The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-17
WILLIAM PRESTON JOHNSTON,
ORGANIZER AND PRESIDENT OF IT,
LANE UNIVERSITY, is DEAD.
Was the Eldest Son of Albert Sidney
Johnston and n Member of Presi-
dent Davis Cabinet.

Lexington, Va. July 1e.-Colonel william
/ Preston Johnston. president of Tulane Uni
! versity. New orleans, died at the home of
his son-in-law. Hon. Harry st. George Tuck
err today.
! Colonel Johnston went to the Virginia Hot
Springs the latter part of June and about a
week ago came here very i'll. hopeful that
this climate would restore his health. His
condition became serious yesterday. He was
cheerful up to the hour of his death and
his mind was perfectly clear. At his bedside
were his wife and daughters, Mrs. Tucker Of
Lexington and Mrs. Richard sharpe of
Wilkesbarre. Pa.
Colonel William Preston Johnston. the cid
est son of Albert Sidney and Henrietta Pres-
toni Johnston. was born in Louisville, Jan
uary ., 1881. Both of his parents were OF
Scotch-Irish descent At the age OF four
years Colonel Johnston lost his mother and
his father having shortly afterward cast his
fortunes with the Young Republic OF Texas
he was reared by his maternal relatives in
Louisville. His early education was secured
in the schools of this CITY. Later he attended
a private school In Shelbyville. Center college.
Danville and the Kentucky Military Institute
at Georgetown. In 1850 he entered the junior
class of Yale college, and graduated with
distinction in 49,. carrying Oh some Of me
frs. prizes in English composition. Alter
graduation he entered the law school of the
urN ersty of Louisville and received his di-
ploma in 1888. The same year he married In
New Haven Rosa Il. Duncan, daughter OF
Johr n. Duncan of New Orleans. He prac-
tlced law in Louisville until he outbreak of
the war. when he aided in recruiting several
companies for the Confederate army and was
appointed major of the First Kentucky reg-
ment. The regiment participated in the early
operations of the ARMY Of Northern Virginia.
but his health failing he accepted in May,
1862 the invitation of President Davis to be-
come a member OF his official family as aide
de camp. with the rank of colonel. In which
capacity he served during the remaindec. of
the war, havinG. been captured in company
with Mr. Davis, after General Lees sur
render, and was imprisoned for some time in
Fort Delaware
After years residence exile in Canada he
returned to Louisville and resumed the prac-
tice OF law. In 1867. while thus engaged. he
was invited by General r. E. Lee, who had
become president of WASHINGTON and Lee uni
versity Lexington Va. to the chair of his
tory and English literature and removed to
that place. For ten wears he discharged with
ability the duties of this position. During
this period he wrote the Life OF Albert Sid
ney Johnston published by the Appletons
In 1878.
dency of the Louisiana university at Baton
Rouge. and in the three years during which
he held this position he thoroughly reorgan
lied the institution and left IL in a prosper
ous condition. In 1888. when Paul Tulane of
Princeton. n. j.. former resident of New
orleans. made TO Louisiana his generous offer
10 endOW u university, COlOn'l johnston was
invited to organize AMI take charge of the
institution. To this great work he devoted
the remainder of his life with n success which
has few parallels in the history of such in
stitutions He organized the Sophie Newcomb
Memorial college. an institution for girls.
endowed by Mrs Warren Newcomb which is
part though under separate MANAGEMENT
of Tulane university.
During the heavy labor incident to such
an undertaking, aggravated by feeble health
through number of years. Colonel Johnston
has made many contributions to literature.
both In prose and verse together with lee
lures and addresses before colleges and varl-
Gus literary and other associations. In 1855
Colonel Johnston's first wife died and In
April, 1883. he married Miss Margaret Avery
OF Iberia parish. Louisiana, who survives
him.
Three daughters. all of his first marriage.
also survive him.
Colonel Johnston expired in the same bed
In hich he was born in Louisville. KY. and
in the same house in which his first wife
suddenly died while seated In the rarlor while
visiting fourteen wears ago tho family of
Judge Lead of New Orleans. who then re-
eidsi here
The funeral service will take place tomor |
row fftrnoca ut o'clock IN Grace Memorial
Eriscoral church. after which his remains |
Will be taken to Louisville for interment |
They will arrive there TUESDAY morning.