Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Johnston, William ************************************************ 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 http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 2:50 am Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907 William Johnston, an honored veteran of the Civil war and for many years an enterprising and progressive agriculturist of Will county, is now living retired in Wesley township. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, June 10, 1838, his parents being John and Mary (Campbell) Johnston. The father was born in Galloway and died in Scotland in 1842, while his wife, coming to the new world, passed away in Morris, Illinois, in 1887 at the age of sixty-seven years. John Johnston followed the occupation of farming in his native country and much of the character of the man is indicated by the fact that he was an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Presbyterian church. In the family were seven children, three sons and four daughters, but only three are now living: Joseph, a resident of Wilmington; Mary, the wife of Thomas McComb, living in Rich Hill, Bates county, Missouri; and William. In the schools of his native country William Johnston acquired his education, remaining a resident of Scotland until fifteen years of age, when in 1853 he crossed the Atlantic on a sailing vessel to New York city. He thence proceeded up the Hudson to Albany and by rail to Joliet, where he arrived in the month of August. He continued a resident of the city until August 5, 1862, when in response to the call of his adopted country he enlisted in Company G of the One Hundredth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded at Louisville, Kentucky, being shot in the hand, and was again wounded at Franklin, Tennessee, November 30, 1864, in the right leg, after which he was in the hospital up to the time of his discharge on the 20th of June, 1865, at which time he held the rank of first sergeant of Company G of the One Hundredth Regiment. He returned home on crutches and it was some time before he had fully recovered from his injuries sustained in battle. In March, 1867, he bought eighty acres of land in Wesley township, where he now lives, and to this he added from time to time as his financial resources have increased until he owned three hundred and twenty acres of finely improved land. In 1906, however, he deeded one-half of this to his son John. In 1902 he retired from active farming and has since spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of the comfort and ease which has been secured to him through untiring activity and well directed effort in former years. On the 7th of November, 1867, Mr. Johnston was married to Miss Martha G. Hazelton, who was born in Oswego, Kendall county, Illinois, August 31, 1852, a daughter of Norman and Almira (Frost) Hazelton, who are mentioned on another page of this work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have been born ten children, of whom nine are now living: Minnie, the wife of George Beckwith, a resident of Wesley township; Mattie, the wife of Dayton E. Charter, living in Essex, Kankakee county, Illinois; Ernest S., who married Edith Scroggins and is living in Emmet county, Iowa; John, who married Sadie Gray and is living in Wesley township; Jennie, the wife of A. C. Jones, of Wesley township; George L., who married Myrtle Leauser, living in Wesley township; Walter I., who is carrying on his father's farm; Mabel and Edith, both at home. Charles, the eldest son, died in January, 1901. Mr. Johnston has been somewhat prominent in local political circles, serving as justice of the peace for twenty years or more. He has received five commissions for this office, the last dated April 24, 1901. He has also been school director for more than two decades and was commissioner of highways from 1S85 until 1888. He is a member of Boyd post, No. 17, G. A. R., of Wilmington, and is a member of the committee on the Soldiers' Widows Home at Wilmington. In politics he has been a stalwart republican since casting Ms first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. No native born citizen of America is more loyal to its interests and institutions than Mr. Johnston, who in his life has manifested the sterling characteristics of the Scottish race—the industry, the perseverance and the stalwart integrity. 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/johnston2406nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb