John Johnston
John Johnston, Esq. was born in Ireland in the year 1816. Came with his father, Stephen Johnston, to Shelby County in 1831, consequently was fifteen years of age at the time he made his advent into this county. Here he was given an axe, and assisted his father and brothers in clearing their farm. Esq. Johnston never had the advantages of education that many boys even of his day had, he never having had more than two months’ schooling in his life, and that was when he was nineteen years of age. In 1836 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Peck, and in 1831 removed to Mercer County, and settled on 108 acres of wild land that his father gave him. He remained on this land, and improved it until 1850, when he removed to Montezuma, where he and his brother Christopher built a steam saw mill, which he took charge of until the fall of 1859, when he again re turned to his farm. During his time in Montezuma he had added to his farm two hundred acres. This land he sold in 1863, and returned to Shelby County, and bought part of the Judge Cecil farm; also bought the homestead of his wife’s father, John Peck, where his wife was born in 1816. This farm he afterward traded to D. K. Gillespie for the Lockington mills and the land attached to them. He owned the mills but a short time when he sold, reserving fourteen acres attached, upon which he has erected fine and substantial buildings, making for himself and family a comfortable home, all made by his own industry and economy and that of his wife and family. They have raised a family of eight children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Sarah A., 1839; Samuel P., 1841; Barbary, 1844; Jane, 1847; Mary, 1849; Stephen T., 1853; Martha, 1857; and Emma P., 1860. Esq. Johnston has ever had the confidence and esteem of his neighbors, which is evidenced by his having filled the office of justice of the peace for twelve years. He is now living a retired life in the enjoyment of a competency, which it is to be hoped he may live long to enjoy.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883