E. S. Johnston Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 483-484

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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E. S. JOHNSTON, whose home is in Mitchell, Davison county, South 
Dakota, is one of the old settlers in this part of the state, and his 
name is identified with the history of the growth and development of 
the city in which he makes his home. He is a half owner of the 
"Gazette", which paper he has so conducted that he has built up an 
excellent reputation as an editor and a large patronage for his 
newspaper. 

Mr. Johnston was born in Ohio, March 20. 1851, and moved from thence to 
Blackhawk county, Iowa, in 1856. There he made his home until the year 
1879, when he migrated to what was then known as the territory of 
Dakota, and located in what later became the city of Mitchell, and 
engaged in the real-estate business. In 1882, he moved to Mount Vernon, 
in the same county, and continued his business in that place until 
1889. Here also, in partnership with Mr. J. C. Tatman, he established 
the paper known as the "Mount Vernon Gazette," but they sold out during 
the same summer. In 1885, he purchased the paper again and continued it 
until 1889, when his establishment was destroyed by fire. Mr. Johnston 
then came to Mitchell again, and in partnership with Mr. H. M. Burns, 
purchased the "Sun" and changed the name to the "Gazette." In 1891, our 
subject bought out his partner, Mr. Burns, and conducted the paper 
alone until 1897, when Mr. F. L. Mayes bought a half-interest in the 
business, and they have since conducted the concern under the firm name 
of Johnston & Mayes. The "Gazette" is a Populist sheet, politically, 
and has a circulation of about 1,100. Mr. Johnston is also an attorney, 
having been admitted to the bar in 1879. In 1888, he was elected to the 
office of county judge, and was reelected in 1892, 1894 and 1896 and is 
still performing the duties of that office. 

February 22, 1884, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Nellie 
Haynes, and to this congenial union have been born seven children, all 
of whom are living, and whose names in the order of their birth are as 
follows: Thomas H., George H., William M., Ralph E., Everett, Helen and 
Frank M. Socially, Mr. Johnston affiliates with the Maccabees and 
Fraternal Brotherhood.