The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1913-01-12
"a JOHNSON
CELtBVATESBIRTRDAY
Is HIAEH-tIGHT YEARS OIO
Was Born Before the Memora-
bic Battle Of New Orleans in
1915 at Westchester,
Virginia

Hale and hearty. Mr.. Harrison
Johnston. the oldest and most
prominent citizen of Columbus.
celebrated in a quite way his
ninety-elght birthday Tuesday.
and MANY kilograms. flowers.
etc, were received by him from
his friends.
Harrison Johnston was born the
day before the memorable battle
OF New Orleans in 1916. His
native heath was Frederick coun.
ty, Virginia, and his home town
was Winchester. His grand
father was born in Fairfax coun.
ty in 1855. These were the days
when greathearted hospitality
reigned; when a gentleman's
sideboard always held decanters
of wine, brandy and applejaek.
and the first greeting always
took the form of an invitation to
take a glass with the host and
MIR. Johnston declares there was
neither prohibition nor drunk
ards, but rather temperance.
The adventurous spirit of his
ancestry early manifested itself
in Harrison Johnston and in 1884,
at the age of nineteen. he made
his way to Augusta, Georgia,
taking a sailing vessel at Balti-
more for Charleston, South Caro-
lima. Here he remained almost
a year, after the manner of young
men, during their first ventures
in the great world that lies be-
yond the placid boundaries of
home. AT Augusta, occurred
one of the most memorable events
of his life which in this year of
1913 lends his career a singular
interest, namely his enlistment
in a volunteer company to fight
the Seminoles in Florida.
He came to Columbus in 1886,
travelling in a coach and four by
the mail route from Montgomery.
Alabama, to this city. These
mail coaches were cumbersome
affairs with a boot behind to hold
the trunks Of the travellers. Co.
lumbus had then about two thou
sand white inhabitants. consist
ing for the most part of the
wealthy planter class who made
this their town residence. No
negroes were allowed within the
environs OF the city, except fami-
ly servants. The country was
wholly devoted to the cultivation
of cotton. and as in the wheat
country of the west, the planters
neglected every other product of
the farm but the prime staple.
Droves of hogs. turkeys and
poultry were annually driven to
Columbus from Tennessee to
supply the the necessities of the
plantations. All the merchan-
disc was brought up in steam
boats from Mobile.
Mr.. Johnston laid the founda-
tions of his substantial fortune
in a merchant tailor and gentle
mans furnishing establishment.
Mr.. Johnston remained in his
first business as merchant tailor
until the close of the war.
After the war, his wonderful
energ es were devoted to his
children's future and the work of
building up the resources of his
ample fortune.
Longevity is in nearly every
instance marked by unusual men,
tai and physical endowments,
and Mr.. Johnson's long and sue
cessful sojourn on this earth is a
remarkable example of the truth
of this observation.
Mr.. Johnston has been prudent
in all things and his excellent
health and well preserved ply
sique is an object lesson to the
young men of the present day.
The Commercial wishes for
him many happy returns for his
--Aol l..