Fermanagh - Johnston, John W October 29, 1919 *********************************************** Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives Fermanagh Index Copyright ************************************************ File contributed by: Norm Prince norm_frog@yahoo.com February 4, 2018, 7:46 am JOHNSTON, JOHN W OCTOBER 29, 1919 Reynolds Press, Reynolds, Illinois, November 7, 1919 JOHNSTON - John W Johnston was born in Fermanagh county, Ireland, on Oct 31, 1827, and passed away at his home in Rock Island at 1:30 pm on Oct 29, after an illness of eight weeks, aged 91 years, 11 months, 29 days. He was a pioneer settler, having come to America at the age of 18 years with his parents in a sailing vessel. They settled in Bowling in 1852. Mr Johnston was one of the many who traveled to the California gold fields. Later he settled on a claim in Sutter county but finally gave it to his sister and returned to Illinois to care for his aged parents. The rest of his life was spent in Illinois with the exception of the year 1862 when he paid a visit to his childhood home in Ireland. On Aug 7, 1882 he was married to Miss Alice Hutchinson at Davenport, Iowa. Three children were born and two of them died in infancy. Besides his widow, he is survived by his daughter Mrs Mary E Krull, of Rock Island and a granddaughter, Norma Krull, of Rock Island; and one sister, Mrs Matilda Smith of Montezuma, Iowa. His parents, five sisters and three brothers preceded him in death. When but an infant he was baptized in the Episcopal church and was later confirmed. It was largely owing to his efforts that Grace Church was erected many years ago in South Bowling. In 1895 he moved with his family to Rock Island and transferred his church membership to Trinity Church of that city. He was delighted to have lived until he had seen the corner stones of three churches laid in this community. Services were conducted by Rev Essex of Trinity Church and Rev Head of St John's Church at the family home on Oct 31. Interment was in Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois.