My great grandfather, James "Jim" Johnston, 1860-1933.

Son of Robert "Red Robin" Johnston and Mary "Mae" Frances McQueen.

Original tintype image captured on December 8, 1874.

Photographer: William McConnell of Plantagenet, Ontario, CANADA

James was a very special man. He worked the family homestead (N. Plantagenet Twp., Prescott Co., Ontario, Canada). The farm had rather sandy soil and produced much less than the surrounding farms. He married, started his family and looked after his parents and his sister, Margaret who was handicapped, until the three of them died. He then bought a farm with good soil in neighboring Russell County (Clarence Twp.) on what is now Johnston Road, and he prospered.

My Dad told me this story about the Great Depression. Several of James' children came home with their children from Michigan and Ontario to weather the Depression. The house got very cozy with up to 4 people to a bed. Even floor space was at a premium for sleeping. No one wore their shoes in the summer when they weren't working the land, tending the animals or going to town so as to save them from wearing out as long as possible, but everyone ate well and the house was full of laughter. It seemed that James always had room for one more. James is my great grandfather. He was a good man.