Samuel Francis Johnston (abt. 1842 - 1920)

Born about 21 Apr 1842 in Niagara, Canada West

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Howard) Johnston — married 20 Dec 1871 in Orangeville, Ontario

Descendants

Died 13 Nov 1920 at about age 78 in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

Samuel Francis Johnston was born in 1842 in Newark, now Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada West. His birth date in family records is 21 April 1842, and in the 1901 census record, it is 21 May. ^{[1] [2]} He fulfilled his military service as an Ensign, 30th Batt. Vol. Militia between 1867 and 1872 in Whittington, Wellington, Ontario, Canada. The Whittington Volunteer Rifle Company was at first known as No. 6 company, 30th Wellington Rifles, later it was known as No. 7 and again as No. 8. Samuel was appointed Ensign in 1871 and in command of Whittington Company in 1872. ^[3]

Samuel farmed the East 1/2 of Lot 15 Con 1 in the former community of Whittington after his brother John left. He purchased that farm in 1871 from his father who was then 71 years old. He also farmed the East 1/2 Lot 24 Con 7, both of Amaranth township , Dufferin County, Ontario at least to 1881. ^{[4] [5] [6]} He married Elizabeth Howard on December 20th, 1871 in St. Mark's Anglican Church, Orangeville, Ontario. ^[7] Samuel had a strong interest in education, and before 1873, he was elected to serve as a School Board Trustee in Amaranth township. He was among the trustees of S.S. No. 2, Amaranth who sold the pioneer log school to the trustees of the Primitive Methodist Church of Canada. "In 1875 it was decided to build a new school house. The Trustees at the time were Jack Stoddart, Samuel F. Johnston, and Robert Whitten. A building committee was appointed to assist the trustees. The members were Thomas Whitten, David Johnston and James Allingham." It was built of brick, but "Soon after it was built it had to be braced together with iron rods. It is remembered one windy day in 1883 the school was dismissed and the scholars sent home for fear the walls would fall on them." In early 1884 the school was taken down and a replacement built using the original materials. ^{[8] [9]}

In April 1887, he moved his family to near Decew Falls. They moved again in March 1887 to St. Catharine's and in April 1887 to Vincent Falls. In 1890, the family moved to Vincent Street in St. Catherine's. Samuel continued to farm. The 1901 census says he farmed 23 acres, had 1 outbuilding and earned $800.00. ^[10] Samuel died 13 November 1920 in St Catharines, and was buried 16 November in the family plot, the East 1/2 of lot 5 in division 13 in section T of Victoria Lawn Cemetery. ^{[11] [12]}

Sources

1. ↑ Florence Johnston's Family history notes
2. ↑ 1901 Census of Canada, Ontario, Lincoln, St Catharines
3. ↑ [Richardson, William G., 1915-], The Story of Whittington - A History of the Whittington Community of Dufferin County (s.l.: s.n., [1963]), p.139 .
4. ↑ "The Story of Whittington ...", p. 10.
5. ↑ 1881 Census of Canada, Ontario, Wellington North, Amaranth.
6. ↑ Susan Garrish research citing a map in Dufferin Museum.
7. ↑ Ontario. Marriage registration .
8. ↑ Marshall, J.E., A Century of Service : St. Andrew's United Church Camilla (n.p.; [1980]), p. 10
9. ↑ The Story of Whittington ... , p.120 .
10. ↑ 1901 Census of Canada, Ontario, Lincoln, St Catharines.
11. ↑ Ontario. Death registration for Samuel Francis Johnston
12. ↑ Find A Grave memorial for Samuel Francis Johnston

Notes

Samuel considered learning to be of great importance. He trained his daughter Florence to memorize a quantity of information, and she was the one who "remembered" for the family, all their family history. Her notes have been proven to be correct when compared with primary source documents.