JOHNSTON, Charles - 1940 - Putnam

 Charles Johnston--the city's oldest attorney--died at the Ben Hur sanitarium here at Sunday morning. He was 86 years old. He had been in failing health the past two months and his death was attributed to infirmities of old age. He entered the sanitarium last Wednesday.

 Mr. Johnston was admitted to the Montgomery county bar in 1880 and practiced 56 years in the same offices on north Washington street. He was associated with his brother, William H. Johnston, who was postmaster of Crawfordsville several years ago. They opened their first law office in Darlington, after graduating together from the University of Michigan law school in 1880. They remained in Darlington for four years, leaving after their office was destroyed by a fire that swept out a large business block.

 Although he never sought an elective office, he served as city attorney for two terms and was county attorney for numerous terms. He was very active in Democratic politics, both in this county and over the state.

 He had been actively engaged in his work until two months ago. In his early years he earned a notable reputation of a criminal defense attorney.

 Mr. Johnston was born north of Greencastle April 10, 1853, one of 11 children, the son of Archibald and Sarah Keller Johnston, pioneer residents in Putnam county. His father was a contractor and built the National road through Putnam county. Mr. Johnston worked with his father on both the National road and the covered bridge near Greencastle.

 When he was 12 years old, the family moved to Darlington. Mr. Johnston attended the Darlington academy before entering law school. He married Margaret Jackman Feb. 16, 1881. She died April 12, 1925.

 He was affiliated with the old Missionary Baptist church but in recent years had attended the First Christian church. He was a member of the men's Bible class of the church.

 Surviving are a daughter, Miss Frances Johnston, who made her home with him at 505 west Main street, but at present is a patient at Culver hospital, following a recent fall in which she fractured her leg, a son, Burl R. Johnston of Washington, D.C.; two grandchildren, Betty and Bob Johnston, both of Washington, D.C. and several nieces and nephews.

 Funeral services will be held at the Utterback & Murphy funeral home at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. today.   - thanks so much to Kim H for this one

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Source: Muncie Star Press, Tue 12 March 1940 p 5

Crawfordsville, March 11 – Charles Johnston, oldest practicing attorney in Crawfordsville died in the sanitarium here last night after two months’ sickness.  He was 86 and had worked in the same office 56 years.  He and his brother, William, members of the same Michigan law school graduating class, began a law partnership in Darlington in 1880 and later moved here. William became postmaster, Charles Johnston, a Democrat, served as city attorney and Montgomery County attorney. The funeral will be Tuesday - kbz