Mr. Johnston was born in Beaver County, Pa., November 12, 1832, and is the son of Thomas and Catharine (Main) Johnston, natives of Pennsylvania. His parents were married in Beaver County about 1822 or 1823. His father served in the war of 1812, and took part in the seige of Baltimore. He enlisted in Captain Roll's Company of New Jersey troops and was very faithful while danger menaced the country. After his marriage he continued to reside in Pennsylvania until 1850, at which date he moved to Pike County, settling in Hardin Township. He died here in 1865, and was true to the Democratic party all his life. His wife passed to her final resting place in Pike County, Mo., in 1887, being at the time a member of the Christian Church. Our subjects paternal grandfather, Richard Johnston, was a native of Ireland but came to America while quite young and located in New Jersey. His maternal grandfather Main, was one of the early settlers in Beaver County, Pa. He figured prominantly in the Revolutionary War. To Mr. Johnston's parents were born seven children, four of whom are now living. Our subject received a common school education in his native State, and at the age of eighteen commenced a business career for himself, working at the carpenter trade occasionally and devoting the greater part of his time to agricultural pursuits. He was at first compelled to work for others, farming, doing carpenter work, making rails, shingles, etc., but in 1886 he entered eighty acres of land on section 19, in Montezuma Township. He bought this land for $1.25 per acre, and at the time of the purchase it was barren land, destitute of any sign of cultivation. However, he settled upon it, and after building a log house commenced the cultivation of sixty-five acres. This property is still in his possession and is very valuable now.

Mr. Johnston moved to his present farm on section 32, in 1884. This property was highly cultivated when he bought it and his handsome residence was complete at that time. He has built fences, two large barns, sheds, etc. The barns cost $900. He owns four hundred and fifty acres of land, nearly all good farming soil and over three hundred acres of it under plow. Here he carries on a mixed farming business and also devotes much attention to stock raising.

In 1853 the subject of our sketch was married to Miss Susan Heavener, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Smith) Heavener, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. Her birth occured August 3, 1834, in Hardin Township, and here she received an education in the log schoolhouses common in those days. Mrs. Johnston's parents were married in Kentucky and resided in that State until 1829, at which time they moved to Illinois, settling in Scott County. In the following spring they moved to Pike County, locating in Hardin Township and just before their death they moved to Montezuma Township, making their home on section 19. Her father died in 1871 and her mother in 1869. They were the parents of fourteen children, all of whom grew to maturity and nine of whom are living at the present time. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was under Gen. Jackson in the battle of New Orleans in 1814. He helped to build the first storehouse in Pittsfield. Mrs. Johnston is a member of the Christian Church and takes great interest in Sunday School work. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are now living, viz: Melinda J., wife of Philip W. Thomas, who resides in Hardin Township; Mary Louisa, wife of Robert O. Cox, who resides in Hardin Township and has four children; Ellen who married Hardin J. Callender of Montezuma Township and has one child; Thomas J., who married Miss Della E. Crawford, makes his home in Montezuma Township and has two children; Allen D., Otis, Eva, Edwin P., and Frank. Edwin P. holds a first-grade certificate as a teacher and has taught school with great success through two terms. He is an unusually bright young man and exceedingly intellectual in his tastes and inclinations. Besides talent he possesses good judgement and energy and though young has already achieved an enviable reputation for brilliancy, strict integrity, and cordial manners. All of the children received good educations and have promising futured before them.

Mr. Johnston has served nine years as School Director and has also been Collector for Montezuma Township. He takes a lively interest in the political issues of the day and is a strong Democrat.

Our subject has an excellent war record, and still suffers from the effects of service. He enlised August 9, 1862, in Company E, Ninty-ninth Illinois Regiment, enlisting as a Corporal. The regiment was sent to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., and from there went to Rolla, then to Salem, to Houston and to Hartville in Missouri, and took part in an engagement in the latter named place. They then returned to Houston, went to West Plains, to Middlebrook, and to St. Genevieve, Mo. They took passage on a steamboat and landed on Milliken's Bend, from which point they went to New Carthage with General's Grant and Sherman. They marched to Grand Gulf and witnessed the battle between the Union gunboats and the Rebel batteries. They next embarked for Bruinsburg, Miss., and from that point marched eleven miles toward Port Gibson, where they engaged with the enemy May 1 and 2, 1863. Early in the morning of May 1 while on his way down a hollow to take a batterie at the Magnolia Church , was struck in the right breast by a minie ball. It passed inward, backward and downward, lodging against the backbone beneath the muscles of the back, and remains in that position at the present time. Mr. Johnston, after this fearful accident, was conveyed to a private house - Grant's hospital - where he remained about a week. He has never been well since and suffers constantly from this wound. At the end of the week he went to Grand Gulf and from there to the mouth of Vicksburg Canal, then by army wagon to Young's point, and from there to a hospital at Memphis, Tenn., reaching there after a month and eight days. He remained in that hospital until he was honorably discharged November 8, 1863.

Mr. Johnston is a wealthy and influential citizen of Montezuma Township and one whom it is a pleasure to represent in our Album,

Portrait Biographical Album of Pike and Calhoun Counties, Illinois. Chicago:

Solomon T. Johnston, farmer, sec. 19; P. O. Milton; is the son of Thomas and Catherine (Main) Johnston, natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Pike Co., in 1850, settling in Hardin tp., where he died. His aged wife still survives. The subject of this sketch was born in Beaver Co., Pa., in 1832; was married in 1853 to Miss Susan, daughter of John Heavener; settled on his present farm of 240 acres in 1856. In 1862 he enlisted as Corporal in Co. E, 99thI. V. I., and served 15 months, participating in the battle at Port Gibson, where he was wounded by a minie ball that passed through the lungs and lodged in the back, where it still remains. He was confined in the hospital 6 months, when he was discharged. In consequence of this wound Mr. J. is disabled from physical labor. He served one term as Collector. Is politically a Democrat. His children are Melinda, Louisa, Ellen, Thomas, Andrew, Allen, Otis, Eva, Poe and Frank.

Source: History of Pike County by Charles M. CHapman 1880