JOHNSTON, JOSEPH

Reference: Excerpt from letter of Dr. Alfred Clyde Young, Jr. (1979)

George Johnston (Dad's Grandfather) came from County Cavin, Ireland in 1849. He met and married Sara McKee that same year, here in the Pittsburgh area. (Etna is across the Allegheny River from here in Oakmont, about 5 miles downriver). I never heard from him where the McKees came from, but presumably they were Protestant Irish also. Presumably (again) he was very nearly broke just getting over here and hearing about gold in California, promptly headed west. This is the most amazing part to me ... that he made that "incredible journey," found gold, took a ship to the Panama area, walked across the isthmus, took another ship to N.Y. and returned here to buy the farm in Natrona Heights and not a single recorded word or memento. All I know is he bought the farm and Grandma (Elizabeth) was born in April, 1853. I think she was the oldest, but don't have the birth date to prove it. I know Aunt Emma was the baby and Uncle Joe next oldest. Anyhow, when the ol man (George) died, he left the farm to the two boys, to farm.

But for whatever reason, the situation id not last very long. George sold "his" half and took off with wife and children (eventually 4, Cornelia, Dorothy, Joseph & Robert) for Bartow, Fla., where he invested in orange groves.

Your mother and I both remember Cornelia from back in the '30s, when she visited us in Wilkinsburg. In fact, I did some dental work for her son Bill, who was a Pitt student at the time (1947??). Robert came to live with us back in the late '20s and entered Pitt Dental School and flunked out in his freshman year. I haven't seen him since.

Uncle Joe (my great uncle) lived with us from Grandma's death until his own. He never married, but came very close. It seems that the intended bride ran off with the best man just before the wedding. It was not long after that that he sold out also and moved in with Grandma, who of course, was widowed in 1911. Uncle Joe bought stock in West Penn Steel Co. (now Allegheny Ludlum) and never had any financial wants.

I don't know anything about the Johnstons in Ireland, except tht my Dad had a letter which my Gret-grandfather, George, received from his father urging him to come back to Ireland.

The following is an exact retyping of the above-mentioned letter.

(This letter was in the possession of Annalene Hervey Callander and originally retyped by her for distribution to other family members. The errors contained are not typographical, but exact duplication of original spelling and grammar.):

Drumliff, August the 18th, 1850

Dear George:

I received you kind letter dated June the 28th. It leaves us all Happy to hear of your Being in Good health, As this leaves us all in at present, thanks be to God for that great Blessing We all Injoy. I will feel verry uneasy In mind untill I hear of you Being Safe landed at home With your Dearly Beloved Wife. The Lord of heaven Grant you a safe voyage. I would have Rote to Sarah long since But still Expecting an Ansr. from Her to the last letter I sent Her after I received her last letter and James Nixons with £4 of Money for Aunt Charlotte. We are all sorry to hear of Mrs. Nixon and Her Daughter Being boath in bad health. The lord of Heaven may Grant them a happy Death and a favorable Judgement if it is his Blessed Will to call on them. There Came no account from John Clemmenger or family since the landed in Quebeck. I do not no their Address or I would Rite to them. The promised to send Charlotte some Help when the Would get settled. Dear George we are Getting allong Well. We make a great Sum of money in the Cource of the year. Rents and taxes take the fruits of all our labour. The land lords is Raising their Rents as the times is so good for making money. Our County is Greatly Disturbed these last twelve Months. Since the last Election there has been thirteen Cases tired at the last March Assizes - all for murder. There was a laidy hines Murded on the Road between Bally Connell and Cavin by her own tennants. There was 5 hundred pounds Reward. One of the men in the Conspiricy tooke the Reward and proscuted Some cot making their Escape, two of them tryed and found guilty. Was hanged in Cavin on the 16th of May last and numbers to be transported. This Sumer has been very Wet sumer in Ireland with Constant High Win and heavy Rain. On the 8 of this Month we had Greet lightning and thunder with heavy Rain from Coothill to Newry and all the Country peoples Crops is all destroyed by a shower of hailstones. The had to shut up, the windows Broak, and some people and Cattle Killed by the thunder.

We will have a strong harvest When the weather takes up. We got None of our Meddows Cut yet Except some farst Grass. We would have lost all our River Side Meddows only the River is Drained from Bally haise Bridge to lough Erin. The Cut Earoughhanoo fard Six fee Deep. You would be astonished to see. When the water went from the Banks in both Sides of the River, the Banks slided -- left the River Quite narrow and is Dry in some Places. There is a railway from Dublin to Cavin. The train started from Dublin to Cavin last Weeks. It is not Known yet what Direction it will take from Cavin. It is in Contemplation. Some for Dundalk Direction others to Eniskilon.

Dear George, you felt lonesom parting your Brother Joseph in Sanfrancisco. Lord of Heaven Grant he may Get safe Back to you in Swardstown I will be on the luck out for some land-property that would fit you and land is not so easy got now as it was some years ago. A man having a good Cappatle on a large farm can live comfortable at present in Ireland. I Am sorry Inform you that your Brother James had two Horses Dyed Since last spring. The ware worth upwards of thirty pounds. His Wife fits the business. Wile she is temperate. Does not drink any spirits -- says she never will. They are Doing Great Business sells Groccercies of all Kinds, Dear George, I am thankful to you for the Advice you Sent in your letter to your Brothers Against Drinking Spirits, the Root of all Evil. Provision is Cheap at present - Flowe 22s per hundred Meal 13s8d per hundred, potatoes 3d per stone, India Meal 9s per hundred, old Corn 13d per stone, Beef 7d per pound, mutton 6d per pound.

Old Wm. Clemenger of Hillmare and son Came home from Astralia. He was at the Gold Diging -- made a fortune likewise. The ware at a loss for water to wash the Gold the same as yous ware. The both Gives a Fine Account of that Country. Your Ant. Mrs. Woods, of Ballyhaise lives Comfortable. Has a splendid House Henry is in the Millwork. She had a letter lately from Wm. With four pounds to pay her rent. You Request his Address - to William Woods in care James Winham, No 176 Essex Street, New York, America.

In Edward Johnstons letter to his Mother he say ilinoise is a fine State for labourn men. He Went to three Different Sttes further of. He was seven Months looking for better Imployment. Came back to his old boss. The States he in is a fine Country for a man with plenty of Money. He could purches land at one British Pound per Acre. His Adress - Edward Johnston in Care of Owen Flood, McHenry County State of Illinoise, Woodstock Post Office. The Rusha War is over. The Militia is all Discharged. Thomas Johnston is gave up by the Doctors. The hav no hopes of his Recovery. Robert Henderson is not married yet. he is master of an Orange Lodge at Cloverhill. Dear George, I hope that you Will be Safe at home in Stewardstown with Sarah before this letter comes to hand. I do not Expect Will Ever meet on Earth. God grant we may all meet in heaven. You should quit Rambling and not place your Affection all to Gether on Ritches. I Request an ansr. as Soon as you can. We well all be uneasy in mind untill we hear from yous all. Excuse my pen. I am Getting Nerves and Impared in Sight. Your Sisters and Brothers Joins in love to you, Sarah and family. Mrs. N. and family and all Inquiring Friends. I Remain your Affectionate Father til Death

Joseph Jonston
     Drumliff Near Ballyhaise
          County Cavin

To Mr. George Johnston, Stewardstown