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James Wright Johnston family papers

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 1011

Overview

James Wright Johnston, a Pennsylvania lawyer and banker, emigrated to Lawrence, Kansas in 1872, where he founded the State Bank of Lawrence, and was succeeded as bank president by his son, Robert Cromwell Johnston. These papers include biographical sketches of the father and son, correspondence and photographs of their Johnston family members of Lawrence, and family letters and career documents of J. W. Johnston's father, the Reverend Robert Johnston of Indiana County, Pennsylvania.

Dates

  • Creation: 1828-1960 (bulk 1828-1895)

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of James Wright Johnston.

James Wright Johnston was born November 21, 1817 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His parents were the Reverend Robert Johnston and Eleanor (Wright) Johnston. The family moved to Indiana County, Pennsylvania in 1834, where Robert Johnston farmed and served as pastor of the Bethel Church. J. W. Wright attended Jefferson College at Connonsburg, Pennsylvania, married Esther Laughrey in 1841, was admitted to the bar in 1845, and became a lawyer and banker. Following his wife's death in 1862, he married Mary Stubblefield of McMinnville, Tennessee. In 1872, they moved to Lawrence, Kansas, to which their son Robert Cromwell Johnston and their son-in-law A. D. Collins had emigrated about 1870. J. W. Johnston founded the State Bank of Lawrence and served as its president for many years. He died on April 2, 1902 at Lawrence.

Johnston's son Robert Cromwell Johnston (1848-1927) succeeded his father as president of the State Bank of Lawrence until its closing in 1877, and afterward was manager of the Lawrence Gas & Electric Company. He married Helene King, with whom he had two children: daughter Mary Helene Johnston and son Robert King Johnston.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Physical Location

RH MS 1011

Physical Location

RH MS-P 1011

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, Lois Webb Nixon, 1989

Title
Guide to the James Wright Johnston Family Collection
Subtitle
James Wright Johnston family papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by mh, 2007; revised by, cl 2010; Finding aid encoded by mh, 2007
Date
2007
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in <language encodinganalog="language">English.</language>
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/5051194569
Preferred citation
James Wright Johnston Family Collection, Kansas Collection, RH MS 1011, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334