ANDREW G. JOHNSTON

ANDREW G. JOHNSTON, the well known merchant of Sidnaw, Duncan township, Houghton County, Michigan, is also owner of the Highland Farm which he has so successfully conducted the past few years. Mr. Johnston was born in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada, in 1848, and is a son of Stewart and Mary Ann (Little) Johnston. Hugh Johnston, our subject's grandfather, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and with his wife and 16 children removed to Canada in 1832, receiving from the British government 100 acres of land in Lambton County for each child he brought over, making a total of 1,600 acres. Upon reaching his majority, Stewart Johnston, the father of our subject, was given 100 acres of land by his father. He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, accompanied his parents to Canada in 1832, and lived there until his death in 1900. He married Mary Ann Little, who died in 1901, and they reared 12 children, of which number eight are now living, as follows: Andrew G.; Mary, who lives on the old homestead in Canada; Lizzie, who married Charles T. Andrews, now deceased, and lives at Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her two children; James and Hugh, who live on the old homestead in Canada; Matilda, who married William Kent, of Vancouver, British Columbia, where Mr. Kent is engaged in the hotel business; Robert, a contractor of Courtright, Lambton County, Ontario, handling railroad freight; and Grace, who at one time taught school at Sidnaw, Michigan, and now lives in Courtright, Lambton County, Ontario. Andrew G. Johnston received a common school education in Lambton County, Ontario, and in 1866, at the age of 17 years, removed to Houghton, Houghton County, Michigan. He worked a short time for Little & Heyn in the mercantile business in Houghton, then was transferred to their branch house in Hancock, where he remained for two years. Then he worked at the Franklin store of that firm, which they had just purchased. Two years later he entered the employ of Edward Ryan of Hancock, continued with him for two years, and then went into the mercantile business for himself, being a partner in the firm of J. B. Ormsby & Company, with which concern he continued for three years. He next worked for Hart Brothers in their store at Republic, Marquette County, for three years. He again engaged in business for himself, locating at Michigamme, Marquette County, as a member of the firm of Hirschmann & Johnston, a general store being established. This firm also established a store at Sidnaw, Houghton County, in 1893, which our subject has conducted alone since the firm disposed of its Michigamme store to Read & Company, in 1897. Mr. Johnston has a large and well equipped store and commands the patronage of the leading citizens of the vicinity of Sidnaw, Mr. Johnston is owner of the Highland Farm near Sidnaw, and is one of a very few who have made a success of farming in this north land. Clearing some 70 acres of his farm of the stumps and brush left after the timber had been taken off, he sowed this in crops and the success of his venture has been astounding. He raised 70 tons of hay, 600 bushels of potatoes, 400 bushels of turnips, 500 bushels of mangel-wurzels and sugar beets, 150 bushels of barley, 500 bushels of oats and 50 bushels of peas, in the year 1902, and these with the stock realized him the handsome sum of $2,500. He makes a specialty of Poland-China hogs, in which he deals extensively. He is a practical man, of sound business sense, and farms in the most approved fashion.

In 1870, Mr. Johnston was united in marriage with Hannah Carter, by whom he had one son, James, who is 28 years of age and clerks in his father's store. James Johnston married Barbara Schwitzer, of Michigamme, Marquette County, Michigan, and they have three children: Wilfred, Earl and Chester. After the death of his wife in 1897, our subject was again married, Mattie Schick, a daughter of John Schick, a farmer of Ontonagon County, Michigan, becoming his wife. They have a daughter, Lulu, born September 13, 1900. Mr. Johnston is a Mason and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church.

Source: Biographical Record, Houghton, Baraga and Marquette Counties.  Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company, 1903.