Hello. I am new to the list, and would like to introduce my Johnston line. William R. Johnston was my gggrandfather, born in either Ireland or Liverpool sometime around 1797 to 1800. It is not known when he emigrated to the US, or what was his port of entry. The first document we have encountered for him is a marriage record from Platte County, Missouri dated Nov 1853. He married a girl named Kissiah Hornback, born about 1828 in Bourbon County, KY. It is possible that Kissiah was actually known as "Rosa". They had several children: Cynthia Ann, known as "Anna", born 1856 in Bates County, MO; William, born about 1858, also in MO; John, born in 1860 in McGee County, Cherokee Neutral Land, Kansas; Kate, born about 1863 in MO; and Mathew, born about 1865, birthplace illegible. I believe John died at a tender age, as he is not listed with the family in the 1870 census. According to a story passed along to my second cousin by one of Cynthia Johnston's daughters, William R. Johnston fought for the Union during the Civil War. Now, he would have been well into his 60s during that conflict. I am currently trying to determine if he served in any of the Kansas regiments. We are fairly certain he did not serve in any of the Missouri outfits. I can't discount the possibility that he may actually have fought in the Mexican War, and my cousin's grandmother had the story turned around. I still have no idea when or where he died or was buried. The only lead I have is an obscure reference to Kissiah Hornback Johnston as a widow living in Bates County, MO in 1891. Families connected to this line, besides Hornback, are Biser, Stumph, and Branum. If any of this seems even remotely familiar, please contact me. This is a very thick brick wall that my cousin and I have been trying to topple for quite some time. Thank you! Jacqueline Watkins