Los Angeles County CA Archives Biographies.....Johnston, Archie F. 1863 - 1908
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Author: Luther A. Ingersoll (1908)

    ARCHIE F. JOHNSTON, late a prominent and successful merchant, Santa Monica,
was a native of Pittsburg, Pa., born January 12th, 1863, a son of John M.
Johnston, a farmer by occupation, now retired from active business. His mother
was Mary A. Forrister, a daughter of Archibald Forrister, of Edinburgh,
Scotland. He was a shipbuilder by trade in Pittsburg, Pa., with a home at
Bakerstown, then a suburb, where the subject of this sketch was born. About 1873
the family moved to Peoria, Ill., and near that city owned and lived on what was
known as the Hickory Grove Farm. They came to California in April, 1886 and
located in Santa Monica. Here Mr. Johnston found employment as salesman for H.
A. Winslow, who was then engaged in the grocery business. Later he became
manager for Mrs. M. E. Chapin who was, for several years, a leading merchant of
Santa Monica. He occupied this position for seven years and then, associated
with Mr. George Baum, purchased the business. This business was conducted for
two years under the firm name of Johnston & Baum. In 1900, Mr. Johnston became
sole owner and as such built up an extensive and profitable business. In
September, 1906, the concern was incorporated as the A. F. Johnston Company, of
which Mr. Johnston was president, C. W. Rogers, vice president; Harry Cowles,
secretary. The firm removed to the Johnston Building, Mr. Johnston's personal
property, in January, 1906.

    By reason of impaired health, incident to many years of close attention to
business, Mr. Johnston at this time practically retired from active management
of the company's affairs and indulged in a needed rest. In March, 1908, he left
home to make a trip into Josephine County, Oregon, to look after some acquired
mining interests. While nearing his journey's end, in crossing the rapids of the
Illinois River, the boat became unmanageable, capsized and he met an untimely
death by drowning. The sad intelligence of this catastrophe reached the family
the following day and greatly shocked the entire community where he was so
widely and popularly known. After a most diligent search for just a month his
body was recovered, but in such a condition as to render burial at home
impossible. In the death of Archie F. Johnston, Santa Monica sustianed a loss of
one of her most substantial, popular and useful citizens— a loss which, at the
time, seemed irreparable.

    In 1890 Mr. Johnston married Miss Katherine I., a daughter of Thomas
Elliott, one of Santa Monica's best known and highly respected pioneers. Mr.
Johnston assiduously devoted himself to the building up of a very substantial
business and a comfortable estate. His social temperament, courteous manner, and
keen sense of honor made his friends legion and extended his popularity as a
merchant and citizen. For four years, from 1903 to 1907, inclusive, he served on
the Santa Monica City Board of Trustees and proved a most energetic, faithful
and progressive servant of the people, his policy and efforts meeting the
unqualified and hearty endorsement of the public. Mr. Johnston was a charter
member of the B. P. 0. E. and of the K. of P., Santa Monica lodges. He was a
member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Fraternal Brotherhood and Maccabees. He
was also an active and influential member of the Santa Monica Board of Trade.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Ingersoll's century history, Santa Monica Bay cities: prefaced with a brief
history of the state of California, a condensed history of Los Angeles County,
1542 to 1908: supplemented with an encyclopedia of local biography and
embellished with views of historic landmarks and portraits of representative
people.

Los Angeles: Luther A. Ingersoll (1908)


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