From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 343-344.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


WILLIAM J. JOHNSTON

William J. Johnston, son of William and Mary J. Johnston, both 
formerly of county Armagh, Ireland, was born in the city of Wheeling, 
W. Va., February 17, 1843.  Being of poor parentage he was early cast 
upon his own resources for subsistence.  His father died July 4, 
1849, leaving a family of five children, four sons and one daughter, 
the eldest, John, twelve years of age, and the second child, being 
the only support of the family.  William J., the third child, at the 
age of nine years entered a glass factory and worked in various 
capacities capacities for a term of five years or thereabout.  In the 
spring of 1856 he entered the Wheeling INTELLIGENCER job rooms, and 
January 1, 1857, commenced a three year apprenticeship as a printer, 
in the said job rooms then in charge of Col. John Frew.  In the 
spring of 1861, being desirous of getting some newspaper experience, 
he accepted a case on the Wheeling PRESS, and worked at the case 
until the closing of that establishment by the United States army, by 
order of Gen. Hunter, some time in 1862, after which event he 
returned to his former position of job pressman in the INTELLIGENCER 
job rooms.  In the spring of 1865, being desirous of bettering his 
condition, he purchased an interest in the book and job printing 
concern carried on under the firm name of A. S. Trowbridge & Co., but 
soon becoming dissatisfied with the management, and having been 
misled as to the financial condition of the establishment, he made a 
proposition to buy or sell, and the latter was accepted.  He then 
associated with him a book binder by name I. Risteau Amos, under the 
firm name of Johnston & Amos, book binders and job printers.  In the 
year 1867, this firm was induced to commence the publication of a 
temperance weekly paper called the HOME VISITORY, edited by Mrs. Ada 
Gregg, grand secretary of the grand lodge I. O. G. T., of West 
Virginia.  After a life of some four months this undertaking had to 
be abandoned for lack of support.  In the year 1868, Mr. Amos 
disposed of his interest in the firm to Mr. Alfred Glass, of 
Wellsburg, W. Va., and the business of the firm was carried on under 
the firm name of Johnston, Glass & Co., who did a good business in 
the jobbing line for a time, that is until they conceived the idea of 
publishing an evening paper, which paper was started under the name 
of the EVENING COMMERCIAL. This evening paper had the same fate of 
every effort of the kind ever made in Wheeling.  After a short 
existence it had to be abandoned for want of support.  Late in the 
year 1868, Mr. Glass wishing to sell his interest, his proposal was 
accepted, and the business was conducted under the firm name of of W. 
J. Johnston, and so continued until April 1, 1870, when our subject 
consolidated his plant with the Wheeling Register, taking an 
interest in the firm of Lewis Baker & Co., in payment for same.  On 
entering this firm he was assigned the position of manager of the job 
department, and contractor for all book and job work, which position 
he still holds.  Representing said firm he was West Virginia state 
printer and binder from January, 1877, to January, 1879; state 
printer, binder and contractor for furnishing the state with paper 
and stationery, from January, 1870, to January, 1881; state printer 
and binder from January, 1881, to January, 1883, and representing the 
West Virginia Printing company, state binder from January, 1880, to 
January, 1891.  He was married September 7, 1865, to Sarah H. 
Thompson, daughter of Alex Thompson, deceased, of Wheeling, who died 
November 16, 1880, leaving five children, viz.: John T., now foreman 
of the Wheeling Register Book Bindery; Mary Belle, Robert D., Jane 
and Sarah.  Mr. Johnston was again married November 26, 1884, to Mary 
Adela Turner, daughter of Alexander Turner, one of Wheeling's most 
prominent pioneer wholesale grocers, and founder of the now 
prosperous Wheeling firm in that line of Messrs. Neill & Ellingham. 


(Linda Fluharty)