JOHNSTON
F. C. JOHNSTONpage 212
F. C. JOHNSTON was born in East Haddam, Conn., May 11, 1849, and is a son of John B. and Ada S. (CALHOUN) JOHNSTON, both of whom are of Scotch birth. A feud long existed in Scotland between the Johnstons and the Carmichaels, and knowing that their parents' consent would be withheld, grandfather Johnston was married, Gretna Green fashion, in 1796, to Mary CARMICHAEL, and came with her to the United States in 1823, locating in Connecticut and afterward in Virginia. John B. Johnston, moved to Ohio in 1844, and there resided until 1872. He was the father of five children, our subject being the third child and second son. He was reared and educated in Ohio, and began his career as a pedagogue in Kansas in 1873. In 1874 he came to Lawrence County, Mo., and was here married, August 5, 1875, to Libbie, a daughter of William G. RICE. She was born in Illinois in 1847, and died January 28, 1888. After living here for some time he went to Franklin County, Mo., where he read law with Judge John R. MARTIN, and was admitted to the bar in 1877, graduating from the St. Louis Law School. He began practicing with his preceptor, Judge Martin, remaining with him until 1879, when he came to Lawrence County, and was elected prosecuting attorney in 1880. He has also served as attorney for the Lawrence County Bank for the past eight years. He is a member of the Congregational Church and is an active worker in the Sabbath-school. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and is an honest, upright citizen.
JAMES JOHNSTONpage 212
James Johnston, passenger engineer between Monett and Fort Smith, is a
native of Ireland, born in County Monaghan, September 17, 1848, and is the son of Thomas and Catherine (CONAGHAN) JOHNSTON. The father was
superintendent of linen mills in the preparation of flax. His son, James Johnston, received a good education, and at the age of fifteen became an apprentice to the machinist's trade, serving for two years under the mastership of an elder brother, Edward, who was a master mechanic in a spinning factory at Laragh Mills, County Monaghan. At the end of two years James went to Liverpool, England, and engaged with the Steam Navigation Company in a desirable position. He, however, subsequently returned to his home and learned the engineering business in stationary engine work at Laragh Mills. In his eighteenth year he set sail for America, and landed in Toronto, Canada. He soon after came to New York State, and after a year he accepted work as machinist at Cameron's extensive pump works, and there remained one year. He was then engaged in the steam and gas-fitting business for some time, and put in large contracts in the Inebriate Asylum, Blackwell's Island. He then went from there to New Haven, Conn., and ran a hoisting engine for some time. He next went on a steamship and remained there for one year, after which he ran an engine in a distillery, Twenty-fourth Street, New York. Upon the proprietor coming to Michigan, Mr. Johnston came with him, and made a stay of about two and a half years on railroad engineer work. In 1872 he came to St. Louis and accepted work
on the Iron Mountain Railroad as traveling engineer. He here spent a year, and then returned to Ireland, where he married Miss A. COYLE, daughter of Michael COYLE, a merchant of Castle Bleyney. After marriage Mr. Johnston returned to America, and accepted work with the railroad with which he since has been prominently connected.
From "A Reprint of Goodspeed's 1888 History of Lawrence County; Reprint
Lawrence County Section of Goodspeed's Newton, Lawrence, Barry And McDonald Counties History; published by the Goodspeed Publishing Co., in 1888; Reprinted by Litho Printers Of Cassville, Missouri In 1973."
as transcribed by JJR.Return to Lawrence County Biographies