Hunt, Herbert and Floyd C. Kaylor. Washington: West of the Cascades. Vol. II. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1917. p. 595-596. BERNARD HAWLEY JOHNSTON: One of the most prominent business men of Centralia, Washington, is Bernard Hawley Johnston, president and treasurer of the Mendota Coal and Coke Company, and also actively identified with other business interests of importance to the community. His early life was spent in the middle west for he was born in Warsaw, Illinois, September 18, 1861, a son of Robert Alexander and Caroline Emily (McMahon) Johnston. On the paternal side he is of Irish origin, his father, who was a native of New York, being the only one of the family born outside of Ireland. He died in 1873 and was buried in Warsaw, Illinois. Our subject's mother lived to the advanced age of eighty-three years and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Carthage, Illinois. She was born in Maidstone, County Kent, England, and on two occasions her father was sent to India as a representative of the English government, remaining there for several years. Later he came to the United States and during the Civil War entered the Union service as a member of a "Gray Beard" regiment, being too old for active duty. During his boyhood and youth Bernard H. Johnston attended the public schools of Warsaw and Carthage, Illinois, and after completing his education turned his attention to civil engineering under General John G. Fonda, chief engineer on the levee work along the Mississippi river between Warsaw and Quincy, Illinois. He held that position for three years and for the same length of time was engaged in railroad surveying and construction under Edward M. Gilchrist, chief engineer in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. Mr. Johnston next went to New Mexico, Texas and Mexico as civil engineer, but not liking that region returned to Illinois. In 1883 he became connected with the Mendota Coal Company in Missouri as a mining engineer and was later advanced to the position of general manager of the company, being actively identified with the coal mining industry in that state until May, 1907, when he came to Washington. With others he started the Mendota Coal and Coke Company and built the town of Mendota, Washington, serving as general manger and secretary of the company until December 1913, when he was chosen president and treasurer, in which capacities he is still serving. He is also vice president at the Centralia Eastern Railroad Company, owning and operating the road leading to Mendota, and is first vice president and a director of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Centralia. Besides his coal mining interests in Washington he is still connected with the mining industry in Missouri. On the 25th day of June, 1887, in Unionville, Missouri, Mr. Johnston was united in marriage to Miss Clara Frances Moore, a daughter of John and Ann Moore, both of whom lived to be over eighty years of age and are buried in Unionville cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have two children: Bernard Homer, who married Ethel Moore of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Donna Elizabeth, now the wife of Frank C. Knowles, residing at Missoula, Montana. The family residence is at 411 North Rock street, Centralia. Mr. Johnston is a member of the Episcopal church and is also connected with the Centralia Commercial Club, the Masonic fraternity, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Modern Woodmen of America. In his political views he is a democrat but has never had the time nor inclination for office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his extensive business interests. In the development of the coal mines of this region he has done much to promote the public welfare and is regarded as one of the most public-spirited and progressive citizens of the community. He is a man of good executive ability and sound judgment and usually carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. Johnston McMahon Fonda Gilchrist Moore Knowles = IL>MO>Lewis-WA