James T. Johnston was born in Putnam County, Indiana on January 10, 1839, the son of Anderson and Louisa Johnston. He was educated in the common schools of Putnam County, being at one time a pupil of his long time law partner and friend, Hon. Thomas N. Rice. Mr. Johnston was married to Martha Morrison on February 14, 1866, and they had one daughter, Mrs. Mattie (Johnston) Cooper of Greencastle, Indiana. Mrs. Martha Johnston died in 1872. James was married to Lucy Daly on November 6, 1873. He began the study of law in 1861, in Greencastle, and continued until the summer of 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, 71st Cavalry (afterwards the 6th Indiana cavalry) for three years service. James was elected Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Indiana, in 1893. Shortly after the Civil War, Mr. Johnston read law in the offices of Williamson and Daggy. He held the office of Prosecuting Attorney - elected Common Pleas Prosecutor in October of 1866, receiving a 1,204 vote majority; represented Parke County in both branches of the Legislature – in 1868 he was elected Representative – defeating James W. Hurst by 1,018 votes, and in 1874 to the State Senate from the counties of Parke and Vermillion, and served four years; twice represented the Eight District in Congress. He was an aspirant for the Republican nomination for Governor in 1896, receiving strong support. Hon. James Johnston died on July 19, 1904 at Rockville, Indiana, and is interred at the Rockville Cemetery. Party: Republican. *Condensed from The Republican 10-17-1866; Centennial Memorial by Isaac Strauss 1916; Rockville Tribune 7-27-1904. JOHNSTON, James Thomas, a Representative from Indiana; born near Greencastle, Putnam County, Ind., January 19, 1839; attended the common schools; studied law; during the Civil War enlisted as a private in Company C, Sixth Indiana Cavalry, in July 1862; transferred to Company A, Eighth Tennessee Cavalry, in September 1863 and commissioned as second lieutenant, serving until January 1864, when he resigned; afterwards served as commissary sergeant of the One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry; commissioned lieutenant and assistant quartermaster of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and mustered out in September 1865. Was admitted to the bar in March 1866 and commenced practice in Rockville, Parke County, Ind.; prosecuting attorney 1866-1868; member of the State house of representatives in 1868; served in the State senate 1874-1878; elected as a Republican to the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Congresses (March 4, 1885-March 3, 1889); unsuccessful candidate for reelection; resumed the practice of law; commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Indiana, in 1893; died in Rockville, Ind., July 19, 1904; interment in the Rockville Cemetery.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 08:48:58 +0000