Husband of Elizabeth Freame. Father of William Freame Johnston the 11th Governor of Pa 1848-52.
Alexander Johnston emigrated to America in 1797. He first went to Carlisle, PA where he stayed with his cousin, General William Irvine, M.D. (former Commander of Fort Pitt). Gen. Irvine counseled him to go west, where he found work with a relative named James Irvine on the Loyalhanna - in surveying.
He spent a year working with surveyors in Butler Co., then removed to Greensburg where he married Elizabeth Freame, grandaughter of Capt. James Johnston, Ranger on the Frontiers who had settled near New Alexandria, PA. Elizabeth Freame (b. Franklin Co.)had been a neighbor in Salem Twp. near the property of James Irvine.
The young couple then operated a hotel in Greensburg, then removed to Pittsburgh where Alexander trained to be an Iron Master. He and his wife then moved back to Westmoreland Co. and bought a large tract of land and opened an iron forge on the banks of the Loyalhanna.
Between 1812 and 1815 Alexander Johnston built a large stone manse with a red roof called "Kingston House" (named for the patent on the land). The house was positioned in a rather odd manner for its locale, facing east towards the mountains, but this due to his being a Freemason,and they built their homes faces "east". But the house is now considered one of the finest examples of early Pennsylvania architecture, and still stand (2013).
The iron forge soon failed. Alexander Johnston then bought into the Stoystown and Greensburg Turnpike Road Company and became one of its principal shareholders. He and his sons helped set up toll booths and repair the road between Stoystown and Greensburg. And he then turned his house into a stagecoach inn for settlers heading west into Ohio (the inn of his friend George Graham in Stoystown and his inn were considered key stopping off points for Ohio settlers, the former even mentioned in histories of Ohio). The house was also frequented by Presidents and was known for a wonderful "punch" served to visitors.
Alexander lived a more transquil life after 1830, finding work as sheriff and other public positions in the ocunty. His many sons were commended for their service to the country, two or more of which attended West Point. Two served in the Mexican War (along with a grandson Thomas Johnston Barclay also raised in his household) - and his son Col. John Williams Johnston is noted for his service during the Civil War.
Father of 11 children (some of whom are linked below):
Isabella Johnston 1800-1841 (Mrs. John Young Barclay)
Thomas Johnston 1802-1835 (died in Little Rock, AR)
William Johnston 1804-1805
Alexander Johnston 1805-1845
William Freame Johnston 1808-1872 (Governor of PA)
Andrew Armtrong Johnston 1812-1885
Edward Johnstone 1815-1891
James Johnston 1818-1885
John Williams Johnston 1820-1902
Anna Elizabeth Johnston 1823-1908
Alexander Johnston emigrated to America in 1797. He first went to Carlisle, PA where he stayed with his cousin, General William Irvine, M.D. (former Commander of Fort Pitt). Gen. Irvine counseled him to go west, where he found work with a relative named James Irvine on the Loyalhanna - in surveying.
He spent a year working with surveyors in Butler Co., then removed to Greensburg where he married Elizabeth Freame, grandaughter of Capt. James Johnston, Ranger on the Frontiers who had settled near New Alexandria, PA. Elizabeth Freame (b. Franklin Co.)had been a neighbor in Salem Twp. near the property of James Irvine.
The young couple then operated a hotel in Greensburg, then removed to Pittsburgh where Alexander trained to be an Iron Master. He and his wife then moved back to Westmoreland Co. and bought a large tract of land and opened an iron forge on the banks of the Loyalhanna.
Between 1812 and 1815 Alexander Johnston built a large stone manse with a red roof called "Kingston House" (named for the patent on the land). The house was positioned in a rather odd manner for its locale, facing east towards the mountains, but this due to his being a Freemason,and they built their homes faces "east". But the house is now considered one of the finest examples of early Pennsylvania architecture, and still stand (2013).
