New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-06
The PiOneers-COl. Johnston, of Piqua.

The Celebration of the Iron Union of the Il axe
and River brought TO our city not only the Assem-
bled Wisdom, but many Of the Fathers Of the
State Among them we are happy to greet Mr..
Blackburn, in early times the Senator from Co
lUmbiana, now a member Of the House from the
the newer North w est; Senator Bull of Ashland,
a Jolly "Od Salt" whe seemed to revel in his
element when shaking hands with our noble AXE
tars and the worthy retired HarbOr Masters Cap.
tains McCurdy and Belden Joseph Ridgway, of
Columbus, known the State over as &C. honest Jo,'
and one of the best men In or out OF office; Alfred
Kelley, whose history is the internal improvement
history of our glorious Ohio; Cyrus Prentiss of
Ravenns, the Cleveland boy aud energetic Rail-
road man; DR.. N. Goodale, Of Columbus, a re.
spected Pioneer of Central Ohio, whose latch
string is always out; Frederick Wadsworth, of
Akron, Reserve Pioneer loved and honored;
VIM b Hubbard of Columbus, formerly Speaker
OF the House OF Representatives; Senator Sutlif,
OF Warren, Graded in the infancy OF Old Trum-
bull Col. p. II. Olmstead the Father of the Co
lumbus Press, who pulled the Ramage Devils tail
long before steam and lightning moved the lever
of the World; Col Samuel Medary, the Clermont
printer boy who rose to the q" Statesman and
aspres TO sink to the U. S. Senate Senator Ly.
AN, of Portage, a Pioneer ever esteemed and
honored in private and public life Gov. Wood OF
EvereFeen Place who travelled the circuit when
the Common Pleas was the event OF the New
County and has gathered the laurels planted by
his own hand J. Greiner, the excellent State
Librarian who composes and sings the songs Of
the People John J. Wright of Cincinnati, who
voted for the first rod of railroad in Ohio; Col.
Paul Anderson also Of the Queen City, noted all
over the West for bis social and many virtues;
and last, but not least Col. John Johnston, OF
Piqua the early friend and compatriot OF Harrison,
the honest man and public officer, the Red Mans
T ather and the White Mans Protector through
out the wild North West.
Col Johnston is one of the most remarkable
men Of the age. Tall, erect and commanding In
bis personal Appearances life spentln the active
service of his country and enduring all the hard
ships and privRtions of the pioneers OF the Great
Valley bis step under the weight OF II years is
still elastic, his eye undimmed, bis memory I'M
clouded, and the glow Of health on his cheek Col
J came to Cincinnati in 1892 in his 18th year
He served in the Quartermasters Department
there and at the same time as COmmlssary. de
as in Kentucky in 1895, and was Clerk In the
public offices OF the General Government down to
lsOO After that be was in the Indian Depart
ment in the North West for over thirty years.
Daring the war Of 1912, Col Johnston was in ad-
dition TO his duties as Agent for Indian Affairs,
Commissary, Paymaster and Quartermaster on
the North w estern frontier, and had 1000 In
dams under his charge during the whole war, and
kept them at peace. He lost a brother In the war
of 1912, and his two oldest sons In the Mexican
War. One, Captain Of dragons, was killed IN
battle the other Lieutenant in the Navy, died
of disease at sea Col. Johnston has served the
United States in various trusts about forty years,
and ever maintained the character OF an honest,
faithful and discreet public officer. He prefers
travelling on horseback to any other mode, and
attended the Wing National Conventions at Har-
risburg and b Baltimore, making the journey over
the mountains on his favorite steed in the dress
aud character of the carly Pioneers lie was ar
IDENTITY devoted to the success OF Gen. Harrison,
and made general electioneering tour among his
old acquantances en- route, speclally 10 Pennsyl-
yania 1t will be remembered that Old Tip car
ried the State by small majority, and Col J. is
eratifed in the thought that his visit changed
votes enough to secure the victory.
Col. Johnston is very intelligent and animated
in conversation and informed US that he passed
through Cleveland IS years ago on .Pis way from
the North to Pittsburgh, and had never been here
fr1 IN that time to the present He was the col
league of Alfred Kelley in the old Canal Board
ten years, and, said the venerable Colonel, "
am here by bis request, the guest OF this beautiful
city Of the Lake: and now through the talents,
public spirit and energy of my old friend Kelley,
have travelled here on the iron Horse from the
Queen City of the Ohio in fourteen running hours:
Within nv recollection not a white individual
was to be found in the whole country between
here and Cincinnati. Such are some of the work
ines of free people and all accomplished in the
short life of a single individual yet on the stage
of action, in bis 10th year. 1t savors as much Of
romance as reality"
God bless the Pioneers