Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches

James Johnston, an energetic and successful farmer of Cambridge Township, residing and owning 160 acres on section 36, this township, was born Sept. 27, 1828, in Gallia Co., Ohio. His ancestors on his father’s side were of Scotch descent, and on his mother’s side of old New England stock. The grandfather of the subject of this notice, James JOHNSTON was bron on the River Tweed, Edinburgh, Scotland. He was married in that coury, and became the father of seven children born there. About 1820, he and his wife came to this country, and settled with their children in Gallia Co., Ohio, where the grandparents died. Of their children, Andrew JOHNSTON, the fatherof the subject of this notice, was 25 years of age when he landed upon the free soil of the United States. He was married in Ohio, to Olive WEED, a native of Chautauqua Co., No. Y. Both parents of or subject died in Gallia Co., Ohio. They reared eight children to the age of maturity, namely: Elizabeth, James, William,Andrew, Olive, wife of J. W. GLASSBURN, of Tampico, Whiteside county, Jeannette and Samuel;.

James JOHNSTON received such an education as was to be acquired of the schools of the day and locality in which he lived and spent his early life in his native county. He came to Illinois, in October, 1853, and settled in Knox County, where he was engaged in farming until 1876, when he moved into Cambridge Township, this county, and continued to remain there. He owns a good farm of 160 acres of land on section 26, and is actively and energetically engaged in the task of its improvements meeting with success in his chosen vocation.

Mr. JOHNSTON was married in Ohio, Oct. 18, 1849, to Miss Abigail POWELL. She was born April, 1828, in Steuben Co., N. Y., and has borne her husband nine children: Almira E., Samuel T., both of whom died of scarlet fever shortly after they came to Knox Conty; Chalres L., who was killed at Altona, Knox County, by the railroad cars, aged 29 years; Mary A. is the wife of Alex. Julien; Andrew P. died when about 27 years old; Daniel J.; Kellum E. died aged 4 years; William S. and Fred A reside at home.

Mr. and Mrs. JOHNSTON are constistant members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While a resident of Knox County, Mr. Johsnon filled several important offices, among which were Supervisor for six years. He has also been aAssessor of Cambridge Township two years. Since the demise of the old Whig party, and since Fremont ran for the Presidency, in 1856, Mr. JOHSNTON has cast his vote with the Republican party. He has been one of the Directors of the Cambridge Library Association, and takes an active interest in any enterprise that is calculated to benefit the community in which he resides.