Mineral County
James Johnston
Biography
(Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney)
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Nevada Genealogy Trails Mineral County James Johnston Biography (Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney) |
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JAMES JOHNSTON, who is a well known and highly respected 1860 pioneer of Nevada, and one of 1850 in California, is now one of the prominent farmers of Mason valley. He was born in Ireland, April 15, 1827, and is of old Scotch-Irish ancestry, and was educated in his native land. In 1847, when in his twentieth year, he emigrated to the United States, and landed in New Orleans during the Mexican war. The discovery of gold in California attracted him to that state, to which he went in 1850. Soon the brave lad was digging for gold on Weaver creek, eight miles below Caloma, and he also mined at Smith Fork, at Spanish Bar. Like many others he took out a large quantity of gold, sometimes one hundred dollars in a day, but spent it as freely, and finally in 1860 he followed the crowds pouring into Virginia City, Nevada, and was active in building the Rockey Point quartz mill. Later he went to Fort Churchill, and in the Carson valley he purchased a ranch upon which he resided for nine years. He then sold his property and located in Mason valley, where he took up two hundred and forty acres of land which he has made into one of the finest farms in this portion of the state, upon which he has built an excellent brick house. In 1860 Mr. Johnston was married to Miss Elizabeth Roarke, a native of Ireland. They have six children, namely: Annie, Mrs. Jacob Hofheins, of Mason valley; Charles, with his father; Ida, Mrs. John B. Galligher; Andrew, with his father; Mary, Mrs. Charles Galligher; Christina. Mrs. Johnston died in 1901, having been a faithful wife and mother. Mr. Johnston has sixteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, and is very proud of them all. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally he is a Mason. He has always been a Democrat, but has never sought or accepted office. Throughout the entire state Mr. Johnston has many friends, by whom he is very highly respected for his many excellent traits of character.
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