JOHNSTON-Charles S. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Charles S. JOHNSTON physician and surgeon, Harveysburg was born Sept 14, 1824 in Shelby County OH and is a son of James and Hannah Berkshire Johnston the former a native of Culpepper County VA and latter of MD. they arrived in Ohio and moved in 1827 to Richland Twp, Fountain County iN and bought land. In 1856 James Johnston moved to Warren County and there died in 1860 aged 63, followed by his wife in 1862 aged 60. Both were members of the Methodist Church. In the family were 3 daughters and two sons. Three died young. Chalres S. farmed till 19 acquiring his education mostly in his own room with but few teachers. Prior to 1848 he studied medicine one and a half years and in that year started overland in company with 27 other men and two ladies for California on a gold-prospeting tour. While on the way they suffered a siege of cholera and Mr. Johnston's skill was called into practice. Arriving at their destination he and 16 others discovered the Shasta River Gold mines and he built the first cabin and killed the first beef in what is now Wyreka, a large mining city. He mined 3 years and wa sin the transport business 3 years. He also read medicine 10 months with a celebrated English physician and surgeon, Dr. Bartlow, of Oregon City. In 1856 he returned to Indiana via San Francisco, Panama and NY. When his mother died he went to Jackson County MO to practice. In 1865 he returned to Fountain County IN and settled in Harveysburg. Dr. Johnston is a thorough democrat, a Mason and Odd Fellow and has been a Knight of Pythias. He was married in 1857, to Sarah E. McClean, daughter of Robert and Jane McClean. She is a native of W Va. They have one child, Clara.