Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Johnston, Eli Frank 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 6:29 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

Johnston, Eli Frank (deceased) – A life of honest endeavor, one in which every 
deed was actuated by the best of motives and was productive of far-reaching 
and beneficial results, must have left a strong influence behind when it came 
to a close.  The late Eli Frank Johnston was a man who was not only beloved in 
his family and among his intimate friends, but honored and respected in the 
community in which he resided for many years.  Never afraid of hard work, he 
gave the best of himself to any line he followed, and when he died, left a 
record for integrity behind him of which his family may well feel proud.  Mr. 
Johnston was born in Newcastle County, Pa., August 28, 1830, son of James and 
Elizabeth (Rigby) Johnston of Pennsylvania.

In 1855 Mr. Johnston came to Morris, Ill., and for eighteen months worked as a 
plasterer.  He then bought a restaurant on Liberty street, and for seventeen 
years, operated it very successfully, when he sold, and started a news stand.  
After three years at this, he sold, and lived retired from active business 
until his death, November 15, 1899.  In December, 1858, Mr. Johnston married 
Jennie Wallace, born near Newcastle, Pa., February 27, 1838, daughter of 
William and Alethea (Gundy) Wallace, natives of Pennsylvania.  Mrs. Wallace 
died March 9, 1852, and Mr. Wallace came to Morris in 1858, thereafter 
following his trade of millwright in Morris and other places.  He married Mrs. 
Jane Johnston in Mahoning County, Ohio, and came back to Grundy County, but 
later went to Indiana, and thence to Texas, where he died, January 11, 1876.

Mrs. Johnston has resided at her present home, on the corner of Fulton and 
Jackson streets in Morris, since 1872.  She and Mr. Johnston had two 
children:  Etta F., of Washington, D. C., for 25 years employed in the Patent 
office; Carrie W., also of Washington, for 26 years employed in the Pension 
office.  Mrs. Johnston is a believer in the doctrines of Christian Science, 
and the comforting faith of her creed offers her consolation in all her 
bereavements.  Mr. Johnston was a Republican, and for two years served his 
ward as alderman.  Fraternally, he was an Odd Fellow, and was popular in his 
lodge.  It is a beautiful faith that sees those gone before as but exchanging 
one phase of existence for another, and the rounding out of character in a 
better world.

page 843

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/johnston852nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 3.1 Kb