The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-02-28
THE LATE GEORGE JOHN
STON.
Death of Geeil's Historian, Poet, and Jour
nalist.

Death of Ceeil's Historian, Poet, and Jour
nalist.
The announcement of the death of
Mr.. George Johnston which occurred at
his home on West High street in this
town az an early hour on Sunday from
pneumonia, Was received in this commu-
nifty with profound expressions of regret
although in measure anticipated by
those aware of the precarious condition
of his health, aud the iusidious charac-
ter of the disease OF which he was the
subject. In his person, death has remov-
, ed one of the most unique characters OF
his time, IA man richly endowed intellec-
tually, and one who through all his life
maintained u silent but unequal struggle,
against inherited maladies, aud heredi-
tary peculiarities of temperament, yet
exhibiting witEal an Inherent mental
force and sincerity of purpose, which
Justly earned him the reputation of
paiustakiDg and conscientious local his
torian and man of letters. He was a
born antiquarian, seeking in musty
tones and haZy records OF past genera
tions his most copgenal pursuit and
had the accident of birth not deprived
him Of the advantages of a liberal educa-
ton, would doubtless have become
widely distinguished archaoIogist. As
it is, he has by this patient industry in
his historical researches made his fellow
man his debtor, for many treasured
secrets OF family history, resurrected
from the dim solitudes of the past.
The ancestry of Mr.. Johnston's family
in this county, is traceable as far back
as l709, Samuel Johnston being its pro-
genltor. The subject OF this sketch was
not born i'll the county, although the
descendant of long line OF Cecil county
Johustons, his birth place being Pnlla
delphia where his father Isaac Johnston
was temporarily residing, and where
George was born on May 10, 1929. At
the tender age of two years however he
was placed with his uncle George john
|
Fourth district His early education
was acquired at the country school house
where he displayed precoolous Intellect
and an aptitude for learning, indicated
by the fact that he was the teacher of a
school at Fair Hill in his nineteenth
year. He was an insatiate reader, par
ticularly of history aud poetry, a poetic
| inspiration finding expression in oc-
casional verses, far above the average
merit of the rustic poet. No collegiate
or even academic advantages favored the
development of the boys intellect,
possibly his best education outside of his
own reading, being found in his personal
association with two gentlemen, David
Scott (of john and David Scott (of
James,, beth of them cultivated men of
vigorous minds. In the meantime he
had acquired the trade of carpentering
| alternating this avocation with that of
school teaching, until the year 1864,
when through the influence of his friend
David Scott (of Johu) who was a mem-
Der of the Constitutional Convention OF
that year, he was appointed to a COM
mittee clerkship. Being compelled to
abandon his trade on account of enfeebled |
health, and the confinement of the school |
room being injurious, he subsequently
became local reporter on THE WING III
1877. a humorous and pointed article, re-
| viewing the proceedings of the Teachers
Institute which assembled in Elkton on
April 25, 1877, under the title of "The
Institute as seen by Quilp and what he
| thought of it," being his first recognized
local newspaper work, and which excited
considerable comment at the time. Dur
ing the same year at the suggestion of
the writer of this sketch, be made tour
of the districts of the county, recording
and publishing what he saw in the shape
of extracts from "Quilp's diary that he
kept as Bohemian" and which were
widely read and appreciated. But heavier
work and worthier his pan was awaiting
him. 1t had been desire of the writer,
to present in weekly series of articles
in THE WING history of Cecil county,
and the cOugeuial task was Immediately
| begun by Mr.. Johnston. After visiting
| Annapolis, Easton, New Castle, Will
mington. and other places of record,
MIR. Johnston published on September s,
1877, his first chapter of Revolutionary
"reminiscences under the general title of
Historical Researches that Quilp made
as Bohemian" These articles which
were fifty-fve in number, appeared at
intervals in THE WING until the 2lst of
February 1880, were copyrighted by Mr..
Johnston in 1878, and in 1881 issued in
book form by him under the title "The
History Of Cecil county, Md, and the
early settlements around the head of the
Chesapeake bay, and on the Delaware
river, with sketches of some of the old
families of Cecil County," The volume is
Que of undoubted local and historical
value, in recognition of which itscollator
was elected a member of the Historical
Societies of Maryland. Delaware, Penn
sylvania and possibly other states. Sub
sequertly IN 1888 Mr.. Johnston became
local editor of the Cecil Democrat which
position he held about thee years.
The favor with which the History of
Cecil county was received, induced him
to prepare ard publish two subsequent
volumes the Poets aud Poetry of Cecil
county,, and the Poets aud Poetry of
Chester county Pa" These volumes
secured quite an extended sale, but it is
safe to say without detracting from their
merits, that Mr.. Johnson's literary repu-
tation rests chiefly upon the value of his
History OF Cecil county, which has been
favorably reviewed by the ablest news
papers of the country, noticeably the NeD
York EUsning Post founded by William
Cullen Bryant, and other equally promi-
nent literary Journals. 1t is matter of
regret, that his life was not prolonged,
to allow him to finish history of the
Town of Elkton and other towns of Cecil
county on which he was engaged, which
doubtless would have been valuable
contribution to local cotemporaneous
, history, and for which we know no one
so wei. qualified as he.
Mr.. Johnston married Miss Hannah
F. Scott of this County sister of the
late David Scott (of James, who survives
him.
His funeral was held at his late resi-
dence on Wednesday. The Rev. DR.. 5.
NJ. Osmond pastor of the Elkton Presby.