Sacramento County
Biographies
WILLIAM A JOHNSON
To be reckoned among the
influential and successful citizens of a community requires both industry and
good business judgment and seldom does a man retain his position without the
possession of innate honesty and regard for others. The fact that throughout
his career, which was cut short August 14, 1911, William A. Johnston received
naught but esteem and friendship from his many associates throughout Cortland
and Sacramento county in general, bears witness to the altruism and unwavering
honor which formed the leading attributes of his character. His father, William
Johnston, who was born in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny county, Pa.,
eight miles from Pittsburgh,
emigrated to California as a
member of a train comprising three hundred people in 1849, a year whose
experiences were engraven upon the memories of those
who answered the summons of the western gold fields. After mining in Eldorado county about a year with
varying success, he purchased a squatter's cabin consisting of a quarter-section
several miles south of Sacramento,
and engaged in farming, his executive ability and good citizenship playing a
prominent part in the progress of the community. As a Granger, he occupied the
highest chairs in the state organization and twice served as delegate to the
National Grange. For some years he was president of the Granger's Co-operative
Business Association, and from the time of its founding until his death he
served as vice-president or president and director of the People's Savings Bank
of Sacramento. He was one of the
officers of Franklin Lodge, F. & A. M. From 1871 to 1873 he served as a
member of the legislative Assembly, and from 1878 to 1882 as a member of the
state Senate, of which body he was chosen president pro tem. In 1883 he received
membership in the State Board of Equalization and in his earnest and
single-hearted service to the public won unanimous commendation. As a staunch
Republican he rendered material support to his party and both in public and
private life was deemed a man of broad and generous principles, his death in
1905 being the occasion of sincere sorrow on the part of his many friends and
colleagues. His wife, Elizabeth Hite, was a woman of rare tact and unfailing
sympathy and in all her husband's interests expressed the deepest concern, her
death, which also occurred in 1905, depriving the household of its mainspring
of affection and tenderness.
William A. Johnston was
born November 11, 1858, at
Hood, then called Richland, upon
his father's Sacramento county farm
and supplemented a grammar and high school education by a course in the Pacific
University at San
Jose, graduating in the class of 1882. For a time he
assisted his father, who presented him in 1892 a tract of one hundred acres,
also continuing agricultural pursuits. Later he added to his holdings one
hundred and three acres, and by means of keen business judgment and firmness of
purpose in all his dealings he won a place among the largest stock raisers in
the county. The new town of Hood is laid out on a part of this place.
On September 5, 1885, Mr. Johnston was married to
Miss Lizzie Richards, who was born in Sacramento
county, her death occurring in April, 1890. Two years
later, on July 3, 1892, at Clarksburg, Yolo county, he married for his second wife
Miss Carrie Connor, a native of Courtland, Sacramento county, Cal., whose
parents Hamilton S. and Amanda (Wilson) Connor, were natives of New Hampshire
and Iowa respectively. Her father came to California
via Panama in
1858 and her mother crossed the plains with her father, George Wilson, making
the journey with ox-teams in 1852, the trip consuming six months. Mr. and Mrs.
William A. Johnston had three children: Mrs. Matie
Hollenbeck, whose husband rents from Mrs. Johnston the one hundred and
three-acre tract belonging to the estate; Glenn William, who is a student in Atkinson
Business College,
Sacramento; and Dwight, who attends
the Richland public school.
Mr.
Johnston was a Republican of progressive spirit, and was a consistent and
energetic member of the Franklin Christian Church. His widow has many times
proved herself capable of the trust left her, not only giving a mother's
attention to her ambitious children, but managing her affairs with unquestioned
business ability.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis, William L., History of Sacramento
County, California, Pages 529-531. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1913.
© 2005 Sally Kaleta.