Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-31

years Theodore Johnston, cashier Of
the Times Republican, and for many
years secretary and treasurer of the
Times Republican Printing Company,
gave up his desk with the close of bus
mess hours today. In retiring from
active business life Mr. Johnston re-
lnquishes the third position he has
held in Marshalitown in half Il CEN
fury. With his wife he leaves next
week tor California to reside.
Theodore Johnston came to Mar
shalltcwn with his parents, the late
William Johnston and wife, Aug. ),
1855. The family had come from
PENNSYLVANIA during the spring of the
year before and settled in Iowa City.
then the capital of the state. The elder
Johnston. a blacksmith, was attracted
to the settlement being made here. be-
lievinG that some day there would be
a good town, altho at that time Latay-
cite was a larger village, and Marietta
was the county seat.
on what is now East Church street
between First and Second avenue
William Johnston erected a rude
building that became both shop and
residence for his wife and two sons
the family occupying rear rooms up
stairs.
First Job in Clothing Store.
From the time he came to Marshall-
town, as lad of II, until he was IS
wears old. the boy Theodore attended
school. In 1862 he went to work. his
first Job being IS a clerk for the late
Moses stern in the latter's clothing
store His businesslike ways, energy
and good habits attracted Z. y.
Chapin, the pioneer newspaper editor
of Narshalltown. who had been APP
nointed postmaster. and in 1854 Mr..
Chapir made Mr.. Johnston his assist
ant, The recognition Of Mr.. Johnston
worth. as estimated by Mr.. Chaplin, IS
the more notable from the fact that
Johnston was not yet 81 years olo
when placed in the important position
of handling government funds anu
taking active charge of the business.
In postoffice Thirty Years.
For the remarkable period of thirty
Years Mr. Johnston held the position
of assistant postmaster, and at one
| time narrowly missed being named as
postmaster This was during the Sec
| orG incumbency OF Mr.. Chaplh' "leH
| charges were preferred against the
| postmaster and an inspector recon-
| mended Chapin's removal ana the APP
poilItment of Johnston.
Prior to Cnapin's second term the
late Col. Elliott Shurtz had been post
| master. and had been removed 'hru
| CONGRESSMAN Wilson so as TO make d
| Mace for Chaplin. This had causeu
some feeling, and sympathy was WIN
| Shurtz John Z. Page democrat liao
been recommended by President An
drew Johnson. but the senate refused
to confirm the appointment hu9h
| clark. of Iowa City. then consresst'ldn'
VAS fayora bic to Johnston, whose pc
triton contained the names OF some "a
| the leading business men oil town. IA
the meantime Clark died. and the ap
pointment was up to senator hilh
wood. He wrote Senator Delos Arnoid,
| of this county. for advice. and Arnolo
| was very close to Colonel ShurtZ. he
also knew the sympathy that had peen
| aroused for ShurtZ because Oh herr
recommen ton Of Chaplin. and al
vised Kirkwood to recommend Shuft-'
! Shurtz was appointed, but kept John-
ston as his assistant.
Mr., Johnston served not only thru
Colonel ShurtZ's administrator, put
! the succeeding administrations OF w.
Z. Bailey. a democratic appointee' ana
of S c. Mcfarland. Mcfarland server
one year after his commission eHplreu'
and retired in 1895 after the memoir
able Webster Boardman controversy
in which the plum went so uneNpect-
edlv to DR.. Fl. l.. Getz. With Getz's APP
nointrnent and McFarland's retirement
Johnston also retired.
Comes to T.-R.
6 c. Mcfarland, who had sold the
Tunes Republican to Welker Given, in
order TO look after the postoffice, was
omnloyed by Given to be the newspa-
ncr's business manager at the time his
nostoffice commission expired in 1894
Mcfarland proposed to Johnston thai
no take position in the Times Re
nublican business office as cashler
I This Johnston did as soon as he left
the postoffice in the fall of 1898. a
wear later. Mcfarland and A. \. Par
rett bought the paper. Mr.. Johnston
became secretary and treasurer wher
d. w. Norris, Jr., J. P. Dotson and Mr
Johnston bought the holdings OF NC.
Farland and Parrett. in 1899, posi-
ton he held until May Of this veal
when he disposed of his stock interes,
and was made cashier of the company
Prominent in Methodist Church.
Mr.. Johnston has been prominen
during his lifetime as a member Of the
Methodist church Of this city. and fol
the past thrty-six years has been
member of the official board. Mrs
Johnston has been an active WORKER
in the church and in the ladies' ale
and missionary societies. Mrs. John
ston was formerly Miss Martha Jones
daughter of Philemon and Esthe
Jones. who settled at Quarry from
Ohio in an early day. The Johnston
were married at Quarry Oct. IA. 1871
Buys Orange Ranch at Whittier.
In retiring from active business
however. Mr. Johnston will not be sat
sfied to remain idle. He has bough
at Whittier. Cal, five-acre citru
ranch. with both orange and lemo
trees bearing. and will look after it
development. Mr.. Johnston is nov
| having built at Whittier. next door t
the home of his only daughter, Mrs
George E. Wanberg. sevenro
bungalow.
Mr. Johnston will go to Californi
with brighter prospects than man