JOHNSTON-L Archives

From: Scott Miller <>
Subject: [JOHNSTON] James Lawrence Johnston
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 20:14:47 -0700

Posted on: Johnston Biographies
Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/surnames/joh/JohnstonBios/11

Surname: Johnston, Logan, Hunter, Minor, Conover, Robertson, Waller
-------------------------

The following is on pages 165-166 of a book named "Kentucky Genealogy and
Biography - Volume 5 - Sketches from Adair, Boyle, Casey, Cumberland, Garrard,
Green, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Mercer, Nelson, Taylor, Washington, Counties
- Reprinted from "Kentucky : A History of the State" by Battle - Perrin
- Kniffin (4th Edition) - Editor - Genealogical Reference Company - P.O.
Box 1554 - Owensboro, Kentucky 42301 - 1975

James L. Johnston, a leading farmer and prominent citizen of Adair County
and a son of Thomas B. Johnston, was born in the county December 17, 1820.
Thomas B. Johnston, born in 1774, in Nelson County, Va., immigrated to
Adair County in 1812, where he bought a tract of 412 acres on Green River,
which at that time was an unbroken wilderness. He cleared the forest and
tilled the soil, was a slave owner and remained here eighteen years. He
then purchased another place of 412 acres , the one at present owned by
James L. Johnston, on which was a brick residence erected by the former
owner. Here he lived and farmed very successfully, and became quite wealthy,
until 1854, when his death occurred. He was a member of the Christian Church,
and took great interest in politics, although he never would accept any
political office. His wife's maiden names was Sally Dawson, a daughter
of Capt. Ben and Mehala (Lyon) Dawson, one of the wealthy and prominent
families in Virginia at this time. Capt. Ben Dawson was an officer in the
Continental Army during the American Revolution, and served during the
entire war. The University of Charlottesville was founded by William Dawson,
a brother of Capt. Dawson, and a man of great wealth. The death of Mrs.
Johnston, who was in life a member of the Baptist Church, occurred October
27, 1838, in the forty-fourth year of her age. Thomas B. Johnston began
life with no inheritance but his native industry, and left an estate of
$80,000. His father, Stephen Johnston, was also a Virginian, a man of classical
culture, prominence, and considerable wealth. He lived in Nelson County,
owned a large plantation and cultivated it with slave labor. He was the
son of Stephen Johnston, Sr., who with his brother, Henry Johnston, emigrated
from Scotland to America and settled in Virginia. Stephen Johnston was
married to Agnes Waller, a sister of three celebrated Baptist ministers
- John, Edmund, and George Waller - who were compelled to leave England
on account of persecution consequent to their religious belief, and settled
in the Old Dominion. The names of Stephen and Agnes Johnston's children
were Thomas B., Henry Goodlow, Peter and Stephen. The names of Thomas B.
Johnston's children were John Waller, William H., Thomas B., S.D. and James
L., all of whom except John are living. James L. Johnston in youth was
under the tuition of a classical scholar, Caleb H. Ricketts, for a number
of years, and received a classical education, although he never graduated
any institution. He has been an extensive farmer, and before the war was
worth $70,000 in slaves and real estate. He has also been an extensive
and successful trader, and although he has always been a man whose ability
and integrity were recognized by the community, he would never accept any
public office, although frequently importuned to do so. He was united in
marriage May 31, 1843, with Miss Diane Logan, the youngest of a family
of seven children, three of who were daughters, born to Matthew and Sally
(Fleece) Logan, both native Kentuckians. Matthew Logan was a son of the
celebrated Benjamin Logan, one of the earliest pioneers of the "dark and
bloody ground". This marriage has been blessed by the addition of five
children, by name: Mary Agnes, wife of Benjamin F. Hunter, Cornelia Minor,
wife of Robert Conover; Mattie Sally, wife of H. K. Robertson; Dollie Elizabeth
and Annie Maria, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston and all
of their children are member of the Hebron congregation of the Christian
Church, of which Mr. Johnston is one of the elders. He owns in the home
place 512 acres of fine land, well improved and in a high state of cultivation,
on which is the old brick residence originally built by a Mr. Cayce, and
twice remodeled since, and the 200-acre tract on Green River. His farm
is one of the most valuable in Adair County, and his estate is worth $12,000.
Mr. Johnston has been a life-long Democrat.

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