The Johnston Families of Nodaway County, Missouri

EPHRAIM JOHNSTON, farmer, section 24, was born in Ross County, Ohio, on the 7th of May,. 1823, and is the son of George and Nancy Johnston, the former of Rockingham County, Virginia, and his mother a native of Shippingsburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Johnston died in 1843, and his wife in 1855. They were married in 1800, and then settled in Ross County, Ohio, eleven miles south of Chillicothe. Ephraim spent his boyhood days and received a common school education in his native county. He also, attended the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, and in 1845,. returned to the homestead, where he devoted his time to farming. He was married April 9, 1846, to Miss Rebecca Jones, a native of Ross- County, Ohio, born February 13, 1827. She is a daughter of Henry and Rachel (CorkenJ Jones, Her father was a native of New Jersey, born, February 22, 1791, and died March 16, 1871. He was in the war of 1812. Her mother was a native of Redstone, Pennsylvania,.born December 23,. 1796. She is now a resident of Ross County, Ohio. They were married, in 1816, after which they settled in Ross County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston settled in their native county,, and there remained till 1853,. when they moved to Jackson County, Ohio. In 1859, they became residents of Frankfort, Ross County, Ohio, and in 1862, came to Nodaway County, Missouri, locating where they now reside, some five miles southwest of Burlington Junction. They are both members of the M. E. Church. Mr. J. enlisted in 1864, in Company I, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and did post duty at Columbus, Tennessee, and Camp Douglas, Chicago. He was mustered out at St. Louis, and discharged in. July, 1865. He then returned to his home, and devoted his time to farming. Mr. and Mrs. J. have eight children by this union: Augustus. Adeline, Clara, Rachel, Milton, Howard, Henry W. and Edward. Lost one, Eva, who was born September 17, 1860. She died December 18, 1862.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Quitman. This gentleman is the senior member of the firm of Johnston & Radford, merchants. The general stock, with the building, is invoiced at $18,000. Mr. J. is a native of Ross County, Ohio, and was born on the 4th of February, 1847. He is the eldest son of Ephraim and Rebecca (Jones) Johnston, who were married April 9, 1846. They settled in Ross County, Ohio, and in 1853 moved to Jackson County, Ohio, and in 1859 returned to Ross County, there remaining till 1862. The)' then came to Nodaway County, Missouri, and settled northwest of Quitman, where he now resides. Augustus passed his boyhood days and received a good education in his native county. He accompanied his parents on their various moves, and when he came to Missouri had in his possession some $30. For two years he devoted his time during the summer months in assisting his father on the farm and in winters he taught school. In 1869 he leased 160 acres of uncultivated land and improved it. In 1870 he purchased 160 acres, made excellent improvements upon it, and on the ist of January, 1878, with his partner, he bought the entire stock of merchandise of J. J. Daniels & Co. He has since continued in the mercantile business. Mr. Johnston married, on the 9th of April, 1874, Miss Henrietta Woods, a native of Licking County, Ohio, born May- is, 1854. She is a daughter of Jesse and Martha (Spencer) Woods, who were natives of Licking County, Ohio. Her father was born January 8, 1812, and her mother June 3, 1815. They were married September 3, 1835, and then settled in Licking County, Ohio. In 1855 they moved to LeRoy, McLean County, Illinois, and to Menard County in 1859, coming to Nodaway County, Missouri, in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are both members of the M. E. Church. Mr. J. is a member of Lodge No. 284 of the I. O. O. F. Their family consists of five children living: Ida M., born January 23, 1875; Flora E., born March 21, 1877; Ed. M., born September 6, 1878; Alma J., born February 26, 1880; and Rebecca, born December 12, 1881.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

The subject of this sketch has devoted his life mainly to farming, having maintained his home in Nodaway county for over forty years. He has prospered and has done much for the upbuilding of the community at large, and as a result of his honorable record, his public spirit and his genial disposition, he has won a position of honor and trust in this county that will be permanent.

Colin Johnston was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1857, and is a son of James and Jane (Maxwell) Johnston, the former having been a native of Ross county, Ohio, and the latter born in Springfield, West Virginia. In [863 the family removed to Monticello, Piatt county, Illinois, where they remained four years, moving in 1867 to the farm in the northeast part of Nod away township now owned by the subject of this sketch. The original purchase consisted of two hundred and eighty acres of wild land, one hundred acres of which had been broken though not put in cultivation. At that time Maryville was the nearest market and Savannah the nearest railroad point, and from the latter point Mr. Johnston brought his family by team to their new home. On this place James Johnston maintained his residence until his death, which occurred in 1903. He was a hard working man and a successful farmer, having made many permanent and substantial improvements in his farm, which eventually was numbered among the best farms of the township. He was a broad-minded and public-spirited man and took a leading part in local public affairs, though he never sought public office for himself. In his earlier years he had been identified with the Knownothing party, being a man of pronounced views and true to his honest convictions. At the age of seventy-two years he turned his attention to religious thoughts and identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he became an earnest supporter. To James and Jane Johnston were born eight children, of which number three lived to mature years.

