My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT M. JOHNSTON, a well known farmer and grape culturist, of the town of Westfield, is a son of Samuel and Margaret (McKee) Johnston, and was born in County Down, Ireland, August 4, 1841. Both his father and mother are natives of the same place, the former coming to America in 1848, leaving his family behind; he located in this town, where he has ever since lived, and until a few years ago was engaged in farming and butchering; but having reached the age of eighty years he abandoned active business and is now taking life quietly. He married Margaret McKee, who is now seventy-five years of age, and belongs to the Presbyterian church. She came to America a few years after her husband, and with her came our subject, then a boy in his teens.

Robert M. Johnston was reared until eighteen years of age at his father’s home in the town of Westfield, and was educated at the common schools. He learned butchering with his father, and followed the business for some time. In 1859 he went to California where he found employment at his trade, and worked for one man for over five years. He then returned to Westfield and embarked in the same business for himself, but for the past eight years has been engaged in farming and grape growing, and now owns one hundred and seventeen acres of land, twenty-five acres of it being a vineyard.

In 1870 he married Margaret McGee, a daughter of James McGee, of Westfield, and he has a family of four children, one son and three daughters: Lena, Samuel, Catherine and Isabel.

Robert M. Johnston is a republican, but is liberal in his ideas, and does not permit partisanship to dictate to his conscience. He belongs to the Equitable Aid Union, and is an honest, industrious and successful man.