Biography - JOHN W. JOHNSTON

John W. Johnston, deceased, who was one of the most highly respected citizens and good farmers of South Otter township, Macoupin County, was born September 12, 1830, in Kentucky, and was a son of Isaac B. and Elizabeth (King) Johnston.

The parents of the late Mr. Johnston moved from Kentucky to Illinois in 1836, settling first on a property at American Bottoms. On account of malarial conditions superinduced by the low location of the land, they left this fertile locality and removed to North Palmyra township, where they purchased a farm, but later removed from that to the one in North Otter township, where our subject's mother died. The father married again and also died on this farm.

The late John W. Johnston was educated in the district schools in his neighborhood, and as soon as he was old enough he began to materially assist his father in farming. This occupation he followed all his life with much success. In 1859 he married Samantha M. Etter, a daughter of William Etter, who was a prominent farmer located within one mile of the farm, operated by Mr. Johnson. William Etter was born in Virginia and came to Illinois in 1837 and died in 1879, aged within a few months of 80 years. He was survived by his widow until March, 1899, when she died, aged 85 years.

The death of Mr. Johnston occurred April 8, 1901. He is survived by his widow and seven children, named as follows: James Franklin, now a resident of Missouri, who married Susan Stanley of Nebraska, and has one son, John Emery; Nancy Ellen and Elizabeth Helen (twins), the former of whom married Charles Barnes, a farmer of South Otter township; Francis Newton, a resident of Nilwood, who first married Elizabeth Weller and they had these children — Jessie, Myrtle, Mary, Roy, Coy and George, — his second marriage was with Minnie Campbell; William B., a resident of Oregon, who married Neva Welton, and they have three children, — Theodore, Perry and Luke M.; Katie, who married William Barnes and at death left two children, — Gertrude, now deceased, and William, who is living with his grandmother; and Wesley C, who married Daisy McReynolds, and has two children, — William and Ada.

Mr. Johnston was a very intelligent man and was thoroughly respected by all who knew him, while in his family he was much beloved and looked up to. In politics he took only a good citizen's interest, voting the Republican ticket, but he would never listen to any suggestions of office holding. The only office he was willing to accept was that of deacon in the Baptist Church, which honorable position he held for a long period. He was a good man, one who will long be missed. His estimable widow very capably manages the large farm in section 22, and is also very much esteemed in the locality.

Extracted 2018 May 05 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 88-89.