New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-25
J. II. JOHNSTON DEAD.
FACTS ABOUT THE LIFE OF ONE OF NEW
YORK,S BEST KNOWN CITIZENS.

4 O'Clock Yesterday morning. from paralysis. His
death unexpected by bis family and friends,
he had been a sufferer from creeping paralysis since
1877. 1t not until few years ago. however,
that he was compelled 10 withdraw from business and
social life. His last public appearance ut the
annual meeting in SOC OF the directors Of the Museum
OF Art. The annual meeting for the present year was
the first from which he was ever absent lie was
the first president OF the Museum and occupied that
office until 1850. when he forced To resign his
place account OF the condition Of his health. lie
succeeded by Henry c. Marquand. In recogni-
ton OF his eminent services in connection with tho
Institution he at the time elected honorary pres
dent for life.
Mr.. Johnston born in this city, April e. 1920
His father. John Johnston. member OF the
camille firm of BOorman & Johnston and was widely
known for his integrity and the thoroughncss with
which he conducted his business. Mr. Johnston's
mother, who lived until she ninety six years old
the daughter OF John Taylor another prominent
NewlOrk merchant. Ills parents OF Scotch
cestry. While on visit 10 their native land they
placed their then twelve years old at the High
school OF Edinburgh. After remaining there a year
and half he returned 10 America and entered tho
University Of the City OF Newlorl. lie grad
mated in the class OF $50. After graduation from the
university Mr.. Johnston entered the Yale Law school.
on completing his studies In the law Office OF Daniel
Lord in This city he admitted the bar in 1s43.
after his admission TO the bar lie travelled In
Europe for two years.
In 1sAS Mr. Johnston. then only twenty eight years
old, entered upon the great work OF his NE. which
his best years were devoted. lie was elected prcsi
dent Of the Elzabethtown and Somcrvillc Railroad.
later known the Central Railroad of New jersey.
At this time he gave up the practice Of law. never 10
return 10 It again. lie early became largely inter
cStcd In railroads and the anthracite coal trade. the
development Of which became tho chief employment,
Of his business life. Ncw-Jcrsey much Of It's
n al i'm IN Mr. op' "a,
extending the railroad through the state thus making
connection with Pennsylvania and Tie West. When
he first assumed charge OF the Enzabcthtown road
only twcnty-f miles long and had n capital OF
only 100000 After extending II the Della
into the anthracite region OF Pennsylvania n
question To the mean, OF getting the coal TO
Ncw-YoIk. a bridge across Newark Fay. a distance
OF two miles, built expense Of 81
100000. The panic Of 1873 somewhat embarrassed
the management of the road but despite TIE decline
the stock selling fr III In leo. The next
year had fallen TO 95 IN January. I-7. to y. and
In May OF the same year it went down 10 q.
There was great excitement In Wall Street. sep
TENDER 6. 1876, over the rumor that a @facaon Of
50 900 900 had been discovered in the oicc Of the
Ncw-Jcrscy Central This iuiEcr was followed by
another 10 the effect that the company's paper had
gone - protest and that Mr. j hnt;on. who had been
Is president for twenty eight Years, had resigned hi
place. The stock fcl from "a II -. bui npoh III"
denial Of the story the stock rac again. closing that
dav AT 20 one Of the rurnors current then that
the president held nearly s2.ooo0oo Of the stock
before the Hrs, break. several weeks before.
But Mr.. Johnston did not give MP his whole life 10
his business ventures. lie gave much time and
money 70 thr gathering Of Il valuable library Of care
fully selected looks. ard gallery Of co,t' painting
and sculpture. which had scarcely an equal IN Amer
lea lie DID not ,clh>h.y restrict tie cnjo' meni o.
his treasure, to himself hi, Intimate tItndt. ln
lac often threw open the gallery To the public III
was one Of the men wlo worked diligently fr thc
success, 4 the Cent -nnIa Loan col, c0n. Acng email
man # the committee ~ manaccn.'n'. and coniIihu'-
Ing from his own gallery nincty lat p!cirs. H.
