Biography of Joseph Eggleston Johnson, Caddo & Ouachita Parish La Source: From Chronicles of Shreveport and Caddo Parish, Maude Hearn O'Pry, 1928, Submitted by: Kay Thompson Brown ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** JOSEPH EGGLESTON JOHNSTON JOSEPH EGGLESTON JOHNSTON, was born in Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, March 27, 1878, being the son of Joseph Eggleston and Annie (MeClendon) Johnston. The senior was born in Alabama in 1847 and died in Louisiana in 1910. The grandfather, Silas B. Johnston, was of English descent. Joseph E. Johnston, Sr., was identified with educational movements in Louisiana for many years, having been the founder of the Plain Dealing High School and for many years the superintendent of schools in Bossier Parish, Joseph E. Johnston received his early education under his father and later graduated from the Normal Department of the University of Arkansas. Upon his completion of his school work, Mr. Johnston became connected with Glassell Brothers of Belcher, La., and upon leaving that firm was connected with W. B. Means at Missionary, La. Mr Johnston left the employ of Mr. Means to become connected with the New York Life Insurance Company, remaining with them for three years and was at one time a vice president of the "one hundred thousand dollar club." When the Queensborough Land Company of Shreveport, La., was organized Mr. Johnston gave up his position with the New York Life Insurance Company and joined forces with the Queensborough Land Company as a salesman. In a short time he gained control of the company and since that time has been actively engaged in the Real Estate business. In the Queensborough section as well as elsewhere in the city he has built many homes, practically donated teal acres of ground to the Queensborough Grade School and a tract for the Queensborough Methodist Church. When he took over control of the Queensborough Land Company there were not over a half dozen homes in the community and today there are possibly one thousand families living in Queensborough. He has been and is a builder in every sense of the word. Mr Johnston has been a strong factor in nearly every great development project in the city, having been president of the Real Estate Board, a Director of the Chamber of Commerce, a Director of the Louisiana State Fair, elected to the lower house of the General Assembly of the State Legislature where he served for four years. He has also been President of the Norwela Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Johnston has found time to be very active in Masonry having twice been Worshipful Master of Shreveport Lodge No. 115 F. & A. M. and three times Worshipful Master of Queensborough Lodge No.418 F. & A. M. He has been District Deputy Grand Master for the Second Masonic District of Louisiana and Worthy Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of Louisiana Order of Eastern Star, and is a member of the Shreveport Royal Arch Chapter No.10 of Ascension Commander Number 6 of the Shreveport Consistory; was made a K. C. C. H. in 1925, and is a member of the El Karubab Temple of Shriners. On March 26, 1902, Mr. Johnston married Miss Lillie Virginia Marshall, the daughter of John Hardy and Lillie (Harmanson) Marshall, of Shreveport, La., of this union there are three children: Sadie Vashti, Joseph E. and Jack Marshall. # # #