Memorable Manitobans: John William Johnston (1871-1930)

Railwayman, civil servant.

Born at Wingham, Ontario on 8 November 1871, son of J. E. Johnston and ELizabeth Lawrie, his father came to Manitoba in 1877 and founded the Anglo-American Hotel at Emerson in the spring of 1878. He operated the hotel until 1882 when he moved his family to North Dakota, remaining there until 1890, moving to Ballingham, Washington until 1893, then back to Cavalier, North Dakota until 1897 when they moved to Dauphin, Manitoba. John Johnston was educated at Emerson and North Dakota, quitting school at the age of 15 to work on his father’s farm. When he came to Dauphin in 1897 he got a job as a cashier with the Canadian Northern Railway. In 1903 he was promoted to an agent. He became secretary-treasurer for the Town of Dauphin in 1905.

On 1 March 1897 he married Josephine Ault at Cavalier, North Dakota. They had five children: Lee A. Johnston, Ruby M. Johnston, Beryl L. Johnston, John N. Johnston, and Vine B. Johnston. He was a member of the Masons, the Knights Templar, IOOF, Knights of Pythias, Dauphin Club, Dauphin Automobile Club, and the Presbyterian church.

He died at Dauphin on 23 June 1930.

Sources:

Death registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

The Story of Manitoba by F. H. Schofield, Winnipeg: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913.

This profile was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Profile revised: 8 March 2010

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