Merced County Biographies

BENNETT M. JOHNSTON

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
        A young man who occupies a prominent position in society in Atwater, and 
who is highly esteemed for his enterprise and business integrity, is Bennett M. 
Johnston, the youngest child of W. H. and Clara Johnston, whose sketch is given 
in another place in this book. He was born in Berryessa Valley, Napa County, on 
May 17, 1898, and was educated in the common schools and in the Merced High 
School. He was reared on the ranch near Atwater. Soon after leaving the school 
room, in 1918, he engaged in the dray and transfer business and made a splendid 
success of it, developing the Atwater Transfer Co., and operating a fleet of 
five motor trucks and employing five men steadily. He dealt in hay, coal and 
wood, and his trucks made bi-weekly trips to Stockton with produce, returning 
with freight for local merchants. In January, 1925, Mr. Johnston sold his dray 
business to devote his time to the office of peace officer of Atwater, to which 
position he had been elected in 1922.
        Bennett M. Johnston was married on January 17, 1923, to Miss Margaret 
Howard, daughter of Anne Howard, of Arbuckle. She was born in Winters, Yolo 
County, and was in charge of the Arbuckle public library. Mrs. Johnston is one 
of the charter members of the Atwater Women's Club. Mr. Johnston is owner of 
valuable realty holdings in Atwater. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias 
and of Merced Lodge No. 1240, B. P. O. E., both at Merced; and of the Atwater 
Booster Club.
 
History of Merced County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 850