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Below is a family biography included in The History of Wright County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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William Johnston, another enterprising and successful farmer and stock raiser of Wright County, Mo., was born in Center County, Penn., December 11, 1832, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Rider) Johnston. William Johnston, Sr., was born in Center County, Penn., in 1808, grew to manhood in that county, and was there married. His parents died when he was but a lad, and he was bound out. By personal application he became master of the German language, and also obtained a good English education by private study, from moments snatched from an unrelenting master. He was married April 25, 1830, to Miss Elizabeth Rider, a native of Center County, Penn., born February 19, 1809, and to them were born eight children, six of whom were natives of Center County. William Johnston, Sr., and family immigrated then to the western part of the State, Clarion County, Penn., in 1844. Here he carried on a rented farm and worked in an ore bank for five years. By that time he had accumulated sufficient money to purchase a farm, and went to farming until 1873. During this time there were two more sons added to the family. In 1873 oil was discovered on his land, and he sold twenty-nine acres for $3,000. He leased eighteen acres on a royalty, and the balance of the farm he and his sons undertook to manage. Previous to this William Johnston, Jr., had immigrated to Missouri, and located in that State in 1873. When oil was discovered on his father’s farm in Pennsylvania he returned to assist in managing the oil business. They put down thirteen oil wells on the part of the farm they retained, the shallowest being 1,050 feet deep. The oil paid greatly at first, but soon fell from $4 per barrel to 60 cents. They finally quit the operation, and in about 1878 sold out. William Johnston, Jr., realized about $4,000 out of his portion of the business. He then came west, and again settled down to farming. He is now the owner of 493 acres of land in Wright County, Mo. On February 18, 1862, Mr. Johnston joined the Federal Army, Company F, Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was in the army ten months. August 27, 1862, he was wounded in the second battle of Bull Run. His horse was shot through by a piece of shell, and the fragment of shell struck his leg after passing through his horse and disabled him. He received his discharge for disability December 5, 1862, and now draws $8 per month pension. He was married in 1857 to Miss Mary Adams, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, born April 3, 1837, and to them have been born two living children: William, and Sadie Agnes, wife of John H. Simmons. They had three older children, who are deceased: Alexander Adams, who died at the age of three years and six months; Elizabeth, who died at the age of three months and eleven days, and Ira Lincoln, who died at the age of sixteen months. Mrs. Mary Johnston was but three months old when she came with her parents to America. They first landed in New York, but soon went from there to Carbon County, Penn., thence to Center County of that State, and in 1871 the father moved to Wright County, Mo., where two of his sons and two daughters had preceded him. He was born in Ireland February 12, 1812, and came to America in 1836. He moved to Wright County, Mo., where he died June 18, 1883; was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church. Isabella (McAlister) Adams was also born in Antrim County, Ireland, in 1813. She is still alive, and resides in Wright County. The family are of Scotch extraction. The paternal grandfather Adams was of English and the paternal grandmother, whose maiden name was Knox, was of Scotch descent. The paternal grandfather of William Johnston, David Johnston, lived in Pennsylvania; was a native of one of the Eastern States, and was a Revolutionary soldier. He was a farmer by occupation. The maternal grandmother was also a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Johnston is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Republican in his politics.

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This family biography is one of 90 biographies included in The History of Wright County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Wright County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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