Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Johnston, Joseph ************************************************ 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 December 3, 2007, 5:34 am Author: Past & Present, 1907 Joseph Johnston, of Wilmington, was born at Leadhills, Wigtonshire, Scotland, July 12, 1833, and was educated at Muirkirk, Scotland. His parents, John and Mary Campbell, were married December 31, 1825, in the parish of Minnigoff, and were members of the Church of England. Having spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native country, Joseph Johnston sought the better business opportunities of the new world, leaving his native land in the spring of 1853. As a passenger on the old sailing vessel Columbia, he left Liverpool on the 2d of June and after six weeks and three days on the ocean proceeded by boat and rail across the country to Joliet, where he arrived on the 30th of July. He lived in and near the city until 1859, when he removed to Jackson township and a year later went to Manhattan township, where he resided until 1876, farming forty acres of land, on which he built a house. He then sold that property and bought seventy-two acres in Wesley township, which he improved, adding to the place until he had one hundred and twelve acres. There he lived until 1893, when he removed to Wilmington, where he now resides. On the 10th of November, 1859, Mr. Johnston married Miss Mary C. Miller, who was born in Pennsylvania, January 11, 1834, and died November 8, 1893. She was a daughter of Martin and Esther (Potter) Miller, who were married in Pennsylvania, December 9. 1832, and had four children, all now deceased. The father was a carpenter by trade and at an early day came to Joliet. After his death his widow married Samuel Green, who was born in the Keystone state, October 26, 1807. Mrs. Green, nee Miller, was born in Pennsylvania, October 16, 1813, and died January 21, 1879, while Mr. Green passed away in 1878. After losing his first wife Mr. Johnston was married, December 10, 1895, to Annie Gall, who was born in Shropshire, England, March 3, 1864, a daughter of Charles and Barbara (Duxon) Gall, both natives of Cambridgeshire, England. The father, born July 5, 1832, died February 24, 1906, and the mother, born August 5, 1832, died December 3, 1874. They were married May 1, 1860, and had four children, three now living: Mrs. Johnston, Elizabeth, and Naomi, the wife of Frederick Blackhaus, of Yorkshire, England. The father was a mechanical engineer, belonged to the Masonic lodge, and spent his entire life in England. By his first marriage Mr. Johnston had three children: Elizabeth, the wife of Willis Hazelton; Esther A., who was the wife of Thomas Cairns and died November 26, 1906; and Martin H., who married Tina Lugar and is living in Joliet, being superintendent of the Joliet & Chicago Interurban line. While living in Wesley township Mr. Johnston served as road commissioner for six years and has been three times elected justice of the peace in Wilmington, elected for the last time April 29. 1905. In polities he is an earnest republican, having supported each presidential candidate of the party since casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. Additional Comments: Past and Present of Will County, Illinois, by W. W. Stevens, President of the Will County Pioneers Association. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/johnston1906nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb