Mary Ann (Corbett) Johnston (1822 - 1908)

Born 6 Oct 1822 in Carl, Nicholas, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Wife of James John Johnston — married 9 Jan 1840 in Jackson, OH

Descendants

Died 10 Aug 1908 at age 85 in Custer, Nebraska, United States

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Biography

When Mary Ann Corbitt was born on October 6, 1822, in Carl, Georgia, her father, Nathaniel Alexander, was 29, and her mother, Sarah Jane, was 26. She married James John Johnston and they had 14 children together. She also had one daughter from another relationship. She died on August 10, 1908, in Custer, Nebraska, having lived a long life of 85 years, and was buried there.

Notes

Shenandoah World, Shenandoah, Iowa, June 9, 1899 " Lifes Struggles" from family member on Ancestry.com J. J. Johnston is one of the pioneers of the west. He will soon be 80 years of age and is still hale and hearty. While a little bent with age, yet his mental faculties are as good as ever they were. He was born on the 12th day of September, 1819 near the town of Carlton {Coalton}, Ohio, where he was reared. In 1840 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Corbitt, a Virginian by birth. About a year after their marriage they moved to Trenton, Iowa, traveling by wagon and cart, casting their fortunes on the wild frontier.

Iowa at that time was but a wilderness where Indians dwelt in great numbers, and it took more than ordinarly [sic] courage to face the dangers besetting the settlers of those early times.

For a decade Mr Johnston remained at this place, where by dint of careful saving and hard labor he managed to save a little money, and in 1845 he bought 120 acres of land near Centerville, Iowa, in Appanoose County, and he and his dutiful wife moved onto it. They sold this land in about two years and went to Mercer County, Missiouri, where they bought 240 acres of land. They lived on this land until the Civil War broke out, when the passion of the conflict heated the passions of men until life in his neighbiorhood became unbearable when he picked up and with his effects traveled across the country to Madison County, Iowa, where he bought 200 acres of land. Here misfortune overtook him in earnest. The party with whom he negotiated for the land was a rascal and he played the oft repeated trick of showing him one piece of land and deeding him another. At last he took the matter into court, which after spending all the money he had, went against him and he was left financially broken.

Leaving the country that had proven so disastrous to him, in 1867 he gather up his little flock and moved to Fremont County, Iowa, where he commenced life over again. After working at anything he could get to do to make a dollar he managed to again get a little ahead and again his [he] purchased land. This time it was 160 acres and he went $1200 in debt for it. Having courage and undaunted ambition he went to work to pay off this indebtedness, but at last some one offered him $500 more than he had paid for the land and he sold it. He then went to Atchison County, Missiouri and bought and paid for 80 acres of land. Keeping that but a short time he found himself againfoot lose and he went to Gage County, Nebraska, bought a farm and there he remained six years. Selling this place also, at the end of about six years he went to Custer County, Nebraska. One of his sons got into some trouble here at this place and to help him Mr Johnston mortgaged his farm and this time he was unable to meet his obligations and the farm was taken from him. At his time of life losing his little competency he became discouraged and gathered up what he still had left he came to live with his son, Andrew Johnston, who was living in Locust Grove township, Fremont County, Iowa. Last spring he and his aged wife, who is still his comforting companion, came to live with his son, Isaac, who lives just one mile west of Shenandoah.

He has had his share of misfortunes and disappointments and we hope that in his last few remaining years he may have a pleasant home with his children whom he and his good wife have sacrificed so much for.

Sources

1850 United States Federal Census Name: Mary A Johnson [Mary A Johnston] Age: 28 Birth Year: abt 1822 Birthplace: Ohio Home in 1850: Trenton, Henry, Iowa, USA Gender: Female Family Number: 614 Household Members: Name Age James Johnson 30 Mary A Johnson 28 Alexander Johnson 9 John Johnson 8 Robert Johnson 5 Andrew Johnson 3 Martha Johnson 0

1900 United States Federal Census View blank form View/Add alternate info Report issue Name: Mary A Johnson [Mary A Johnston] Age: 76 Birth Date: Oct 1823 Birthplace: Virginia Home in 1900: Limber Creek, Nance, Nebraska Sheet Number: 9 Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 166 Family Number: 167 Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Wife Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: James J Johnson Marriage Year: 1841 Father's Birthplace: Virginia Mother's Birthplace: Virginia Mother: Number of Living Children: 7 Mother: How Many Children: 12 Can Read: Yes Can Write: Yes Can Speak English: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age James J Johnson 79 Mary A Johnson 76