Family Group Sheet data from: Pat O’Dell: genpat@netins.net

husband

James John Johnston

birthdate and birthplace

Sep 1820 Coalton, Jackson Co, Oh

death date, place

26 Jun 1906 Custer Co, Ne

burial

Custer Co, Ne

1st marriage

09 Jan 1840 Oh

father

X

mother

X

wife

Mary Ann Corbett

birthdate and place

06 Oct 1822 Carl Co, Va

deathdate and place

10 Aug 1908 Walsworth, Custer Co, Ne

burial

Gates Cem, Gates, Custer Co, Ne

father

X

mother

X

CHILDREN

#1 Alexander

born

1841 Ohio

married

Malissa

died

buried

#2 John

born

1842 Ohio

married

Sarah

died

buried

#3 Robert

born

1845 Iowa

married

Amanda

died

buried

#4 Andrew Jackson

born

17 Feb 1848 Mercer Co, Mo

married

01 Dec 1874 Taylor Co, Ia: Elizabeth Krout

married

22 Sep 1909 Lee's Summit, Mo: Emma Russell

died

30 Apr 1926 Shenandoah, Page Co, Ia

buried

Locust Grove Cem, Fremont Co, Ia

#5 Martha Jane

born

28 Jul 1850 Henry Co, Ia

married

14 Apr 1868 Fremont Co, Ia: Thomas Cooper

died

1917 Fremont Co, Ia

buried

Farragut Cem, Fremont Co, Ia

#6 James W.

born

1855 Ia

married

died

186- Manti, Fremont co, Ia

buried

Manti Cem

#7 George W.

born

Nov 1856 Mo

married

Edith

died

buried

#8 Susan

born

Feb 1860 Mo

married

died

buried

#9 Isaac

born

Feb 1862 Ia/Mo

married

Etta

died

1917 Waterville, Marshall Co, Ks

buried

#10 Electa

born

Nov 1865 Iowa

married

Charles Chapman

died

buried

#11 child

born

married

died

buried

#12 child

born

married

died

buried

NOTES:

Shenandoah World, Shenandoah, Iowa, Jun 9, 1899 "Lifes' Struggles"

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 Corbet, 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, Mo, where they bought 240 acre 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 neighborhood 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 is 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, Mo and bought and paid for 80 acres of land. Keeping that but a short time he found himself again foot 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 co [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.

Federal land records show that James J. Johnston pre-empted N1/2 NW 1/4 and SW1/4 NW ¼ and NW 1/4 SW 1/4 Section 30, T19N R19W on March 1, 1887. 160 acres, Certificate #8625

OBITUARY - Custer County Republican, Custer Co, Ne, July 19, 1906 page 8, column 1

James J. Johnson was born September 12, 1820 in Jackson County, Ohio. On the morning of June 26, 1906 he died at the home of his daughter, Mrs Charlie Chapman, 3 miles south of Walworth [Custer Co, Ne]. He was married to Mary A. Corbett of Virginia on January 9, 1840. To this union was born ten children.

About twenty years ago he came to Custer County and resided on the farm adjoining the one where he died. He remained there until age compelled him to give up work since which time he has lived with his children.

Three weeks previous to his death, he came to his daughter's to spend his remaining days, which were very few. For about sixty years he was an active church worker, which is a record few have.

He leaves an aged wife and seven children to mourn his loss.

OBITUARY - Custer County Chief, Custer Co, Ne, August 14, 1908 page 7 Walworth items

Grandma Johnson died at her daughter's home Monday morning, 3 miles south of Walworth, Mrs Charles Chapman, aged 85 years, 9 months. Funeral at the Gates church and buried Gates Cemetery.

