An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 231.

GEORGE W. JOHNSTON, of "Johnstons" successors to the firm of Johnston Brothers,
dealers in general merchandise, Dufur, Wasco county, was born in Centreville,
New Brunswick, January 11, 1859, the son of James and Amy (Coggswell) Johnston,
who are now living on the old farm near Centreville. The parents of James
Johnston were natives of Ireland. The mother was born in Nova Scotia, a
descendant of an old and prominent Canadian family, many of whom are now in the
United States and distinguished in judicial and commercial circles.      

George W. Johnston, our subject, attended the public schools of New Brunswick,
where he was reared, until he was nineteen years of age. He then came west and
passed one year in Kansas, going thence to The Dalles, Oregon, where he joined
his brother, T.H. Johnston, and of whom mention is made elsewhere. For five
years he was in the employment of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, and
following that period he went to Dufur, Wasco county, and engaged in the
mercantile business with his brother. They carry a heavy stock, and their trade
extends far into the rich and productive surrounding country. Aside from their
mercantile enterprise they are largely interested in farming and stock-raising,
wintering about five hundred head of cattle, and our subject is personally
interested in the Wasco Warehouse arid Milling Company, and is one of the board
of directors. He has five brothers and five sisters, mention of whom will be
found in another portion of this work.      

September 23, 1888, at Salem. Oregon, Mr. Johnston was married to Miss Kittie
Reed, born at The Dalles, the daughter of Robert B. and Mary J. (Davis) Reed,
both natives of Michigan. In the earlier days of the California excitement the
father came to the coast by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Subsequently he was
agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Company at The Dalles, and was clerk of Wasco
county during its early days. He died in 1888, and was followed by his devoted
wife one year later.      

Mrs. Johnston has one brother, Charles H. Reed, an attorney at Dufur. She has
one child, Lucile, aged five years. Mr. Johnston is a member of Wasco Lodge No.
15, A.F. & A.M., the R.A.M., Friendship Lodge K. of P., and the W.O.T.W. He is a
Republican, politically, and was a member of the Oregon state legislature of
1890. He has been frequently delegate to county and state conventions, and has
always exhibited a patriotic interest in the welfare of the community in which
he resides, and the state at large. He is progressive, broad-minded and one of
the energetic, influential business men of Wasco county, and a highly respected
citizen.



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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.