John Johnston OBE (abt. 1864 - 1939)

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Stuart) Johnston — married about 1889 in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Jane Pitcairn (Esplin) Johnston — married 1907 in Hay, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 30 Oct 1939 at about age 75 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mark Johnston [send private message]

Biography

John Johnston OBE is a member of Clan Johnstone.

John Johnston OBE was born in Scotland.

Early Life

John Johnston was born in 1864 in Scotland, the first of seven children to Thomas and Margaret (Kirkcaldy) Johnston.

John Johnston OBE migrated from Scotland to Victoria.

John Johnston OBE came free to the Colony of Victoria (1851-1900)

The family including children John, Elizabeth and Jane, immigrated to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia aboard the passenger ship Essex in 1871. The fourth child, Andrew Essex, was born enroute to Australia.

The family first moved to Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia where Thomas worked for Comm & Co, they then moved to Hay, which John made his home for the remainder of his life.

Family

John married twice, first to Mary Stuart with two daughters Mary Stuart (Tyson) and Margaret (Mathews then Ronald).

Following the death of Mary, he married Jane Esplin in 1907 at Hay. ^[1] the couple had two sons, John Kirkcaldy and Gavin.

Occupation

John Johnston OBE was awarded the Order of the British Empire.

John was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1938, which his family donated to the Hay War Memorial High School (HWMHS) following his passing.^[3][4]. The investiture of the OBE was made in Queens Hall of the Victorian Parliament in June of 1938^[5].

Death & Legacy

John died in Sydney on 30 October 1939 at 75 years of age. He had visited Sydney the previous week to attend the annual conference of the N.S.W. Country Press Association, and became ill while in the city.

He is interred along with his first wife, Mary (Stuart), and daughters Mary Tyson and Margaret Ronald, (34.5134445° S, 144.8634166° E) in the Hay Cemetery where he was Secretary of the board from 1869 until his passing.

A window was dedicated in his memory in the Hay Presbyterian church in 1941^[6][7] and following some discussion and debate as to the form of a memorial to John Johnston^[8] a memorial prize was established, funded by public subscription initially invested in war bonds, in his memory at the HWMHS, ‘John Johnston memorial prize for English’^[9].

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #1532/1907
2. ↑ The Riverine Grazier http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139817578
3. ↑ "New Year Honours" Jerilderie Herald and Urana Advertiser (NSW : 1898 - 1958) 6 January 1938: 3. Web. 15 Jan 2023 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134608950>
4. ↑ "ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE." The Riverine Grazier (Hay, NSW : 1873 - 1954) 5 November 1940: 2. Web. 15 Jan 2023 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139814413>
5. ↑ "INVESTITURE." The Riverine Grazier (Hay, NSW : 1873 - 1954) 3 June 1938: 2. Web. 15 Jan 2023 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137357776>
6. ↑ The Late John Johnston" The Riverine Grazier (Hay, NSW : 1873 - 1954) 23 September 1941: 2. Web. 15 Jan 2023 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137369617>
7. ↑ "SNOWY RIVER SCHEME" Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser (NSW : 1893 - 1953) 26 September 1941: 2. Web. 15 Jan 2023 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130469150>
8. ↑ "LATE MR. J. JOHNSTON" The Riverine Grazier (Hay, NSW : 1873 - 1954) 19 January 1940: 2. Web. 15 Jan 2023 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139814350>
9. ↑ "The John Johnston Memorial Prize for English" The Riverine Grazier (Hay, NSW : 1873 - 1954) 12 September 1941: 2. Web. 15 Jan 2023 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137372653>