James Johnston, p. 537

JAMES JOHNSTON, who, since 1884, has lived a retired life in the botough of Washington, is a native of Canton township, this county, born April 12, 1821. His grandfather, James Johnston, was a native of Lancaster county, Penn., where he was married, and reared the following children: Nancy (Mrs. Thomas Connelly), Jennie (Mrs. Benjamin McKehan), and Samuel. In 1810 he came to Washington county and settled in Canton township, where he died. He was a leading Democrat, and a member of the Presbyterian Church at Washington.

Samuel Johnston, son of this old pioneer, was also a native of Lancaster county, born in 1787. About 1818 he was married to Sarah McClane, of Chartiers township, this county, and they settled down to the stern realities of life on the old home place. The names of the children born to them are James, John M., Samuel G., Sarah Martha and Nancy J. The father of this family died June 14, 1870, the mother about 1841. They were members of the Presbyterian Chruch at Washington, and in politics Mr. Johnston was a Democrat.

James Johnston was educated in the public schools of his native township, and received a thoroughly practical training to farm life, which vocation he successfully followed until 1884, when he retired from active labor. On January 21, 1845, he was married to Mary M. McClane, who was born December 31, 1824, in Chartiers township, Washington Co., Penn., a daughter of Ebenezer and Jane (McMurray) McClane, and the children born to them were Samuel M., E. McClane, John (deceased), Sophronia (deceased), John (a physician practicing in Wellsburgh, W. Va.) and Anna J. The mother of this family was called from earth September 17, 1891, and was buried in Washington cenetery. Of the sons born to James and Mary M. (McClane) Johnston, E. McClane married, in the fall of 1875, Miss Rachel Hill, daughter of Abner and Lizzie Hill, and five children were born to this union, viz.: Sudie (deceased in May, 1800), Mamie (deceased in January, 1886), Bessie, Ora, and one that died in infancy at the time of its mother's death in June, 1887. John Married, in 1886, Miss Nannie Adams, and three children came to bless their home, viz: William Parvin, Huldah Margaret and James Howard. Samuel M. and E. McClane Johnston are each operating farms owned by their father in Canton township.

Mr. Johnston, by assiduous labor and sound judgment in the management of his affairs, accumulated, during the three decades of his active life, a comfortable competency, and he now owns 330 acres of valuable land in Canton township, besides which he has an elegant brick dwelling on Jefferson avenue in the borough of Washington, where he and his daughter, Anna J., reside. He is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church in Washington. In politics he is a straight Democrat, and has served as school director nine years with marked ability.

Text taken from page 580 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed February 1998 by Jacie Ailes-Runyan of Connersville, IN as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1998 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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