My Genealogy Hound

JOHN FRANKLIN JOHNSTON, President of the Bethlehem Building and Loan Association, and draftsman for the Bethlehem Iron Company, is a member of a family well known in Northampton County. The family history appears in the biographical sketch of his father, Joseph Johnston, which is presented on another page of this volume. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Phoenixville, Chester County, June 6, 1856. In 1868, when a lad of twelve years, he accompanied his parents to Bethlehem and here attended the public schools. At the age of fourteen years he entered the employ of the Bethlehem Iron Company, where for a time he worked in the machine shop.

Wishing to become familiar with the science of chemistry, Mr. Johnston, in 1873, at the age of seventeen years, took a special course of study in Lehigh University. In addition to chemistry he also studied mining and milling. Afterward he resumed work for the Bethlehem Iron Company, and for two years was chemist in their laboratory, after which he worked in the machine shop for three years. At the present time he is draftsman in the machine shop. He has the confidence and esteem of the officers of thq company, which he has gained by his proficiency, honesty and the interest he always manifests in the welfare of the concern. Mr. Johnston assisted in designing the monster plant of the Bethlehem Iron Company, one of the buildings of which is a quarter of a mile long and one hundred and fifty-five feet wide.

In the incorporation of the Bethlehem Building and Loan Association Mr. Johnston aided, and is now its President and one of the Board of Directors. In polities he is a Republican and exerts his influence for that party. At present he is serving as a member of the Board of Health. Socially he is identified with the Masonic fraternity and the Royal Arcanum. His marriage occurred in Bethlehem, September 14, 1881, at which time Miss Celia C. Lack became his wife. She was born in Iowa City, Iowa, and by her marriage has become the mother of five children, of whom four are living: Martha, Helen, Joseph and Jean. In religious belief she is identified with the Lutheran Church. She is a daughter of J. J. Lack, who is a German by birth and an American by adoption. He emigrated to this country, and after visiting numerous states finally settled in Bethlehem, where he has since engaged at the trade of a merchant tailor. In that occupation he is Considered an expert, and never fails to give satisfaction to his customers.