Individual Details

William Rock JOHNSTON

(5 Apr 1842 - 22 Aug 1919)

Events

Birth	5 Apr 1842	Fermanagh, Ireland
Residence	Abt 1848	USA
Residence	Abt 1848	Rock Island, Illinois, USA
Residence	1868	Poweshiek, Iowa, USA
Description	1911
Occupation	1911	Farmer of 320 acres. - Scott Twp, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA
Burial	Aug 1919	Masonic I.O.O.F Cemetery, Montezuma, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA
Death	22 Aug 1919	Poweshiek, Iowa, USA
Marriage		Sarah Jane MCDONALD
Reference No		1017
ChildParent

Families

Spouse	Sarah Jane MCDONALD (1852 - 1933)
Child	Mary JOHNSTON ( - 1911)
Child	Laura JOHNSTON ( - )
Child	Sarah Jane JOHNSTON ( - 1911)
Child	Clinton JOHNSTON ( - )
Child	Elmer JOHNSTON ( - )
Child	Margaret JOHNSTON ( - )
Child	Nettie JOHNSTON (1878 - 1902)
Child	Sarah Alice "Sadie" JOHNSTON (1883 - 1964)
Child	Joshua JOHNSTON ( - )
Child	William JOHNSTON ( - )
Child	Maude JOHNSTON ( - )
Child	Clara JOHNSTON ( - )

Father	John R. JOHNSTON ( - 1881)
Mother	Jane JORDAN (1816 - 1904)
Sibling	Mary JOHNSTON ( - )
Sibling	Joshua JOHNSTON ( - 1911)
Sibling	Henry JOHNSTON ( - )
Sibling	Robert JOHNSTON ( - )
Sibling	T. R. JOHNSTON ( - )
Sibling	Anna JOHNSTON ( - )
Sibling	Margaret JOHNSTON ( - 1911)
Sibling	Laura JOHNSTON ( - )
Sibling	John R. JOHNSTON ( - )
Sibling	Bessie Jane JOHNSTON ( - 1911)
Sibling	James R. JOHNSTON ( - 1911)
Sibling	Samuel JOHNSTON ( - )

Notes

Description

W. R. JOHNSTON.
A record of service covering twenty-nine consecutive years as township trustee
is one of which any man might be proud, for it indicates clearly the confidence
and trust of his fellowmen. This is the record of W. R. Johnston, who is also
a prominent farmer of Scott township, owning three hundred and twenty acres
on section 22, this land having been in possession of the family since 1867.
Mr. Johnston comes of a long line of Irish ancestry and his birth occurred
in County Fermanagh, Ireland, April 5, 1842. He was a lad of six years when his
parents, John R: and Jane (Jordan) Johnston, emigrated to the United States.
The mother was born in Ireland, April 16, 1816, and they were married in that
country, May 5, 1840. Five children were born to them ere their emigration to
the UnIted States in 1848. They established their home in Rock Island county,
Illinois, and there eight more children were born. The father engaged in general
farming in Illinois and was identified with the interests of Rock Island county
for two decades, when, in 1868, he removed with his family to Poweshiek county,
Iowa, but had purchased his land here the year previously. This tract constitutes
the ~me now owned by our subject and is located on section 22, Scott township.
As Mr., Johnston expressed it, there was nothing but a "wolf and an Indian" on
the land when he took possession, indicating the unsettled condition of the country
and the task that lay..heJ.ore the pioneer settlers. He at once set to work to
improve and develop his iand and in due course of time had a good property, im~
proved with substantial buildings. He died here, November 17, 1881, at the age
of sixty-six years, and his wife, surviving for many years, departed this life, December
31, 1904.. when in her eighty-ninth year.
The record of their children is as follows: John R., a resident of Rugley,
North Dakota; W. R., of this review; Mrs. Bessie Jane Lipton, now deceased;
Joshua and James R., who have also departed this life; Anna, a resident of
Brooklyn; Margaret, deceased; Laura, the wife of John W. Brannian, of Deep
River township; Mary, the wife of Thomas Orr, of Brooklyn; Samuel and Robert,
who reside in South Dakota; T. R., a resident of Scott township; and Henry,
who makes his home in Delaware county, Iowa.
W. R. Johnston was reared and educated in Rock Island county, Illinois, and
was a young man of twenty-five years when he came with the family to Poweshiek
county. He assisted in the arduous task of establishing a home on the
frontier and the lessons which he learned in early life have proved of value to him
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY 299
in his later years of labor. He now owns the homestead property of three hundred
and twenty acres and his time is fully occupied in 'its management and culti-,
vation.
Mr. Johnston was married in 1870, the lady of his choice being lVIiss Sarah
Jarte McDonald, who was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, June I, 1852, a
daughter of James and Jane (Clarke) Jy.[cDonald, the former born in Nebraska
and the latter in Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born twelve
children, namely: Mary, who died at the age of one year; Sarah Jane, who died
when a month old; Joshua, who makes his home in Scott township; Maude, the .
wife of J. E. Gilmore, a resident of Montana; Nettie, who departed this life
June 30, 19°2, when twenty-four years of age; Elmer, at home; William, also at
home; Sadie, the wife of Frank Hutchinson, also of Scott township; Margaret,
the wife of Elza Hall, also of Scott township; and Clara, Laura and Clinton, all
still under the parental roof.
Mr. Johnston's study of the political issues of the day has led him to give
stalwart support to the republican' party. He has for twenty-nine consecutive
years filled the office of township trustee, his loyalty and faithfulness being proven
In the fact of his long service. He has also served as a member of the school
board. Mr. Johnston was reared in the faith of the Episcopal church but as
there is no church of that denomination in his home locality he attends and supports
the Methodist Episcopal and the United Presbyterian churches. His fraternal
relations are with the Orangemen. Possessing the indominable perseverance
of his race and endowed by nature with a good constitution, he early developed
all the attributes that make the successful man. Although he has led a
busy and useful life in the conduct of his private business affairs, he has yet
found time to become interested in affairs of a public nature, lending his aid and
influence in the cause of every good movement and heartily promoting the progress
and advancement of his community.