James Capt. Johnston who came from Kentucky to Boone Co., was married to Rachel Spears. Their son William H. JOhnston was married to Margaret Hutchinson. He died in 1830 in Boone Co., I believe they had a son named William Johnston who died young -- not long after he was married... but I have to follow up on this. Margaret Hutchinson Johnston remarried to Nathaniel Leonard on Ravenswood. I have a copy of the Capt's final will and settlement -- and the same for several other Johnstons including Rachel Johnstons information. Much happened in Boone, Howard, Cooper and Randolph Counties. I have followed Capt. Johnston's family all the way back to the 1770s when his great great grandfather also Capt. Johnston married Ann Marie Chew. These folks tie into the Waller family. Capt. William H. Johnston and Rachel Spears (father was Jacob Spears - bourbon whiskey distiller in Bourbon Co., KY). Their children were: Elizabeth Keller Johnston m. David McClanahan Robert T. Johnston m. Mary Ann Prewitt (?) -- this is where the other William H. Johnston comes in.. William H. Johnston Jr., m. Margaret Hutchinson (Margaret's mother and David "Peggay" McClanahan above were siblings.) Elvira Johnston m. Robert Stewart Johnston Nancy L. Johnston m. Moss Prewitt (these are the Randolph Co ties) Jacob Spears Johnston m. Pauline Payne Sarah Johnston m. James Keene (son Eli Everett Bass Keene) Emily Johnston m. Richard C. Branham Noah S. Johnston? John T. M. Johnston m. Minvera T. Waters Mary Ellen Johnston b. 1826 d. 1829 Magaret McClanahan Johnston m. Eli Bass (Margaret's father gave a slave to her for a wedding gift. This woman's grand-daughter was raped by her son -- and the child borne was the famous horse trainer Tom Bass.) My council in Columbia -- married a woman whose family was owned by the sister of the same family who owned his ancestors. Very weird.. but common considering the family ties in those small towns) Capt. Johnston's father was Robert Johnson (son of Robert Johnston son of Capt. William. H. Johnston and Ann Marie Chew) Robert Johnston m. Margaret "Peggay" McClanahan (Peggay's father John McClanahan mentions the Capt. Johnston and his wife Margaret in his will -- along with grandson William and Nancy and Maurie's son (below) also named Maurice). Margaret and Nancy Johnston are sisters; daughters of John McClanahan. Robert Johnston and Peggay McClanahan's children: Nancy Johnston m. Maurice Langhorne ( the Langhorne's were an extraordinary wealthy family) Margaret Johnston m. James Kenney (Black Kenney's show up on Ravenswood) Thomas Johnston m. Marcy Bryan (the Bryan tie into the Hutchinson and Hickman families) Issac Johnston m. Sarah Robinett ( I believe the Robinetts have a long following in Boone, Howard, Callaway and Randolph) I've got lots more on the JOHNSTONS. James - let me see what I come up with on the DAVIS name. I am very curious about the JOHNSTON connection in Randolph county -- because that is apparently where Kizzie Haley -- Alex Haley's ancestors came from VA. Now -- Capt. Johnston and Ann Marie Chew's son Richard Johnston married Dorothy Waller -- daughter of William Waller who owned Haley's ancestor Chicken George. Following the slave transactions in this family and those of the Wallers and Johnstons is nightmarish. But its there... it will take some time to pick it apart. I can follow Robert Johnston to KY and then a bunch of the Bourbon Co., families went to Boone, Cooper and Callaway Co. Another contingent went to Pittsburg, PA. Check out Virginia Easley DeMarce website for Missouri.. it will help. For the Boone folks you'll see ties to the BRENT, CAVE, KEENE, TALBOT and other big families: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=vedemarce&id=I01858 Any thoughts anyone. I think I'm ready for a trip to Kentucky or VA? traci wilson-kleekamp African Americans in Missouri http://www.missouri-slave-data.org (I'll be updating my webpages soon!) James Babgy Wrote *The Johnston family reunion picnic at the Randolph Springs Thursday of last week was not as largely attended as some former meetings of the family and connections,only 52 being present, though all the immediate family now living were present, namely: Rev. Wm. H. Johnston, Callao, Mo., age 76; Joseph B. Johnston, Ethel, Mo.,73, Rev. Jas. M. Johnston, Petersburg, Ill., 71, and Heber C. Johnston, Huntsville, Mo., who was host of the family, 67. A delicious and sumptuous dinner was spread on a long table in a grove on the grounds and served. After all had finished eating, Rev. John M. Johnston delivered an "after dinner speech," which was appropriate and touching. He was followed by his elder brother, Rev. W. H. Johnston, who made a good talk. Mrs. Henrietta Bagby, Huntsville, and aunt of the Johnstons, was the oldest person present, being in her 88th year. *The great-grandmother of the Johnston family was born in Germany in 1757, emigrated to Kentucky in early life, and was married to their great-grandfather, Capt. Wm. H. Johnston, who was born in Kentucky in 1776, and who served with distinction in the war of 1812. The family moved to Boone county, Mo, in 1841, and he died in that county in 1850. Their grandfather, Robert Johnston, was born in Kentucky, and came to Boone county with his parents in 1841, and their father, Capt. Wm. H. Johnston, was born in Boone county in 1830, and married Miss Sarah Davis, a daughter of the late Rev. Samuel C. Davis, of this county, in 1848, and they later settled near Old Boomington, Macon county. As indicated in last week's NEWS, their father was killed in action at the siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 29, 1863. The death of their grandfather and great-grandfather was a little singular. Their great-grandfather rode horseback away from home one morning on business, and in the evening his horse came home alone with saddle and bridle intact. A search was made and the old gentleman was found dead by the road side several miles from home, evidently having been stricken with apoplexy and having fallen from his horse. The grandfather started to Fayette onmorning and when he did not return that day a search was made and his body was found on the road side near Fayette, he having died of cholera, which was raging in Boone and Howard counties in the early day. The Johnston family are all Democrats, and all those of voting age at the reunion are Democrats except one, "Aunt Henry" Bagby, who still claims she is Republican. The next of 1927 reunion, will be held at the home of Rev. Jas. M. Johnston, Petersburg, Ill. *Mrs. Henrietta Bagby, Huntsville, and aunt of the Johnstons, was the oldest person present, I do not have this person mentioned here . With the nickname, Henry Bagby. born in 1838. I don't have a Bagby married to a Henrietta. Might be a middle name. Does any one have a clue? The great-grandmother of the Johnston family was born in Germany in 1757, emigrated to Kentucky in early life, and was married to their great-grandfather, Capt. Wm. H. Johnston, who was born in Kentucky in 1776, have him born in Culpepper CO. VA in 4-6-1776 I have him married in same CO. in 1801 to Rachel Spears.b:April 12 1787 I don't have her born in Germany & red flag his 1757 date. I have they had 12 children. I only have 2. Nancy (Johnston) Pruitt & Robert C, Johnston *Their great-grandfather rode horseback away from home one morning on business, and in the evening his horse came home alone with saddle and bridle intact. A search was made and the old gentleman was found dead by the road side several miles from home, evidently having been stricken with apoplexy and having fallen from his horse. The grandfather started to Fayette one morning and when he did not return that day a search was made and his body was found on the road side near Fayette, he having died of cholera, which was raging in Boone and Howard counties in the early day. * Family lore says they think he was traveling to visit a doctor. Area residents placed his body in a ditch & covered him over. His Howard CO. burial location I am told, is unknown today. The fear of cholera I suppose was the reason he was not transplanted to the Johnston burial place in Boone, CO. James M. Bagby