San Luis Obispo County Biographies

H. H. JOHNSTON

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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


H. H. JOHNSTON, of San Luis Obispo, is a pioneer of California, as he first 
landed at San Francisco as early as March 14, 1850. He was born in Green 
County, Alabama, a son of Chesley Johnston, who also was born in that State, 
in 1809, was a farmer by occupation and was twice married. By his first wife, 
whose name before marriage was Mary Ryan, he had one son, who is the 
subject of this sketch. By his second marriage he raised a large family. 

Mr. Johnston left home in the fall of 1843, going to Hinds County, Mississippi, 
where he was overseer of a large cotton plantation until he came to California. 
Starting from New Orleans by sailing vessel to Panama, he came thence by the 
steamship Edward Everett to San Francisco. Alter spending eighteen months in 
the mines of California and passing through various business vicissitudes, he 
located in 1867 in the extreme southern end of San Luis Obispo County, on Los 
Barons Creek, where he entered the dairy business, being the second to engage 
in that occupation in this county. He has since sold his stock and leased his ranch 
of 1,700 acres, and practically retired from business, making his home in San Luis
 Obispo. 

He was married in 1855, to Mrs. MacKinnes, a daughter of Charles Hamilton, of 
Scotland. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.