Tama County IA Archives Biographies.....Johnston, William F. 1833 - 
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Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896)

HON. WILLIAM F. JOHNSTON.— Among Tama county's business men none are more
closely identified with the growth and best interests of this locality than the
gentleman whose name introduces this review. He has been a prominent factor in
the promotion of those interests which advance commercial activity, and his
connection with various enterprises has promoted the material welfare of the
community. In him we also have an example of what perseverance, combined with a
determination to succeed, can do. It is the pride and boast of truly republican
institutions that they give to every one an opportunity of demonstrating what is
in him. No matter what condition or rank of society into which he is born "a
man's a man for a' that," and if he but exercise his natural powers and makes
the most of his opportunities he can surely work his way upward. This Mr.
Johnston has done and Iowa to-day numbers him among her honored citizens. He
became a resident of the State in 1856, locating in Iowa City, and since the
first of March, 1858, has been a resident of Toledo.

   In Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1833, Mr.
Johnston was born. His parents, Urias S. and Mary (Keister) Johnston, were
natives of Fayette and Westmoreland counties respectively. The Johnston family
is of Scotch-Irish origin, and was founded in America at an early day in the
history of Pennsylvania. The father of our subject was born in October, in 1807,
and during his youth entered upon an apprenticeship to a cabinet-maker and
carpenter for a term of seven years, following the former trade during the
winter, and the latter in the summer months. He thoroughly mastered the business
in all its details, and became an expert workman. He was married in Mt.
Pleasant, Pennsylvania, and there resided until 1870, when he came to Toledo,
Iowa, where he has spent his remaining days with his children. He had a good
home in Mt. Pleasant, but never accumulated a fortune. In politics he was in
early life a Democrat, afterward became a Whig, and in 1856 became identified
with the Republican party, by which he was elected to different local offices.
In early life he attended the Methodist Church, but after, his marriage became a
member of the United Brethren Church, to which his wife belonged, and was one of
its faithful members until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were numbered among
the founders of the church in Toledo, and were prominent in securing the
location of Western College in this city.

