George W. Johnston - Biography

From "History of North Washington" Published 1904

Transcribed by: Candy Grubb (candyg@theofficenet.com)
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GEORGE W. JOHNSTON
    George W. Johnston, at present engaged in general farming and stock-
breeding, residing eleven miles southwest of Newport, Stevens county, is of
a family with a most distinguished war record.  He was born in Tompkins
county, New York, August 5, 1848, the son of William and Amy (Parker)
Johnston, natives of the Empire state.  The mother died in 1850.  In 1866
the father removed to Illinois, dying one year later.  He was the father of
six sons, who rendered eminent service during the dark days of the Civil war.
Enos, who enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Wisconsin Infantry and died in 1862
at Humboldt, Tennessee; Stephen H., who enlisted in the Fifty-eighth Illinois
and was discharged April 9, 1863.  He re-enlisted in the regular army and
was mustered out in 1865.  At present he resides at Keokuk, Iowa.  Isaac, a
private in Company I, Fifth Wisconsin, was killed at the battle of
Rappahannock.  Sylvester M., a corporal in Company A, Thirty-second Infantry,
New York Volunteers, was discharged and re-enlisted October 1, 1864, in
Company B, Fifty-eighth Illinois Infantry, being discharged June 6, 1865.
He now lives in Oregon.  William H., of Company I, One Hundred and Eleventh
New York Volunteers, enlisted August 3, 1864, and died in prison, at
Salisbury, North Carolina.  George W., was a member of Company H, in a New
York Infantry regiment.  He enlisted February 22, 1865, and was discharged
in the following September, being only sixteen years of age.  Three of the
ten children still survive, viz., Stephen H., Sylvester M., and George W.,
our subject.
    At the age of sixteen the latter began life as a teamster, and the
following season he enlisted and served until the close of the Civil war.
He then worked on a farm and teamed in Iowa, two or three years, learned the
trade of broom-making, and in 1881 removed to Minnesota.  In 1891 Mr.
Johnston came to Stevens county, and secured a quarter section of land as a
homestead, which he has since improved.  His principle crop is timothy hay.
He has a good frame house and two barns, the finest of water, and the
larger portion of his land is irrigated.  He raises some stock.
    Our subject was married in 1875 to Eliza L. Farnum, daughter of
Benjamin and Lititia (Kieth) Farnum, the father a native of New Hampshire,
the mother of Virginia.  They removed to Iowa where Mrs. Johnston was born.
The latter has three children: Fred, in Stevens county; Nettie, wife of
W.H. Andrus, in Whitman county; and Amy L., married to U.S. Walker in
Stevens county.  Mr. Johnston is a Liberal, politically, has served six years
as deputy treasurer, two as deputy assessor and two as road supervisor.
He is a member of the G.A.R.

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