William Johnston, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of William Johnston
WILLIAM JOHNSTON, attorney at law, is a son of Judge Jesse Johnston, of Centre Township, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, June 10, 1808; came to Indiana in September 1829 and to what is now Porter County in 1834. He is a son of George and Nancy Johnston; was reared and still is a farmer, and November 30, 1830, married Rebecca Pickett , who has born him family of eleven children, six of whom are yet living. He is prominently identified with the early and subsequent history of Porter County. In politics, was first a Wig, tinctured with Free-Soilism, and afterward a Republican. In 1836, was elected a Justice of the Peace, but would not serve; was Probate Judge from 1836 to 1840, and subsequently served in various other positions of honor and trust. In 1851, he became a Freemason and has ascended to the Royal Arch degree. In 1879, he became a member of the State Pioneer Association. He is now living on his farm of 240 acres near Valparaiso. William Johnston was reared in Porter County, receiving his education at the common schools, afterward attending the Valparaiso Male and Female College four years, and finishing his literary education in 1866 by graduating from Asbury University at Greencastle, Ind. He began the study of law in Valparaiso, and established himself first in practice at Chesterton. In about 1868-1869, he moved back to Valparaiso, where he now occupies a leading position at the bar of Porter and neighboring counties. He has been twice married, first in December 1866, to Belle Hopkins , who died April 23, 1870, leaving two children, only one of whom, Charles H., is yet living. He married his present wife, Almira Hankinson , in October, 1878, and to their marriage has been born one daughter - Flora A. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are among the best of Valparaiso's people. The former is a Republican in politics, and the latter is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Source: Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882. Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Illustrated. Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey & Company. 771 p.
Page(s) in Source: 252
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook