The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1908-11-05
FOR SEYENTY-THREE
YEARS A CITIZEN
Mr. HARRISON JOHNSTON CAME
TO COLUMBUS IN A STAGE
COACH ON THE 18TH
OF OCTOBER, 1885.
He Has Been a Citizen Ever Since
That Time, and the City Has
Practically Grown Up
Under His Eyes.


ing reached here October 25th, 183 5,
and having made this place his homie
since that time. There were few
railroads in those days, and MIR.
Johnston came to Columbus in a
stage coach. He came here from
New York. having travelled to Savan-
nah by sea, thence to Montgomery
by river and stage. and after hav-
ing stopped few days in Montgom-
cry came on to Columbus hy stage.
Although Mr.. Johnston came here
from New ork, be is not Northern
man. having been born in the good
ed IN Winchester, but left that place
in 1894 and emigrated to Georgia.
Here he joined the militia and went
to Florida TO fight Indians, having
served throughout the Seminole war
as q member of the Georgia volun-
teers. After having engaged In many
exciting conflicts with the Redskins
hs was honorably discharged in 1886
and with his discharge received a
land grant emitting him TO forty
acres of land. Mr.. Johnston still
holds this grant, having never taken
up the land to which It entities him,
and under its provisions he can at
any time claim and secure forty acres
OF any public land which the govern
ment may own.
Three score and ten years bring
many changes, and the modern Co.
lumbus, with its trolley cars and sky
serapers, Is vastly different from the
Columbus which Mr.. Johnston found
when he arrived here in the middle
thirfies. The town then was little
more than a trading post, and the
Business center was near the river,
the principal stores having been 10
Gated on Main street between Third
and Fourth streets. There was
frame hotel where the Hotel Gilmef
now stands and a number OF stores
ON the opposite side OF the street, in
the block where the fre-proof ware
house is now located. At one time
AAe<C WAS d lucdtcA ho~d<C0 Ia IAAo
h.ock. the theater having occupied
Abe upper story of building owned
by Moseley & Murdock. This play
house, however, was not opened until
Mr.. Johnston had been here for sew
eraI years..
Soon after Mr.. Johnston located
Aere a miniature forerunner of the
temperance wave that is now sweep
ing the South struck the State, and
for brief period of time Columbus
was a dry town, the saloons having
soon opened again and many remain
ed until 1898, when they were per-
nanently closed. During the period
referred to, there was a blind tiger
near the store of Moseley & Murdoch
or Main street which was conducted
on the same plan now pursued in
many prohibition towns. There was
a little window in the wall OF the |
building operated as blind tiger. |
and set in this window was a revolv- |
ing shelf. The thirsty individual |
placed his coin upon this shelf, the |
dispenser of booze gave it a turn, |
and there before the occasional i'm
biber was a glass of whiskey, while |
the proprietor had the cash. Seller
and purchaser never saw each other,
90 1t was difficult for the grand jury |
10 obtain from witnesses the name of |
the concealed bar keeper who sold |
them their booze.
Soon after Mr. Johnston came
here he decided to go in business,
and erected the store house on Main
street now occupied by Messrs. Wea-
yer e Harrington as a drug store. /
It was the first building that he had
ever constructed In Columbus, al
erected, either on his own account
or in connection with others, some |
OF the most substantial commercial |
structures in the city. It was large
ly through his efforts that the Tom
bigbee cotton mill came into exist
ence, and Tor a number OF years he
managed the plant. As
every one here knows. he has accu-
mulated large fortune, and has at
one time or another been connected
with some OF the most prominent I
business enterprises In the city.
Mr.. Johnston suffered q severe at
lack Of acute Indigestion early last