From: "Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties,
Illinois 1892", by Biographical Review Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois;
page 600-601; a reprinted by Stevens Publishing Co., Astoria, Ill., 1971, is
sold by the Schuyler County Historical Society, Rushville, Illinois. DeWitt Clinton Johnston, deceased, was born in Clermont county,
Ohio, April 2, 1824. His father, James T. Johnston, was born at Washington,
Pennsylvania, and his father and grandfather lived in Scotland, and on coming
to America settled in New Jersey. They removed to Pennsylvania and there
engaged in farming until they died. The father of the subject was a graduate of Jefferson College
and became a practicing physician in Clermont county, Ohio, but he spent
his last days at New Richmond. His wife was a Mary Whetstone, of Hamilton
county, Ohio. She died in the same town as her husband. The subject of this sketch received his education at the public
schools of New Richmond, and from private tutors, and graduated from the
same college as his father, in the year of 1843. he commenced the study
of law at Batavia, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar at Hillsborough, Ohio,
and practed there till 1850, when he removed to New Richmond, Ohio, and opened
an office and continues there until 1853, when he came to Rushville and practiced
there until January 28, 1866. He married, in 1845, a lady whose maiden name was Margaret Bauer,
a native of Bavaria, Germany. Her grandfather had lived in the same
country all his life, and so had her father until 1832, when he resolved
to try his fortume in the new world: so with his family he set sail from
Havre de Grace in the fall of the same year. His father, Conrad Bauer,
also came over to America in the same ship. The trip was made in thirty-three
days. From New York, where they landed, the older man went to Ohio
by the way of Pennsylvania, making the journey by the canal and stage to
Pittsburg, and then down the Ohio river. He located in Brown county,
and bought a farm and engaged in tilling the soil until his death. Mrs. Johnston's father was accompanied by his wife and two children,
and he located in the same county as his father, bought a farm, and resided
there until 1856, when he sold out and came to Illinois, and located in Rushville
township. Here he also bought a farm, on section 25, and engaged in
agricultural pursuits until his death. Mrs. Johnston continued to reside in Rushville for some time
after her husband's death, but she now occupies her father's old homestead
in Rushville township. She has two sons living, James B. and Harold
W. The former is a graduate of the Chicago University and is a practicing
attorney. The second son is a graduate of the Illinois College, Jacksonville,
where he is a professor of Latin. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were earnest
members of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Johnson {Johnston} was a staunch
supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, of which he was a member.
He was an able lawyer and a fine citizen. His record is one of which
his family and friends may justly be proud, not only in his capacity as County
Judge, but in the occupations of daily life. Having many advantages
which other early settlers did not have, he became well-known throughout
the State as a legal authority, as well as a man of literary attainments. 1861 Militia Roll
