Dear Rose, Thank you so much for all of your good work. I really appreciate it. The problem is: I am researching the ancestors of my great uncle Howard Johnston. He is my grandmother, Mary Johnston's brother. He was born in 1908 in Franklin Twp., Monroe Co., OH. His father was Benjamin Johnston and his mother was Catharine Iola Crook. Benjamin was born in 1862, I believe in Monroe Co. Uncle Howard has told me he didn't know his father's parents names. They were dead before he was born. Evidently they were never mentioned much in the family. However, he says Benjamin had one half-brother named Solomon (sp?) Johnston. Howard knew this half-brother so he was alive in the early 1900s. I don't have his birth date, but I believe they all lived in Monroe Co.,OH. I think that this half-brother was older and I was hoping to find him still living with his parents which would lead me to Benjamin's father. Uncle Howard is 95 and, while still reasonably sharp, is sketchy on details. He is the only one in the family still living who would have any personal details. I believe Benjamin's mother was named Airy Johnston and was born about 1824. However I don't know if she and his father ever married. She was listed as a widow. The father could have been married before and was killed in the Civil War after Benjamin was born. Wives died young in those days. She would have been in her 40's when Benjamin was born, so perhaps she finished raising whatever children there were. I know the information is sketchy. If you could turn up anything else, I would be very grateful. As it is, I am at a very large brick wall. Benjamin died in July of 1943 and possibly his death certificate will lead to something. I need to check that. Sandy

Sandy, there were several Solomon Johnston but World Connect lists one that might fit. He was born May 1842 (prob Bethel Twp, Monroe) married Sarah; they had 8 ch, 7 survived until at least 1910. Death date listed as 12 Jan 1920 burial at Creighton Ridge, Bethel Twp, Monroe Co. That's pretty much all I have Beverlee > Dear Rose, > > Thank you so much for all of your good work. I really appreciate it. > > The problem is: I am researching the ancestors of my great uncle Howard > Johnston. He is my grandmother, Mary Johnston's brother. He was born in 1908 in > Franklin Twp., Monroe Co., OH. His father was Benjamin Johnston and his mother > was Catharine Iola Crook. Benjamin was born in 1862, I believe in Monroe Co. > Uncle Howard has told me he didn't know his father's parents names. They > were dead before he was born. Evidently they were never mentioned much in the > family. However, he says Benjamin had one half-brother named Solomon (sp?) > Johnston. Howard knew this half-brother so he was alive in the early 1900s.