Indiana; Della, who is deceased; John A., a resident of Columbia City, Indiana; Lewis, who is living in the same place; Kora F., also of Columbia City; William Thomas of Louisa county; James H., of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Clifford, deceased.

         After he had acquired sufficient knowledge of the common branches to enable him to begin his active business career Edward S. Johnston laid aside his textbooks and assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm until he was twenty-one. He subsequently removed to Audubon, Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand for a time, and then returned home, where he remained for two years. At the expiration of that period he went to Sioux City and worked in the stock yards for four years, following which he again returned to Indiana, where he remained for a year. In 1895 he went to Wapello, and in 1904 purchased eighty acres of land, located on section 29, Elliott township. He settled upon his farm on the 21st of March, 1904, and there he has since continued to reside, engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Johnston had the misfortune to lose his barn, some stock and five tons of hay by fire on the 14th of March, 1911. In the fall of 1911 he erected a modern home on his farm and today has a well improved place.

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         On the 23d of February, 1898, Mr. Johnston and Miss Ida M. Newell were united in marriage. Her parents were Thomas and Sarah J. (Mock) Newell, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. They had ten children: Elizabeth, the deceased wife of George Hensley, of Muscatine, Iowa; Josephine, who married Thomas Wiser, of Adair county, this state; Hugh T., who is a resident of the same county; Samuel P., who is living in Denver, Colorado; Robert W., an agriculturist of Wapello township; Benjamin, who is also living in Denver; Ida M., now Mrs. Johnston; William, who is living in this county; Vira; and Abe, of Denver. Mr. Newell passed away on the 27th of September, 1899, at the age of seventy-six years, and his wife died on the 24th of April, 1905, at the age of seventy-two. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have been born the following children: Elsie Irene, born December 4, 1898; Minnie May, whose birth occurred on the 1st of November, 1900; William Newell, born on the 22d of April, 1903; Merit Edward, born on the 6th of December, 1905; and Sherman Everett, whose birth occurred on the 18th of August, 1908.

         Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnston adhere to the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. A republican in politics he is serving his third term as assessor in Elliott township, and while residing in Indiana he was constable, always having taken an active interest in political affairs ever since attaining his majority.