Custer County Chief, Custer Co, Ne, August 14, 1908 page 8

Mary Ann Johnson - Mary Ann Corbett was born Oct 6, 1922 in Carl Co, Va. She married in Ohio Jan 9, 1840 to James J. Johnson. Eleven children were born to them, 7 alive to mourn her loss. He died June 1906. They came to Custer County 20 years ago and resided on a farm south of Walworth. She spent the last two years at her daughter’s due to her advanced age. All of her life has been spent in the cause of the Master. Funeral at the Gates M.E. Church August 11th at 2 p.m. by Rev Matthews, she was buried by her husband's side in the Gates Cemetery.

Note from Jessie Johnston - "tombstone gives date of death as Sept 8, 1908 which is incorrect as her obit appeared in August and so she died August 8th, 1908."

Locust Grove Landmarks, 1871 - 1971 Locust Grove Township, Fremont County, Iowa: Compiled by Locust Grove Township History Committee: Published by World Publishing Company, Shenandoah, Iowa.

page 284: Andrew Jackson Johnston

Andrew Jackson Johnston, son of James and Mary Jane Corbit Johnston, was born February 17, 1848, in Mercer County, Missouri. In 1865, he, his parents, and family, brothers Robert, John, James, Ike and George, and sister Matilda and Electa, came to Iowa, and settled in the Manti area. There his brother, James, became ill and died, and was buried in the Manti cemetery. While living there, Andrew used a scythe and cradle, and mowed wild hay from the area that is now Sheridan Avenue, in Shenandoah.

As a young man, he contracted a lung condition, and was taken by a Dr Ward to a lumber came in Nevada, where he worked for a time. Before his marriage, he also worked on a railroad gang, helping to construct the Union Pacific railroad from Omaha to California. Although he was not present at the driving of the "Golden Spike", he spoke of a land mark known as the "1000 Mile tree', a small cedar tree 1000 miles west of Omaha, on the UP line, and stated that often as they worked, they were watched by a silent group of disapproving Indians.

On December 1, 1847 [sic], he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Krout, from New Market. They purchased land one-half mile east of the Locust Grove church, and this became their home. Shortly after they moved there, his parents moved to a small house one-fourth mile north, where they lived for many years until their infirmities made it necessary for them to move in with Andrew and Elizabeth.

Andrew and Elizabeth became the parents of 13 children, four of whom, Elmer, Orville, Charles, and Otis, died in infancy, and are buried in the Locust Grove cemetery. Their living children were Arthur W., Minnie Leah, Ethel May, Grover M., Laura Ann, Robert Frederick, Clyde, Albert, and Myron Tyler. Andrew was the owner of one of the first automobiles in the area, a 2 cylinder Jackson. At one time when Wm Jennings Bryan visited Shenandoah Andrew and son Robert met Mr Bryan at the train and took him in their car to the chautauqua grounds where he made a speech.

Andy hauled lumber and materials from Hamburg and Riverton to help build the Locust Grove Church, and was active in the formation of the church and Sunday school. For eight years, he acted as Sunday School superintendent, and was always helpful with his time and financial support.

Elizabeth was not a strong woman, and was often ill with asthma and various respiratory conditions. She was not well enough to take part in the many social functions that revolved around the church and the Locust Grove school, but was a loving and devoted mother. She inherited some timberland near New Market from her parents, and whenever she returned from a trip to see about this land, she would bring back a large sack of shellbark hickory nuts for her family, which was quite a treat for them.

Andy was one of the directors of the Security Trust and Savings Bank in Shenandoah. He increased his land holdings until he owned 260 acres on the home place, 160 acres at New Market, 80 acres in Page County, and 600 acres in Texas, at the time of his death.

Elizabeth passed away on November 17, 1906, at the age of 53 years. Several years later Andrew met Emma Russell of Lee's Summit, Missouri, and they were married on September 22, 1909. While visiting at her home in Missouri, he became acquainted with Frank James, brother of Jesse James, and recalled that he was a very pleasant man to visit with.

Andrew and Emma moved to Shenandoah in 1910, and Ethel and Laura kept house for their brothers, Bob and Clyde. Andrew died in Shenandoah on April 30, 1926, at the age of 78 years.