D. Johnston

D. Johnston, one of the well-known old Californians now and for many years resident in Sacramento, is a native of Kittanning, Pennsylvania, born June 30, 1827. His father, J. R. Johnston, was a native of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, a farmer and a tanner by trade. His mother, whose maiden name was Isabella Matthews, was also a native of Pennsylvania. David Johnston, the subject of this sketch, was reared at Kittanning, there read law, and for a time served as clerk of the Orphans' Court of the county. On the 14th of October, 1852, he was married, and on the same day started for California. The next week he was in New York City, and on the 21st they left there on the steamer Cortez. He was detained at Panama a week, waiting for the steamer on the Pacific side, and landed at San Francisco November 23, 1852. The great fire had occurred at Sacramento while they were on their way, and in December came the great flood here. Mr. Johnston remained in San Francisco that winter, and the following spring came to Sacramento. From here he proceeded to Bear River, in Nevada County, fourteen miles below Grass Valley. As the children grew up it was thought proper to remove the family to the vicinity of educational institutions. And in 1868 they came to Sacramento, where they have since resided, and where Mr. Johnston has his headquarters for the transaction of his business as a mining and United States land claim attorney. The field of his operations covers this land district, including Amador, Placer, El Dorado, Calaveras and Nevada counties. Mrs. Johnston was, before her marriage, Miss Nancy S. Glass, a native of Pennsylvania. Her father was a prominent man and had been treasurer of Alleghany County, Pennsylvania. Her second brother, J. P. Glass, was a Colonel in Sickles' celebrated corps during the war of the Rebellion. Both of her parents died in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have three living children, viz.: Robert G., who is with Wells-Fargo Express Company, Sacramento; A. J., of the large printing house of A. J. Johnston & Co., Sacramento, and Belle, wife of W. H. Pronty, of Truckee. Mr. Johnston had a brother among the pioneers of California, -- J. R. Johnston, who came here in 1849, and died in Placer County, January 6, 1888. His parents also came to this State, and his father died in Nevada County, August 12, 1860. His mother is yet living. She was born in the summer of 1809. Mr. Johnston has passed the chairs in Eureka Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Pacific Encampment, No. 2; is a veteran Odd Fellow, and has been a member of the Grand Lodge. He has a tract of land about three miles from Auburn, embracing 700 acres, and there pays considerable attention to fruit-growing. He has 7,000 fruit trees, among them 1,000 olives and pears, the remainder being peaches, cherries, oranges, etc. He also has about 12,000 vines of table grapes, among them White Muscat, Rose of Pern, Flaming Tokay, and Black Morocco. Mr. Johnston was elected member of the Board of Education of Sacramento city, and served for two years.