Johnston, John Williams - Col.

COL. JOHN WILLIAMS JOHNSTON.

John W. Johnston, the ninth son of Alexander Johnston, Esq., deceased, of Kingston House, on the Loyalhanna, in Unity township, whose biography is given in another department of this work preceding this, was born at the homestead of his father on the 22d of May, 1820. His father removing to Greensburg in a few years thereafter, the first schooling he received was in the county town, which at that time offered superior advantages for a good and substantial education. About the time he attained his majority he entered into the mercantile business in Clarion County, Pa., in which he continued about one year, when he came back to Kingston. He remained here on the farm a short time, when, being appointed deputy sheriff under Michael Hays, he removed again to Greensburg. He continued in this capacity from 1843 to 1846. In 1846, the war with Mexico occurring, he volunteered in the company raised in the county for service, called the "Westmoreland Guards," and was unanimously elected its captain. As its commanding officer, his public services in that campaign are so identified with the services of the company that to give one would be to give the other from necessity. In the chapter on the Mexican war in this work will be found an extended and detailed account of the services of the "Guards" in the campaign under Scott.

After the close of the war Capt. Johnston engaged in the wholesale grocery business in Pittsburgh, but not continuing any length of time in this calling he left it, when he became a contractor in the construction of the Allegheny Valley Railroad. On this road he continued for some two years, when he took a more extensive contract in the construction of the Iron Mountain Railroad in Missouri. On this road he was engaged for five years.

Returning to Pennsylvania in 1858, he remained at Kingston House until the breaking out of the civil war. On the first call for volunteers he enlisted with his neighbors in the company raised about Youngstown for three months’ service. He asked for no office, but the outspoken choice of his comrades, with whom he was personally acquainted, for their captain was for him. As captain of Company G, Fourteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, he took the command to Harrisburg, where they were sworn into service, and where the regimental officers were elected. On the organization of the regiment he was made its colonel.

This regiment was attached to Gen. Patterson’s command, which had control of the Shenandoah Valley. The only place in which this army was engaged in this campaign was at Falling Waters, and here the Fourteenth first manifested that soldierly bearing which they afterwards sustained on many hard-fought fields in various commands.

At the expiration of the three months’ service, Col. Johnston entered the Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteers (raised chiefly in Lebanon County) as its lieutenant-colonel. He was offered its colonelcy, but this he declined in favor of Col. McCarter, under motives of personal considerations. He served under the last enlistment over two years, and then resigned. The services of this regiment during the time Col. Johnston was connected with it, part of the time of which it was under his personal command, are traceable through the services of Gen. Couch’s and Gen. Casey’s divisions in the Army of the Potomac.

Since his services in the army he has resided at the old homestead, Kingston House, and has settled down to the quieter and more peaceable occupation of a farmer.

The wife of Col. J.W. Johnston was Miss Sarah Rebecca Byerly. They were married in 1867, and have living a family of two children, a son and a daughter.

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John W. Johnston
Side: Union
Regiment State/Origin: Pennsylvania
Regiment Name: 14 Pennsylvania Infantry (3 Months, 1861)
Regiment Name Expanded: 14th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry (3 months, 1861)
COMPANY: G
Rank In: Captain
Rank In Expanded: Captain
Rank Out: Colonel
Rank Out Expanded: Colonel

US Civil War Soldiers database