   This worthy couple had eleven children, of whom two daughters died in
childhood. The remainder are still living: William F., of this review is the
eldest; Wesley is a retired merchant of Toledo, Iowa; Susan is the wife of
William Wade, who resides on a farm in Toledo; Levina is the wife of Isaac
Stauffer, of Gladbrook, Iowa; Lydia is the widow of J. Yeiser, a resident of
Toledo, who served during the Civil war as a member of an Iowa regiment; he was
wounded in battle, one leg being shot away and his injuries resulted in his
death in 1877; Kate is the wife of John W. Ebersole, who is living near Toledo;
Sarah is the wife of George M. Berger, of Toledo; Winfield Scott is a merchant
of the same place; and Amanda is the wife of William H. Harrison of Toledo. Mr.
Johnston spent the days of his childhood at Mt. Pleasant, and his primary
education, acquired in the common schools, was supplemented by one year's study
in Mt. Pleasant College. He learned the trade of carpentering with his father
and pursued that business for several years. He then took up merchandising and
for two years was employed as a salesman in his native town. In 1856,
accompanied by two companions, he started Westward to Portage City, Wisconsin.
After a few months, however, they left that place, one of the party going to
Minnesota, and the other two to Iowa. At Iowa City, Iowa, our subject was
offered a clerkship in a store, but concluded that advancement in that position
would not be very rapid, and so returned to his trade, working for $2 per day,
his tools being furnished him by the contractors. In the fall he again began
clerking, continuing that business until 1858, when he came to Toledo. In the
meantime, however, he had become the owner of a tract of land which was sold at
referee's sale for $1,700. He had no money, but his employer loaned him that
amount for thirty days without security, within which time an uncle of Mr.
Johnston in Pennsylvania sent him the money to repay his employer. Within a year
he cleared $10,000 on this investment. Mr. Johnston then came to Toledo and
engaged in mercantile pursuits, joining Henry Galley, under the firm name of
Galley & Johnston. This relationship continued from March, 1858, until March,
1868, and the two gentlemen are still partners in real-estate interests, owning
together several hundred acres of land. On Mr. Galley's retirement from the
mercantile firm Mr. Johnston entered into another partnership, but in 1879 he
became sole proprietor and thus carried on the business until selling out. For
years he did the largest business in the county, the sales amounting to about
$100,000 annually; As his financial resources increased he made judicious
investments in real estate, and at one time owned forty-eight farms, which
averaged over 150 acres each. He still owns several thousand acres of land in
Tama county, being its largest taxpayer, and also has extensive real-estate
interests in Minnesota, Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and northeastern Iowa. His
residence in Toledo was erected at a cost of $12,000 and is situated in the
midst of most beautiful grounds, while its tasteful furnishings indicate the
refined and cultured taste of the inmates. Mr. Johnston has also been connected
with various other business enterprises, enterprises that have been important
factors in the upbuilding and development of the community. He was one of the
principal projectors, in connection with Major Clark, of the Toledo &
Northwestern Railroad, and for eight years was its president, managing the road
with such success that it paid ten per cent. dividends. It has now passed into
the hands of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, but it is still
operated under its original charter, and it was largely through the
instrumentality of Mr. Johnston that the company extended the road, thus
securing better transportation and shipping facilities for this section. In
connection with others, Mr. Johnston built the first elevator in Toledo and
operated it for some time. He also built another elevator, which he managed for
about twenty years. He was one of the principal incorporators of the Howe
Manufacturing Company, now the Iowa Scale Company, which has an extensive plant
in Toledo. That he is a man of varied abilities is shown by the fact of the many
different lines of interest with which he has been connected and which he has
carried forward to successful completion. Commercial interests have not alone
engrossed his attention. He for some time dealt quite extensively in livestock.
He was one of the founders of the Toledo Savings Bank and was its vice-president
until 1893, and was one of the founders and directors of the First National Bank
at Tama. He now gives the greater part of his attention to his real-estate
interests, which are very extensive. He built the first brick block in Toledo
and in numberless ways has advanced the city's growth and upbuilding.

   In his political views Mr. Johnston is a stalwart Republican, and aided in
the organization of the party, previous to which time he was a Whig. Under
Governor Kirkwood he was appointed Draft Commissioner, and was also elected a
member of the Legislature to fill a vacancy. This was during the trying times of
the Civil war. He also served as chairman of the finance committee of the Board
J of Supervisors, He has served as a member of the town Council and as Mayor of
Toledo, and in these various offices has discharged his duties with a promptness
and fidelity worthy of the highest commendation. He is a strong advocate of a
protective tariff, and takes a deep and commendable interest in the growth and
success of his party. He has long been recognized as a leader in its councils in
this locality, but has never sought or desired political preferment.

   On the 21st of September, 1858, Mr. Johnston was united in marriage to Miss
Maria J. Newcomer, who was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of
John Newcomer, a farmer. One daughter has been born of this union, Anna B. There
is no cause that has found in Mr. Johnston a more earnest friend and supporter
than that of education. He believes it one of the important factors in producing
good citizenship, and has done all in his power for its advancement. For over
twenty years he has served as one of the trustees of Cornell College, has long
been president of that board, and is a member of the executive committee. He has
also given $20,000 to the college, and in other ways has contributed largely of
his time and means to make this school one of the most successful in the State.
He is also a member of the executive committee of Western College, a position he
has filled since its establishment in Toledo, and to this school has made
contributions amounting to several thousand dollars. Mr. Johnston is a most
active and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been a
liberal supporter of the church in Toledo. In 1880 he was a delegate from the
Upper Iowa Conference to the General Conference held in Cincinnati, Ohio. No
other individual in all Iowa has done more for the advancement of education,
church and State.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA

ILLUSTRATED

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."'—MACAULAY.

"Biography is by nature the must universally profitable, universally pleasant,
of all things."—CARLYLE

"History is only biography on a large scale"—LAMARTINE.

CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1896

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