Hale A. Johnston

 

SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878

SURNAMES: ALWOOD, JOHNSTON

HALE A. JOHNSTON. Among the prominent agriculturalists of Condit township may be mentioned the name at the head of this sketch. Mr. Johnston is of Scotch-Irish descent on the paternal side and English descent on the maternal side. He was born in Haverhill, N. H., Nov. 2d, 1831. Mr. Johnston's ancestors were early settlers in Haverhill, N. H. The subject of our sketch was the oldest son of George W. and Susan JOHNSTON. His grandfather, Capt. Michael JOHNSTON, and his great-grandfather. Colonel Charles JOHNSTON, were officers in the Revolutionary war. Colonel Charles Johnston, one of the early settlers of Haverhill, was a man distinguished for his religious influences, and his energy and patriotic heroism in Revolutionary times, as is well set forth in the history of Coos county, N. H., by Rev. Grant Powers. Part of the town of Haverhill was built on the farm of Colonel Charles Johnston, where the subject of our sketch was brought up to farm life. His father died when he was only seven years of age. He attended the common schools of Haverhill until he was fourteen, and afterward attended the Academy of Haverhill. When he became of age he turned his face westward. Stopping in Ohio, he remained two years, and then came to Champaign county, in the year 1856, and settled where he now resides, on section 21. He had previously entered the land through Wicliff Condit. The following spring he returned to Ohio, and was united in marriage to Miss Lucy J. ALWOOD, the daughter of Sam'l D. ALWOOD. To this union they have had a family of seven children born to them, three boys and four girls. In politics Mr. Johnston is a Republican. He cast his first vote for Fremont. Religiously, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.