The John Johnston and Julia Devine Family of South Bend, Indiana: An Analysis of this Family's Journey from New York to South Bend, Indiana and their Irish Roots in Census, Church and Other Records
John Johnston, his wife Julia Devine and their two children Jennie and Julia appear in the 1880 St Joseph Church, South Bend, Indiana census and the baptisms of at least three of their children, Maria Agnes (1880), Joannis Clifford (1887) and Robert A (1889) appear in the St Joseph Church records as well.
This page was inspired by Mary Seed Forsell, a descendent of this family who has generously shared information on the Johnstons, Devines, Sinnots and Frains, all of which had family members in the South Bend, Indiana Irish Community. Mary's contribution to the pool of information on the South Bend Irish Community is greatly appreciated and will benefit us all! This page would have had a million gaps without her contribution!
John Johnston, son of Patrick Johnston and Elizabeth Clifford was present at least as early as 1850 in the Lockport, Niagara County, New York Census. He was listed as being 5, born in New York. His surname was given as Johnson in this census making an indexed search all the more challenging. In 1860 Patrick Johnston a Stone Cutter and his wife Ellen and 8 children were still residing in Lockport, Niagara County, New York. John was listed as being 16 in this census (all siblings were born in New York). In the 1880 Census, Patrick (70), John's Father is still living in Lockport, Niagara, New York with his son William (33), William's wife Mary (30) and their three children. On March 1, in the 1895 Shawnee Topeka, Kansas Census Ward 1, Pat Johnston now 95 born in Ireland was living with his son Frank (33) his wife Katie 23 (b in Kansas) and their daughter Esther 2 (born in Kansas). There is a marriage record for an Edward Johnston and Elizabeth Stacksman from September 1880 in St Joseph County, Indiana, as well as a St Joseph Church Burial record also exists for the death of their daughter Maria Elizabeth in 1882. I strongly believe that this is a brother of John. I believe that this family is living in Kalamazoo, Michigan when the 1900 census is conducted. Edward was born in October 1857 in New York, his parents in Ireland. He is a Cabinet Maker like his brother John; he and his wife Elizabeth have had 8 kids with 7 living, appear to have lived in Indiana through 1887 and they had been married for 20 years (1880). An ancestry.com record from "Michigan, Deaths and Burials Index, 1867-1995 confirms that this is John's brother. He is listed as being born on October 20, 1853 in Lockport, New York. His parents were Patrick Johnston and Elizabeth Clifford (both born in Ireland). Edward E Johnston died September 20, 1940 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Mary Seed Forsell, a descendent of this family has evidence of Patrick Johnston's origins in Ireland from his naturalization record. She states he came to the US in 1828, was naturalized in 1850 and hailed originally from County Sligo, Ireland. Additional family lore suggests Ballymote, County Sligo. Ballymote is a Townland in Emlaghfad Civil Parish, that appears to be part of Ballymote Roman Catholic Parish. Part of this Civil Parish may be covered in neighboring Keash Roman Catholic Parish records as well. Ballymote was only a small town of only 38 acres in the mid 19th century.
Julia Devine, the daughter of Robert Devine and Jane Ennis was present with her family in the 1861 Canada West Census. They were residents of St Catharines, Lincoln, Canada West. Robert her father (53) was a Pensioner, Jane 47, Ann 19, Jane 16, Robert 12, Julia 10 and Margaret 7. 1870 Niagara County, Lockport Ward 1, New York Census with her mother Jane, brother Robert (both born in Ireland) and sister Maggie (b Canada). In 1841 before Julia's birth, her parents Robert Devine (35) a Drummer with the 34th Regiment, wife Jane and two children Mary 5 and Ann 1 were living in St James, Dover Town and Port, Kent, England. In the 1870 Census, Julia (Tailoress, 19) is still living at home with her mother Jane (60), brother Robert (21, Moulder) and sister Maggy 17 in the First Ward, Lockport, Niagara County, New York. When the 1880 Census is conducted Julia's mother Jane is listed as a 66 yr old widow, mother in law, living with her daughter Maggie (25), her husband Frank Brown (26, Coachman born in New York) and their two children Robert 1 and Annie 1 in Erie, Buffalo, New York. Although the origins of the Devine Family in Ireland aren't clearly delineated to me at this point, a familysearch.org record for the death of Julia's sister Mary in San Antonio, Texas (her residence as noted in Julia's obituary) indicated that Mary (Mcenery) Devine was born October 23, 1840 in Dublin, Ireland. Her parents were listed as Robt. Devine and Jane Ennis. Dublin may have been the point at which they disembarked on their migration toward Canada and the U.S.
John Johnston married Julia Devine on October 10, 1875 at St Patrick's Church in Lockport, New York. Rev Patrick Cannon officiated and Henry Johnston and Margaret Devine were witnesses.
This is a work in progress and will be added to over time! Please contact me if you feel you are a descendent of this Irish family or others in the South Bend, Portage Township, St Joseph County, Indiana area.
| Census, Church or other Record | Date Born, Baptized, Married or Census conducted | Father/ Husband/ Head of Household | Mother/ Wife | Child; other | Occupation; Misc. Info gathered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 US Census Lockport, New York | Census conducted on July 10, 1850 | Johnson, Patrick, 32 born in Ireland | Johnson, Eliza 30 born in Ireland | Johnson, Eliza Ann 8, born in New York | (John's Family) Patrick is a Stone Cutter |
| " | " | " | " | Johnson, Robert, 6 born in New York | |
| " | " | " | " | Johnson, John 5 born in New York | |
| " | " | " | " | Johnson, Wm 3 born in New York | |
| " | " | " | " | Johnson, Mary 2 born in New York | see note below; married in St Joseph Co, IN |
| " | " | " | " | Johnson, Mary 29 born in Ireland | |
| 1860 US Census for Town of Lockport, Niagara County, New York | Census taken June 30, 1860 | Johnston, Patrick 50 born in Ireland | Johnston, Ellen, 45 born In Ireland | Johnston, Robert, age 15 born in New York | (John's Family) |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, John, age 16 born in New York | John is a Stone Cutter's Apprentice |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, William, 14 born in New York | Stone Cutter's Apprentice |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Mary, 11 born in New York | (Married Edward Bresett St Joseph Church South Bend, IN September 24, 1874) |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Henry 9 born in New York | |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Ellen 5 born in New York | |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Edward 2 born in New York | (he married Elizabeth Stackman? in South Bend, IN in September 1880, moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan where he raised his family and died at age 86 on September 20, 1940) |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, B-by? 7 mos born in New York | |
| 1861 Canada West Census; St Catharine's, Lincoln, Canada West | 1861 | Devine, Robert (53) born in Ireland | Devine, Jane, 47 born in Ireland | Devine, Ann, 19 born in England | (Julia's Family) Robert is a Penioner; Roman Catholic Religion |
| " | " | " | " | Devine, Jane 16 born in England | |
| " | " | " | " | Devine, Robert 12, born in Ireland | |
| " | " | " | " | Devine, Julia 10 born in Ireland | |
| " | " | " | " | Devine, Margret, 7 born in Upper Canada | (*she appears to later marry Frank- Francisco Perry Brown) (many of their children's baptisms are on the familysearch.org website) |
| 1870 US Census for Lockport, Niagara County, New York Ward 1 | Census conducted June 23, 1870 | Devine, Jane 60 born in Ireland | Devine, Robert, 21 born in Ireland | (this is Julia's family) $100 Personal Estate; Her occupation is listed as K H? and Robert's as Moulder | |
| " | " | " | Devine, Julia 19 born in Ireland | Tailoress | |
| " | " | " | Devine, Maggy, 17 born in Canada | at home | |
| " | " | Ballman?, Mary 2 born in New York | |||
| 1875 Census for Lockport, New York First Ward #6 Corinthia Street | 1875 | Johnson, Patrick age 61 widower born in Ireland (this is John's Father) (Henry and Mary Butler Family are boarders living with them). | (wife was Elizabeth Clifford) | Johnson, John, 27 son born in Niagara, NY | I have not found this actual census it is from a research report Mary's mother Mane received ont his family!); Patrick is a Laborer and john is a Cabinet Maker |
| " | " | " | Johnson, Henry, 23 son born in Niagara | Moulder | |
| " | " | " | Johnson, Edward, 16 son born in Niagara, NY | ||
| " | " | " | Johnson, Frank, 15 son born in Niagara, NY | ||
| 1875 Census for Lockport, New York, #37 Washington Street (only several blocks away from John's family) | 1875 | Devine, Robert 25, born in Ireland | Devine, Mary, 27 born in Ireland (she is listed a s a child here) | Devine, Jane (Ennis) (her maiden name was handwritten by the researcher who sent this to mary's mother Jane) 63 widow, mother born in Ireland | Robert is a Moulder |
| " | " | " | " | Devine, Julia, 23, child born in Ireland | |
| St Patrick's Church, Lockport, New York, USA Marriage Record | October 10, 1875 Marriage | Johnston, John | Devine, Julia | Patrick J Cannon officiated; Henry Johnston and Margaret Devine Witnesses. | |
| 1880 US Census for South Bend, St Joseph County, IN District 162 | Census Conducted June 4, 1880 | Johnston, John age 33 born in Indiana, parents born in Ireland | Johnston, Julia 25 wife born in Ireland, parents born in Ireland | Johnston, Jennie, 3 yr old daughter born in New York, dad in Indiana, mom in Ireland | John is a Cabinet Maker |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Julia 1 yr old daughter born in Indiana, dad in Indiana, mom in Ireland | |
| 1880 St Joseph Church Census, South Bend, Indiana | 1880 | Johnston, John age 33 | Devine, Julia age 26 | Johnston, Jennie, age 4 | |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Julia age 1 | |
| St Joseph Church, South Bend, IN Burial Record | Death October 26, 1880; Burial Ocotber 27, 1880 | Johnston, Joannis | Devine, Julia | Julia | died at the age of one year; Rev. Fallize officiated at the Burial |
| St Joseph Church Baptismal Record, South Bend, IN | Born August 27, 1880, Baptism September 5, 1880 | Johnston, Joanne | Devine, Julia | Maria Agnes (Mariam Agnetem) | Sponsors Joannes Flood and Agnes Flood |
| St Joseph Church Baptismal Record, South Bend, IN | August 44, 1882 Birth and September 10, 1882 Baptism | Johnston, Joannis | Devine, Julia | Joannis Clifford | Jacobus Kenny? and Maria Higgins sponsors |
| St Joseph Church Baptismal Record, South Bend, IN | June 6, 1884 Birth and June 8, 1886 Baptism | Johnston, Joannis | Divine, Juliae | Edwardum Henricum | F.E. Howard and Anna Howard Sponsors; Fallize CSC |
| St Joseph Church Baptismal Record, South Bend, Indiana | April 7?, 1887 Birth and April -0, 188-? Baptismal Record | Johnston, Joannis | Devine, Julia | Joannis Watford? | |
| St Joseph Church Baptismal Record, South Bend, IN | July 16, 1889 Birth and July 18, 1889 Baptism | Johnston, ? | Devine, Julia | Robert A | Sponsors Edwardem Bergen? and Mary Bergen? |
| 1900 US Census for South Bend, St Joseph County, IN | Census conducted on June 8, 1900 | Johnston, John, Head age 50 born April 1850 in New York, parents born in New York. Married 24 years | Johnston, Julia, wife age 41 born June 1858 in Ireland, parents born in Ireland; Married 24 years, 7 children, 6 living | Johnston, Jennie, 22 yr old single daughter born July 1877 New York, dad in New York, mom in Ireland | John is a Cabinet Maker- owns home with mortgage. Jennie is in School; they have a border Ambrose Omara from Canada (Irish parents) living with them |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Mary E, 18 yr old daughter born in Indiana, dad in New York, Mom in Ireland | in School |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Clifford, 18 yr old son born August 1893 in Indiana, parents in Ireland | in School |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Edward, 14 yr old son born June 1885 in IN, dad in NY, mom in Ireland | in School |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Joseph, age 12 born IN, dad in NY, mom in Ireland | in School |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Robt, age 8 born July 1890 in IN, dad in NY, mom in Ireland | in School |
| US City Directory 1821-1989 Database on line ancestry.com for South Bend, IN | 1891 | Johnston, John L | (Julia M) | He is a Cabinet Maker at Singers; residence at 318 N ST Louis; Jennie E (Clerk at the Rackett) and Mamie Ann (Clerk at SB Rider) also at this address | |
| IN Deaths 1882-1920 Database on line Ancestry.com | Johnston, Julia died August 10, 1903 South Bend, IN | CH 44, Page 336 City Health Office, South Bend. IN Project Works Administration | |||
| US City Directory 1821-1989 for South Bend, IN | 1903 | Johnston, John | Johnston, Julia M | they reside at 318 N St Louis South Bend, Mishawaka, IN; this must have been taken before she died this year... | |
| Find A Grave Website | Johnston, Julia born 1855, died 1903 in South Bend, IN | burial at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, St Joseph County, IN | |||
| South Bend Tribune Obituary for Mrs Julia M Johnston Tuesday August 10, 1903 | Died August 10, 1903 at home on 318 N St Louis Street. | Johnston, Mrs Julia M died at age 47? on Monday August 10, 1903 in South Bend, IN | Funeral at St Joseph Church August 12, 1903 Rev P Lauth Officiating; Internment in Cedar Grove Cemetery. She had been ill for past 14 mos with stomach trouble. Her husband John Johnston and 6 children remain as well as Robert Devine of Buffalo, NY, two sisters Mrs Frank Brown of Buffalo NY and Mrs Mary McHenry of San Antonio, TX. |