The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1010 

WILLIAM S. JOHNSTON.

William S. Johnston, a well known orchardist and rancher living near Sunnyside,
was born in Ontario, Canada, November 29, 1847, a son of Robert T. and Mary
(Kidd) Johnston, both of whom were natives of England. They crossed the Atlantic
to Canada in early life and in 1872 the father removed with his family to
Michigan and there spent his remaining days.

The son, William S. Johnston, acquired a public school education and through the
period of his boyhood and youth fanned with his father when not occupied with
the duties of the schoolroom. He thus early received practical training in the
occupation which he has made a life work. In 1874 he arrived in Walla Walla,
Washington, and in 1877 took up government land in Whitman county, where for
many years he carried on farming, devoting his attention to the tilling of the
soil there until 1903. In that year he sold his property in Whitman county and
bought eighty acres in Yakima county, two miles northwest of Sunnyside. It was
then a tract of wild land upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an
improvement made, but with characteristic energy he began its development and
the results which he has achieved are most creditable and satisfying. He now has
fifteen acres planted to fruit trees and his orchard is in excellent condition.
The remainder of his land is devoted to the raising of hay and to general
farthing and both branches of his business are proving profitable. His farm
presents a most neat and attractive appearance, indicting his careful
supervision and progressive methods.

In 1885 Mr. Johnston was united in marriage to Mrs. Viola Flowers. who removed
to Oregon in 1851, with her people, taking up their abode among the pioneer
settlers of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are the parents of five children,
namely: Lulu, Ora and Leo, all at home; Mabel, who is the wife of Charles
Hamilton, of Yakima; and Perry, who is also yet under the parental roof.

Mr. Johnson is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, in which he has
held all of the chairs. In politics he is a republican and while living in
Whitman county he was chosen as its representative to the state legislature in
1895. That he is interested in the cause of education is indicated by his
service on the school board. He at all times stands for progress and improvement
in relation to public affairs, while in his business interests he is actuated by
a spirit of enterprise that never stops short of the successful accomplishment
of his purpose.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.