Colin Johnston was reared by his parents and secured his education partly in Piatt county, Illinois, where the school was conducted in his father’s house, but the major part of his school attendance was at Clearmont, Missouri. He has always resided on the home farm, he and the other heirs operating the place conjointly. Mr. Johnston gives considerable attention to the breeding and raising of Poland-China hogs and Durham cattle, which he has found to be a profitable source of income, along with his other farming operations. He is progressive in his methods, keeping in close touch with the most advanced ideas relating to the science of husbandry and is considered a thoroughly up-to-date farmer.

In 1889 Mr. Johnston married Julia Clark, whose death occurred in 189. or 1895. To them were born two sons, Elmer C. and one who died in fancy. The former remains at home with his father. In matters political, Mr. Johnston is aligned with the Republican party and takes a deep interest in general public events, being a close reader and honest thinker. His religious membership is with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is an earnest supporter and to which he gives generously of his means. He belongs to that class of citizens who by their support of the moral, political and social states for the general good, promote the real welfare of their respective communities.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CORWIN JOHNSTON, photographer and justice of the peace, was born on a farm in Brown County, Ohio, on the 3d day of August, 1845, and when at the age of fourteen years, with his parents, he moved to Appanoose County, Iowa, there locating on a farm. He received good educational advantages, and in 1861 moved to Dakota County, Minnesota, where he was engaged in tilling the soil till 1863. He then enlisted in the Fourth Minnesota Infantry, but was discharged on account of poor health, after which he re-enlisted in the First Minnesota Heavy Artillery and served his entire term. After being discharged, in 1865, he returned to his home and was occupied in the grocery business for four years. In 1870 he closed out and came to Graham, Nodaway County. He was appointed postmaster, which position he continued to fill for some three years, when he resigned in favor of the present incumbent, Mr. J. Morton. At one time Mr. Johnston was registering officer, serving until it was discontinued. In 1878 he was elected justice of the peace. His genial nature, courteous manner, wise, sagacious management have made him one of the best, as he is one of the most popular officials of this district. He was united in marriage on the 7th day of May, 1866, to Miss P. A. Canfield, a native of Rochester, New York, born the 21st day of May, 1848. By this union they have six children: Orsamus G., Lucy M., Josie M., M. Rozetta, P. A. and Florence, all living. Mr. and Mrs. J. are both members of the M. E. Church, Mr. J. being Sunday School superintendent. He is also N. G. of Lodge No. 189, of the I. O. O. F. fraternity.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY PEARL JOHNSTON.

Many families from the Hawkeye state have crossed the line and found excellent homes in Nodaway county, Missouri, and the fact that very few have desired to go back to their former place of residence is evidence that they are doing well here and find this a pleasant country from every point of view. One such is Henry Pearl Johnston, who was born in Taylor county, Iowa, September 22, 1872, the son of James and Anna (Long) Johnston, the former a native of Maryland, born in 1829. and the latter born in 1832. They were among the first settlers of Taylor county, Iowa, where Mr. Johnston became well established and where he now lives, retired. Politically, he is a Republican. Mrs. James Johnston was called to her rest in 1908. In their family were ten children, of whom six are living. The parents were always Methodists.

Henry P. Johnston was reared on the home farm, where he began work ing during the summer months when a small boy, attending the neighboring schools in the winter time, also went to the Bedford high school. He came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1899, and has devoted himself to farming. He is the owner of eighty acres of good land, on which he conducts general farming operations and raises good stock, making a specialty of such stock as always finds ready sales. He keeps his place well improved and has a very comfortable home and such outbuildings as are found on the usual well-managed farm of the present day.

Mr. Johnston married, on February 9, 1898, Cina Dickerson, a native of Illinois, the daughter of I. S. and Mary (Bornhuff) Dickerson. The latter is now deceased and Mr. Dickerson now lives in Nodaway county. Missouri, To Air. and Mrs. Johnston two children have been born, namely, Carol Esther and Walter Harland.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Johnston belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Politicallv, he is a Republican.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.