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William Johnston Jr (1817 - 1898)

William Johnston Jr
Born in New York City, New York, USAmap
Husband of — married 21 Nov 1839 in Athens County, Ohio, USAmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 80 in Wilton Junction, Muscatine, Iowa, USAmap
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Profile last modified | Created 14 Jun 2012
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Biography

William was born in 1817. William Johnston ... He passed away in 1898. [1]

p. 481

MUSCATINE COUNTY

William Johnston, one of the early settlers of Wilton, Iowa, was born in New York City, Dec. 20, 1817. His father, Rev. William Johnston, was born in the city of Sligo, Ireland, in 1791. He received a liberal education, and is said to have mastered seven languages. He adopted the ministry as a profession, becoming a noted clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For a long time he was in the employ of the British Government, and in 1815 came to New York City in that service, being accompanied by his wife and youngest child. He did not then intend to become a resident of the New World, but the vessel on which they embarked encountered some very severe storms, and was in great danger of destruction, which so affected Mrs. Johnston that she would never again consent to cross the ocean, hence the father decided to make his future home in America. Two children had remained in England, a son and daughter; the latter died in that country in girlhood, while the former became a resident of America after reaching manhood. For several years Rev. Johnston devoted his attention to preaching and teaching in New York City. There he met Prof. Ray, who has gained celebrity by his series of school books, and with whom he had attended school in early life. The Professor was somewhat influential in inducing Mr. Johnston to engage in the profession of teaching, for which his attainments so well qualified him. During the next few years he was located at various places, where, as in New York, he engaged both in teaching and preaching. First he was at Wellsburg, W. Va., from thence to Jefferson County, Ohio, then to Morgan County, Ohio, later to Athens County, from thence to Meigs County, the same State, where his wife died. He next received a call from the church in Cincinnati, where he remained three years, going from thence to Ft. Recovery, Ohio, where he again married, and then came to Iowa, in 1856, purchasing a farm in Cedar Township, on which he resided until his death in 1863, in the seventy-second year of his age. He possessed a superior education, was a man of more than ordinary ability, and was closely wedded to the church of his choice. By his first marriage nine children were born, two of whom died in childhood; Fannie died in England, and Zachariah died after the family came to America. One of the deceased sons, Hezekiah, was a soldier in the war with Mexico, and died in the service. Only four children are now living: William, Mary, Noah, and Elizabeth. There were five children born of the second marriage. William Johnston, the subject of this sketch, served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade for four years, after which he followed that occupation for a quarter of a century. On the 6th day of May, 1855, he landed at Muscatine from the steamer “Golden Sheaf,” being accompanied by his family, which consisted of his wife and five children, and by I. N. Gabriel and his family. Together they had journeyed from their old home in Athens County to seek home in the comparatively new State of Iowa. Leaving their families near Mt. Vernon, the two men, with a team, traveled over much of the State, seeking a desirable location, and finally decided to locate in Cedar County. Purchasing lands on section 31, Inland Township, they made homes for their families, and Mr. Gabriel resided on that farm until his death, which occurred a number of years ago. Developing a farm from the land which he first purchased, Mr. Johnston there resided until 1879, when he retired from the active duties of farm life and removed to Wilton, where he still makes his home. In Ohio, Mr. Johnston married Miss Louisa Holmes, and to this worthy couple have been born nine children, three sons and six daughters. Two of his sons fought in defense of the old flag during …

p. 482 … the War of the Rebellion, Albert J. being a member of the 2d Iowa Cavalry, and Sylvanus of the 24th Iowa Infantry. They are both now residents of Ida Grove, Iowa. The eldest child died in infancy; Edwin is also a resident of Ida Grove, Ida Co., Iowa; Hadasah is now Mrs. H. C. Perry, and resides in Wilton; Arminta wedded Mr. Amos Ford, and is a resident of Grinnell; Olivia, a teacher, Emma, and Hattie are all at home. Mr. Johnston came to Iowa in the prime of his life, and has seen the country developed from an almost unbroken wilderness to its present advanced condition of prosperity. A poor man when he began the improvement of his prairie farm in Cedar County, he has by industry and perseverance secured a competency, and he and his faithful wife, in the pleasant home in Wilton, surrounded by all the comforts of life, are enjoying the fruits of his former labors. In politics Mr. Johnston is a Republican, and in slavery days was an Abolitionist. He is one of the prominent citizens of Wilton, and has ever had the respect and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact.

Sources

1830 United States Federal Census

Name William Johnston
Home in 1830 (City, County, State) Bath, Allen, Ohio
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 2
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29 1
Free White Persons - Under 20 3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 2
Total Free White Persons 5
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored) 5

Land Patent Details Accession Nr: OH1100__.392 Document Type: State Volume Patent State: Ohio Issue Date: 8/21/1837 Cancelled: No Names On Document Miscellaneous Information Patentee JOHNSTON, WILLIAM Land Office: Marietta US Reservations: No Mineral Reservations: No Tribe: --- Militia: --- State In Favor Of: --- Military Rank: --- Authority: April 24, 1820: Sale-Cash Entry (3 Stat. 566)

Document Numbers Survey Information Document Nr: 3429 Total Acres: 40.00 Misc. Doc. Nr: --- Survey Date: --- BLM Serial Nr: OH NO S/N Geographic Name: --- Indian Allot. Nr: --- Metes/Bounds: No

Land Descriptions State Meridian Twp - Rng Aliquots Section Survey # County OH Ohio River Survey 011N - 015W NE¼SW¼ 8 Athens


Land Patent Details Accession Nr: OH1110__.456 Document Type: State Volume Patent State: Ohio Issue Date: 11/7/1837 Cancelled: No Names On Document Miscellaneous Information PatenteeJOHNSTON, WILLIAM Land Office: Marietta US Reservations: No Mineral Reservations: No Tribe: --- Militia: --- State In Favor Of: --- Military Rank: --- Authority: April 24, 1820: Sale-Cash Entry (3 Stat. 566)

Document Numbers Survey Information Document Nr: 3994 Total Acres: 80.00 Misc. Doc. Nr: --- Survey Date: --- BLM Serial Nr: OH NO S/N Geographic Name: --- Indian Allot. Nr: --- Metes/Bounds: No

Land Descriptions State Meridian Twp - Rng Aliquots Section Survey # County OH Ohio River Survey 011N - 015W W½SE¼ 8 Athens


1840 United States Federal Census

Name Wm Johnston
Home in 1840 (City, County, State) Waterloo, Athens, Ohio
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 1
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 1
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19 2
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59 1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9 1
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture 1
Free White Persons - Under 20 5
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 1
Total Free White Persons 7
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves 7

Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997

Name: Wm. Johnson
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 21 Nov 1839
Event Place: Athens, Ohio, United States
Age:
Birth Date:
Birth Year (Estimated):
Birthplace:
Father's Name:
Father's Titles and Terms:
Mother's Name:
Mother's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Name: Louisa Holmes
Spouse's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Age:
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated):
Spouse's Birthplace:
Spouse's Father's Name:
Spouse's Father's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Mother's Name:
Spouse's Mother's Titles and Terms:
Reference ID: p 157
GS Film Number: 311592
Digital Folder Number: 004016282
Image Number: 00105

Citing this Record: "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XDP7-MYZ : accessed 20 Nov 2014), Wm. Johnson and Louisa Holmes, 21 Nov 1839; citing Athens, Ohio, United States, reference p 157; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 311592.

United States Census, 1850

Name: Wm Johnson
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1850
Event Place: Waterloo, Athens, Ohio, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 32
Race: White
Race (Original):
Birth Year (Estimated): 1818
Birthplace: [Unknown]
Household ID: 268
House Number: 261
Line Number: 29
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M432
Affiliate Film Number: 660
GS Film Number: 20208
Digital Folder Number: 004191052
Image Number: 00382
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Wm Johnson M 32
Louisa Johnson F 29 Ohio
Albert Johnson M 8 Ohio
Sylvanus Johnson M 7 Ohio
Edwin Johnson M 6 Ohio
Hadusch Johnson F 4 Ohio
Araminta Johnson F 1 Ohio

Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX3F-MH4 : 9 November 2014), Wm Johnson, Waterloo, Athens, Ohio, United States; citing family 268, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

1860 United States Federal Census

Name William Johnston
Age 41
Birth Year abt 1819
Gender Male
Birth Place New York
Home in 1860 Inland, Cedar, Iowa
Post Office Inland
Family Number 562
Household Members Name Age
William Johnston 41
Louisa Johnston 39
Albert J Johnston 18
Sylvanus Johnston 15
Edwin Johnston 13
Adesser Johnston 12
Armeda Johnston 10
Olevia Johnston 6
Emma Johnston 3

1870 United States Federal Census

Name Wm Johnston
Age in 1870 52
Birth Year abt 1818
Birthplace New York
Home in 1870 Inland, Cedar, Iowa
Race White
Gender Male
Post Office Tipton
Household Members Name Age
Wm Johnston 52
Louisa Johnston 50
Albert Johnston 29
Sylvanus Johnston 26
Edwin Johnston 24
Hasessa Johnston 23
Oliva Johnston 15
Emma Johnston 9
Hettie Johnston 7
Prucilla Johnston 32
Annetta Johnston 3

1880 United States Federal Census

Name William Johntson
Age 63
Birth Year abt 1817
Birthplace New York
Home in 1880 Wilton, Muscatine, Iowa
Race White
Gender Male
Relation to Head of House Self
Marital Status Married
Spouse's Name Louisa H. Johntson
Father's Birthplace Ireland
Mother's Birthplace Ireland
Occupation Retired Farmer
Household Members Name Age
William Johntson 63
Louisa H. Johntson 60
Olivie Johntson 21
Emma J. Johntson 18
Hattie Johntson 15

Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925

Name William Johnston
Age 68
Birth Year abt 1817
Birth Place New York
Residence Date 1885
Residence Place Wilton, Muscatine, Iowa, USA
Gender Male
Marital Status Married
Household Members Name Age
William Johnston 68

Iowa, Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990

Name William Johnston
Marital Status Married
Occupation Retired
Age 80
Birth Date 1818
Birth Place New York
Death Date 04 Sep 1898
Death Place Wilton Junction
FHL Film Number 1003495
Reference ID V. 1-4 Page 13
Household Members Name Age
William Johnston

Muscatine Co. Record of Deaths Book 3 page 13; number 185

William Johnston male, 80 yrs, occupation - retired, married, born in New York, died Wilton Jct, cause Heart Failure, buried Oakdale Cemetery

Transcribed by Lynn McCleary of the Muscatine County Genealogical Society on 15 Jun 2016 at Muscatine County Recorder's office.

Iowa, Cemetery Records, 1662-1999

Name William Johnston
Birth Date 20 Dec 1817
Death Date 4 Sep 1898
Age 80
Burial Location Wilton, Muscatine
Cemetery Oakdale
Source Cemeteries in Muscatine County
Page number 335

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current

Name William Johnston
Birth Date 20 Dec 1817
Death Date 4 Feb 1898
Cemetery Oakdale Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place Wilton, Muscatine County, Iowa, USA
Has Bio? N
  • Seán Sloane Johnson, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Seán and others.
  1. Entered by Seán Sloane Johnson, Jun 14, 2012






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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with William by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with William:

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