JOHNSTON, James ^{1 2}

  General Notes:

Excerpt from "A History of the Branches of My Family" by Cecil Herbert Edward Johnston and edited by Stephen Robert Johnston:

James and Margaret came to Canada as newlyweds. For a time, they lived in Kingston, Ontario where James worked as a shoemaker. Apparently, two children were born there; Margaret in 1844 and Thomas in 1848. Reportedly, their third child was born January 8, 1851 at Lime Lake, Ontario. If so, the move to Lime Lake was probably made in 1850.
There was a good growth of hard maple in the Lime Lake area at the time the James Johnston family moved there. James burned large quantities for the potash. The potash had a ready export market in the European countries and was the fastest way for the early settlers to get cash. The family also farmed the east 1/2 of lot 23, concession 1, Hungerford Township, Hastings County, Ontario.

For a time, James Johnston was hired to teach "the three R's" at Lime Lake. For that he got sugar, tea, and other barter. Oddly, his two oldest sons never learned to read and write. He kept them so busy producing potash, farming and doing other work that they did not attend school, nor did their father find time to teach them.

James' wife, Margaret Jane nee McFarlane, had a brother, William, who operated a shingle mill at Lime Lake. I have heard my grandfather tell of working long hours there counting and bundling shingles. He was born September 13, 1857, and said he did that work at age five. I have a feeling that James Johnston required a lot of his five sons in the way of work, but found little time for cultural matters.

The family eventually built a very nice house, judging from a picture I have of it. The building was somewhat back from the concession one line. Mrs. Lucas, who lives across the Hogsback Road in Tyendinaga Township, took me over in 1968 and showed me the basement where the house stood. Some fruit trees were still there. The south end of the 100 acres was grown up in cedar trees. The row of tall elms that Grandpa used to be so proud of having planted was still there along the road. Apparently, my great grandfather rented this land from the Canada Company since I found no records in the land office that he ever owned it. Many of his neighbors also rented land from the Canada Company. July 29, 1888 the property was bought from the Canada Company by Nathan Dunn. November 6, 1899 it was bought from Nathan Dunn by Robert G Maxwell, the doctor's son. The old timers in the area identify it as the Bob Maxwell place.

The 1861 census for the farm of James Johnston shows the following: 16 acres under cultivation, 8 in crops, 8 in pasture, 1 in orchard, 64 in woods. $150 cash value of farm. $5 implements. Two acres of fall wheat, 11 bushels; 4 of spring wheat, 70 bu; 2 of barley, 35 bu; 5 of rye, 40 bu; 2 of peas, 30 bu; 3 of oats, 60 bu; 1 of buckwheat, 16 bu; 1 of Indian corn, 8 bu; 1 of potatoes, 40 bu; 1 of turnips, 100 bu. Three tons of hay; 12 pounds wool; 30 pounds maple sugar; 20 yards flannel; 2 bulls; 2 steers or heifers under 3 years; 4 milch cows; 3 horses over 3 years; 1 colt; 5 sheep; 3 pigs. $122 total value of stock. 200 pounds butter. One 200 pound barrel of pork.

The products indicate to me that the farm was made to furnish most of the necessities- sheep for wool, pigs for pork, and cows for milk. I have heard that turnips were an emergency crop. If the other crops failed, they could be used for human food. If the other crops were sufficient, the turnips were fed to the hogs or cows.

James and Margaret Jane Johnston moved to Manitoba in 1883 to be with their children. <They spent an unknown time in Huron Township, Bruce County, Ontario, where they appear on the 1881 census>. She died January 16, 1890 and was buried at the Madford Cemetery, north of Douglas. Later, the remains were moved to the Sparling Cemetery, and she and James are buried in the plot of their son, Robert <I understand, between Robert and his wife, Cerena Driver. Their names have been added on the stone>. James lived on in Manitoba until his death April 11, 1906. He lived at different times with his daughter, Margaret Wallace, near Hamiota, and with his sons William and Robert in Elton Municipality, Manitoba. He was a favorite with his grandchildren.

He helped with the chores and entertained them. He was described as having an Abe Lincoln beard. One of his grandchildren, Reta Johnston Keddy, said that her grandfather had a special place at their home for his books. None of the children dared bother them. He loved to read. He used to dig potatoes with a pitchfork for the grandchildren to pick up. My Aunt Cordie remembered his helping wash clothes in a rustic machine, which worked on a rubbing principal much like a wash board. ^{3 4}

  Facts and details for James Johnston:

• He worked as a shoemaker from 1844 to 1850 in Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada.

• He lived in Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada from 1844 to 1850.

• He lived at log shanty in Hungerford Township, Hastings, Ontario, Canada in 1861. ⁵

• He worked as a farmer in 1871 in Hungerford Township, Hastings, Ontario, Canada. ⁶

• He lived in Hungerford Township, Hastings, Ontario, Canada in 1871. ⁶

• He lived in Elton, Westman, Manitoba, Canada in 1891. ⁷ Living with his son Robert and his family.

• He lived in Hamiota, Westman, Manitoba, Canada in 1901. ⁸ He is living with his daughter Margaret Wallace and her family.

• He was buried at the Sparling Cemetery in Elton, Westman, Manitoba, Canada in Apr 1905. ³

James married Margaret Jane McFARLANE, daughter of James David McFARLANE and Mary CROOKS, about 1843 in , , , Ireland.¹ (Margaret Jane McFARLANE was born on 14 Jul 1815 in Cookstown, , Tyrone, Northern Ireland,¹ died on 16 Jan 1890 in , , Manitoba, Canada ¹ and was buried in Jan 1890 in Elton, Westman, Manitoba, Canada ⁹.)