BIO: Samuel JOHNSTON, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Denise Phillips

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, page 109-110.
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  SAMUEL JOHNSTON, farmer, Masseysburg, Pa., was born in West township, 
Huntingdon county, Pa., May 5, 1822, son of James and Lydia (Graffius) 
Johnston.  The father, James Johnston, was born in Kentucky and was of 
Scotch-Irish descent.  From his native State he moved to Huntingdon and 
settled in Porter township, where he rented a farm and engaged also in 
stock raising.  Removing from Porter township, he settled for a while 
in West township and then in Barree township on a farm of 180 acres, on 
which he made many improvements.  He married, first, Miss Lydia 
Graffius, daughter of Nicholas Graffius, a farmer of West township.  To 
this marriage these children were born:  Elizabeth (Mrs. Samuel Erwin), 
deceased; Catharine (Mrs. William Hagan); Samuel; Matthew, deceased; 
Lydia (Mrs. George McCool), of Stone Creek; and one who died in 
infancy.  Mrs. Johnston died in Barree township.  Mr. Johnston's second 
wife was Sarah McMahon.  They had two children:  John and Alexander, 
both deceased.  In politics, Mr. Johnston was a Democrat; in religious 
faith, a Presbyterian.  He was a useful citizen, and his death, which 
occurred on the old homestead, was a severe blow to the community.
  Samuel Johnston received his education in the public schools of Manor 
Hill and began life on the farm, where he remained and assisted his 
father until he was thirty years of age.  At that time he rented a farm 
of 150 acres at Manor Ridge, where he remained for sixteen years.  In 
1883 he purchased a farm of 220 acres of land in Barree township, on 
which he made many improvements.  He was married to Miss Ann McCartney, 
a native of Jackson township, and daughter of John McCartney.  The have 
had seven children:  Graffius, on the homestead; Blanchard, was 
conductor on the railroad, is deceased; Mary, widow of Henry Gahon; 
Bessie, wife of Allison Schock, of Huntingdon; James, a physician; 
Margaret, wife of Thomas Jackson, and Emily, deceased.  Mr. Johnston is 
a Democrat, and served as postmaster of Masseysburg nine years; he has 
also been supervisor.  He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and 
being a man of character and worth, is justly esteemed by his 
neighbors.