Colin Johnston

As printed in 1910

COLIN JOHNSTON.

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 Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.