The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1910-11-24
Death Claims a Worthy Citizen.

ucdIt IIOuUl0.
Prof. Johnston had SO long been resi-
dent of our town, was so closely identified
with its every interest, SO well known and
beloved by its residents, that the news of
his death came as a blow and was the cause
of universal regret throughout its breadth
and throughout our entire parish.
He was alike teacher, lawyer and editor;
no doubt as we'll read as any resident of
our parish, and perhaps the best educated
man in the parish. So his proper sphere,
as his intimate friends knew him, was ast
teacher. He prided himself on his record
as teacher, and well he might In al
beautiful tribute paid him Sunday evening
by our resident Methodist minister, DR.. j.
A. Parker, while standing by his bier,
reference was made to his usefulness in the
school room, his example for good, and his
effort, ever noticeable, to raise the youth
of his tutorage to higher plane. His pu-
pills of forty years ago and those Of more
recent years, now scattered throughout
many States, will miss his friendly guild
ance, his kindly smile and his worthy pre-
cept. They are not alone. We will all miss
him. Death has not only robbed us of a
kindly and thoughtful friend and neighbor,
but has taken from our midst a man of
keen thought, which was ever active in the
common good Of home and friends and
their needs. His place will be hard to fill.
Prof. Johnston was member of the
Methodist Church and an active worker in
the Christian cause. He was also veteran
of the Confederate struggle, having served
the Southland CALAMITY from 1868 until the
time of the close OF hostilities.
A brief sketch of his life is as follows:
His father, S. B. Johnson, was born in
Virginia September Z, 1915. The family,
consisting of the parents and three chill
dren, emigrated from that State during
the early part of the sos and settled in the
western part of Alabama on the Tombigby
River, in what is now known as Pickens
County. His mother was Miss Jane Moore
Alexander of Holly Springs, Miss. The
parents were married during 1910 and
settled on plantation on the Tombigby
River, seventeen miles below Columbus,
Miss, in Pickens County, Ala, where Prof.
Johnston was born January %, 1847.
His academic education was obtained
before the war in the best private schools
of this State and Alabama. Upon the re-
organization of the Louisiana State Semi
nary at Alexandria in 1865, he was among
the first to matriculate, but finding that the
war had so depleted him in means he soon
withdrew from that institution. Later on
he entered the Arizona Academy, then
under the supervision of two of louisiana
greatest scholars-Col. j. w. Nicholson and
Hon. W. B. Leslie. This was large pri-
vate school. Here he completed full
course of studies, preparing himself for the
profession of teaching, which he followed
successfully with but little interruption uI
to within few years of the time of his
death.
j During 1871, while teaching near Monroe
he obtained books from the law office Of
Richardson McEnery and devoted all his
spare time to the study Of law. During
the term of 1912 he was close SUDDEN
in the Law University in New Orleans
During July, 1872. he was. licensed by thu
Supreme Court at Monroe to practice law
and from 1878 to 1882 he practiced in tina
place.
!, During the fall of 1886 he removed t,
Bossier Parish and took charge of tn
school at Rocky Mount. He was the founde
and principal for six years of Pioneer Higl
School at Plain Dealing, and was the edito
} of the Louisiana Mentor during the fierc
political conflict between McEnery an
Foster, opposing candidates for Governo
of Louisiana during 1892.
During 1895 he removed to Lewisville
4 Ark, where he both taught school an
t practiced law During 1900 he again re
t turned to our parish, coming to this plac
to take the principalship of Benton Hig
School, He held this position for tw
+ terms and then resumed the practice {
n law, and became Parish Superintendent {
Public Education during 1904, which plac
he filled with honor for one term.
During December, 1875, he married Mis-
It Annie McClendon of Ouachita Parish, wit
}, whom he lived happily until her death dur
e ing February, 1885, AS result OF tn
o union six children were born. They al
!. Mrs. A. D. Calhoun, Mr.. J. E. Johnston, jr
- Mr.. Robert B. Johnston, Miss Annie
Johnston and Mr.. Wilmer s. Johnston, a
e of Shreveport, and Miss Belle Johnston
J. now a teacher of expression in Martil
Tenn, school.
His widow of to-day was Miss MAI
: Bennett of Monroe, to whom he was ma
Is ried during April, 1888. Their childre
d are Miss Bessie, teaching in Chaneyvill'
. Miss Martha, a student in the Peaboe
Normal of Nashville, Tenn, and Mast
John Bennett, a student in Centenary Go
or lege, Shreveport.
It. All the children were summoned hon
and all were present when the funeral rit
= were said at his bier Sunday evening. n
"A writer has never eeen grief more gener
" nor more heart rending. The lives
a these nine devoted children must have be
of linked with their departed fathers with t
of tenderest and most loving ties known
= the human family. Their grief was beyo
~ control and undated. The compassion