. fail Of 1876 h. id &c majority Of IFS pictures
at auction receiving fsr them 90 -.'l'. lh'@f
nearly nll,d lie I'VE exhibition looms aai III" cor
ridor Of the A,a!"my ~ Design. Tie following 'rr
,onc oi tac more imp rinni pio'nr"s ,'il a"i t'
n,cc; which they hluush' Mcis,onlel' = ldi'is az
cards Ell 800: Tu,n".', "-!av" -mg.' si'l"
Mullcrs EoI Call Of tn Las Victims Of tie it'sr
II Terror - 200. Co., me-, Death %. tH",a -.
90. Hri M inl'tary i'ca ant. s'.io0. H'oHTf
.. The Reaper, Return iloir.' rj.lJO. iia-rnoe'rr
~ Illustration, Of the Job.iaic.' si.-"'; AI'i'n@
spalatio, Vlien.- $500: Colc'a yong q LiI''
SaIOO: Hunts Isabella and the Tot 4 l"'lL -
60. Won Mc.is's "1arquia and luc'ti. sl,i'o.
and DclacroiN's "yiril ana dante Gro 4nS III" iyN
$50.
Mr. Johnston YVES one Of the earliest ana mos
cnruc.i promoters Of the Metropolitan Mu-"'m 90
Art wl,c va organized In i-90. J'' !!'''.'
r., Election Wa, prr, a.ci by o." NH-"um ~ -
flon General L. T.. di tc,Hola. largely iAr''2h ''' j.
Il renee 81 Mr. Johnston. iw" yrli. later j''. NJ
ire general had brourh, III, antlquc- 30 This city, L.
offered 10 IT,. Museum addl'i)nl collection "i f''
objects and gems 20 IA all, Inrlndins F.r" ''''
mons If Pnocnician ana early GrccL wor"in'n' iP'
The Museum being without ln"y, Ir -''nl '""''
ton advanced the money ior T." PHr'hi'' 81 W.
collection ard IL forwarded 20 Amer '' 80
mu .,um bui!fln, IN Central lark for ~" 'r''n "
v.hict The city I, largely Indebted I" IT, ci", ~.
Nr Johnston, was formally cp"h'N ~ ',.Ln'fnn
Hayes on March 30. LOO III l17I pr. 'o'' ,a"
P "a, ,c Zoe G. W. KIM of Trinity 'olice'. i'm
bridgc England. ana gay. II 10 ih' 1",'''n i #
f"" nr lTonra, wa, pr.~cntcd - t-c Nu-,um,
Ihi- was painted at tie request u wv ''''''
Nr' Johnstons father one of the founder an
ncnct,,,,in of the University Of the cry oi NrM
York and the fourth wee prDsme, Ia 81 i, son hc.
When he laid down u" WORK III ini', .', h was
came member q! Ii" council In - NJ THs
cc,cd its yeerr % %Tr1ar 4d' Of for tn" " council lie
was fnvrraiiy mentioned succ'-s0r "l w; M
l7, when r, rcsfnci r IN" snaly se for The
place Among his many gifts TO- u" ot mpnriant OF
!. Che law '1 ~ tSe Is pu HTra'' '"' ''
o. prncInc had rs much to do with Mr. Johnston
phsnhroPIe works a iC {" l.cnG aS consider i,
insr ns much my dny 30 rivc 10 Dc' " IT,, W. nr
lions as TO pay my butch"' a n," u.doms literary
'ciai and benevolent organizations o ,iN Guy d.
was a member Of the Century 'l' w "'y Work for
,o,,ors ~ the Woinan's Hospital oil New i"r"' '
80 forty wears an hOnorcd member 1i W. ~, a.,
drcws society. holding In turn every "n' h. h. was
VI ~ The scotch Presbyterian 'hur'n III ~ ~
,m,m :, and for many years he was r'i'hs '''''
there. ,,t.a Eronccs Coles OF New
ORLEANS one sonJ. Herbert JoliSvohL "a Forest,
vrrn n. oil mnrred--Mrs. Robert W. de roI',.'
d , usnrrc Mali and Mrs Henry r. Co'-s"'Ne
him. , Ill, ,o hold M the old Scotch Pres
~ s -, rr,urch I'm F7nrccnth-st., on HohuaS' Inv
n,r,ai will be at Greenwood
THE DUKE OF BEDFORD.
,,o, March o4-Gcorgc william Francis SACK