California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


CHARLES E. JOHNSTON, M. D. Since his location in Visalia, February, 1899, Dr. C. E. 
Johnston has risen to a place of prominence among the physicians of the city and won the 
commendation of all who have had occasion for his services. He is a physician of the physio- 
medical school, having graduated from an institution of this character in Indianapolis, Ind., in 
1896, with the degree of doctor of medicine, after which he was variously located until his 
settlement in Visalia. 

The family of which Dr. Johnston is a member belongs to the old southern family of Johnstons, 
represented in the Confederate army by Gen. Joseph Johnston. Mathias Johnston was a native 
of Scotland who, upon his immigration to America, settled in Maryland, later removing to 
Delaware, thence to Ohio, where he engaged as a farmer until his death at the age of one 
hundred and one years. He was a patriot and served in the Revolutionary war. In his family 
was a son, Joseph C. Johnston, who became a farmer in Ohio, later removing to Missouri, 
where he followed the same occupation. Inheriting from his patriotic father a stanch love for 
the Union he remained loyal in a state of much disaffection. He was a strong Union man and 
a member of the Missouri State Militia. He made his home in Missouri until his death, which 
occurred at the age of eighty-two years and seven months. He married Paulina McCaully, a 
native of Tennessee and daughter of John McCaully, also a native of that state and a descend- 
ant of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He died in Tennessee at an advanced age. Mr. Johnston died 
in Missouri, leaving a family of five sons, of whom four live in California : James L., a retired 
physician of Los Angeles ; Samuel W., a bridge contractor of Los Angeles ; Clark F., a merchant 
of Stockton ; and C. E., the subject of this review, who was born February 8, 1869, in Russellville, Mo. 

The youngest in his father's family, C. E. Johnston was reared on the paternal farm, attending 
the public schools while he received practical training which has left its impress upon his 
character. He remained at home until attaining the age of nineteen years, entering, in 1889, 
Hooper Institute, in Clarksburg, Moniteau county, Mo., where he took a literary course. 
Deciding to enter the professional ranks he then became a student in the Physio-Medical College, 
at Indianapolis, Ind., from which institution he was graduated in 1896. He began the practice 
of his profession with Dr. T. J. Martin, in Lewisport, Ky., remaining in this connection for one 
year, when he located in the city of his birth for a like period. In 1898 he came to California 
and in Los Angeles engaged in medical practice with his brother for a short time, following this 
with a removal in February, 1899, to Visalia, where he has since resided. He has made a success 
of his work since locating here, having built up an extensive general practice, while he gives 
much of his time and attention to chronic diseases, making a specialty of this line. 

In Indianapolis Dr. Johnston married May Crompton, a native of that city, and born of this 
union is one daughter, Madge. Fraternally Dr. Johnston belongs to the Knights of Pythias Uni- 
formed Rank, and the Foresters, Fraternal Aid, Fraternal Brotherhood, Order of Lions and Or- 
der of Pendo. He is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically 
is an active Republican.