52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week 24: Father’s Day: Life of Thomas Newton Johnston

I am working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow. I will write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or at My Trails Into the Past. I’m looking forward to writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

My great-grandfather was Thomas Newton Johnston, born 25 July 1885 in Comanche Co, Texas to Reuben Mach Johnston and Olivia Jane Jones.[1] He was the fourth child of thirteen.

He married Nell L. Hutson, the daughter of Peter H. Hutson and Sarah H. Selman, on 6 June 1907 in Comanche Co, Texas. They had six children, five who lived to adulthood. Unfortunately, Nell died young in 1919 at the age of 31.[2]

Thomas started out a farmer, renting a general farm.[3] Later, he worked as a salesman at a lumberyard.[4]

He married Zilpha E. Burford on 12 Dec 1931 in Stephenville, Erath Co, Texas.[5] This was the only “grandmother” my mother knew.

Tom died 20 February 1951 at the age of 65. He did make a trip out to California to visit his son, Tom Jr. Unfortunately, he died before I was born.

"Daddy Tom" with my mother, Lela and her cousin, Sarilyn

[1] For birthdate: Tombstone photo for Thomas N. Johnston, West End Cemetery, Stephenville, Texas. For parent’s names: Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate, digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org), Erath Co, No. 7051, Thomas Newton Johnston, 1951; citing FHL film 1845915.
[2] "Mrs. Tom Johnson Dead," Comanche Chief, 18 Jul 1919.
[3] Texas, Comanche Co, 1900 U.S. census, pop. sched, Justice Precinct 3 (part of), ED 7, sheet 1a, p. 168a, dwelling 8, family 8, Thomas N. Johnston, digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 23 Nov 2011), NARA T623, roll 1541.
[4] Texas, Comanche Co, 1920 U.S. census, Comanche, ED 70, sht 7a, p. 47 (stamped), dwelling 136, family 138, Thos N. Johnson household, digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com).
[5] "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1977," digital Images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org), 1931, Erath Co, Marriage Record Bk R, p. 150, T.N. Johnston to Mrs. Zilpha E. Burford; citing FHL 4820400.

Copyright © 2018 by Lisa Suzanne Gorrell, Mam-ma's Southern Family

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