The iron forge soon failed. Alexander Johnston then bought into the Stoystown and Greensburg Turnpike Road Company and became one of its principal shareholders. He and his sons helped set up toll booths and repair the road between Stoystown and Greensburg. And he then turned his house into a stagecoach inn for settlers heading west into Ohio (the inn of his friend George Graham in Stoystown and his inn were considered key stopping off points for Ohio settlers, the former even mentioned in histories of Ohio). The house was also frequented by Presidents and was known for a wonderful "punch" served to visitors.
Alexander lived a more transquil life after 1830, finding work as sheriff and other public positions in the ocunty. His many sons were commended for their service to the country, two or more of which attended West Point. Two served in the Mexican War (along with a grandson Thomas Johnston Barclay also raised in his household) - and his son Col. John Williams Johnston is noted for his service during the Civil War.
Father of 11 children (some of whom are linked below):
Isabella Johnston 1800-1841 (Mrs. John Young Barclay)
Thomas Johnston 1802-1835 (died in Little Rock, AR)
William Johnston 1804-1805
Alexander Johnston 1805-1845
William Freame Johnston 1808-1872 (Governor of PA)
Andrew Armtrong Johnston 1812-1885
Edward Johnstone 1815-1891
James Johnston 1818-1885
John Williams Johnston 1820-1902
Anna Elizabeth Johnston 1823-1908
Husband of Elizabeth Freame. Father of William Freame Johnston the 11th Governor of Pa 1848-52.
Alexander Johnston emigrated to America in 1797. He first went to Carlisle, PA where he stayed with his cousin, General William Irvine, M.D. (former Commander of Fort Pitt). Gen. Irvine counseled him to go west, where he found work with a relative named James Irvine on the Loyalhanna - in surveying.
He spent a year working with surveyors in Butler Co., then removed to Greensburg where he married Elizabeth Freame, grandaughter of Capt. James Johnston, Ranger on the Frontiers who had settled near New Alexandria, PA. Elizabeth Freame (b. Franklin Co.)had been a neighbor in Salem Twp. near the property of James Irvine.
The young couple then operated a hotel in Greensburg, then removed to Pittsburgh where Alexander trained to be an Iron Master. He and his wife then moved back to Westmoreland Co. and bought a large tract of land and opened an iron forge on the banks of the Loyalhanna.
Between 1812 and 1815 Alexander Johnston built a large stone manse with a red roof called "Kingston House" (named for the patent on the land). The house was positioned in a rather odd manner for its locale, facing east towards the mountains, but this due to his being a Freemason,and they built their homes faces "east". But the house is now considered one of the finest examples of early Pennsylvania architecture, and still stand (2013).
The iron forge soon failed. Alexander Johnston then bought into the Stoystown and Greensburg Turnpike Road Company and became one of its principal shareholders. He and his sons helped set up toll booths and repair the road between Stoystown and Greensburg. And he then turned his house into a stagecoach inn for settlers heading west into Ohio (the inn of his friend George Graham in Stoystown and his inn were considered key stopping off points for Ohio settlers, the former even mentioned in histories of Ohio). The house was also frequented by Presidents and was known for a wonderful "punch" served to visitors.
Alexander lived a more transquil life after 1830, finding work as sheriff and other public positions in the ocunty. His many sons were commended for their service to the country, two or more of which attended West Point. Two served in the Mexican War (along with a grandson Thomas Johnston Barclay also raised in his household) - and his son Col. John Williams Johnston is noted for his service during the Civil War.
Father of 11 children (some of whom are linked below):
Isabella Johnston 1800-1841 (Mrs. John Young Barclay)
Thomas Johnston 1802-1835 (died in Little Rock, AR)
William Johnston 1804-1805
Alexander Johnston 1805-1845
William Freame Johnston 1808-1872 (Governor of PA)
Andrew Armtrong Johnston 1812-1885
Edward Johnstone 1815-1891
James Johnston 1818-1885
John Williams Johnston 1820-1902
Anna Elizabeth Johnston 1823-1908
Alexander Johnston emigrated to America in 1797. He first went to Carlisle, PA where he stayed with his cousin, General William Irvine, M.D. (former Commander of Fort Pitt). Gen. Irvine counseled him to go west, where he found work with a relative named James Irvine on the Loyalhanna - in surveying.
He spent a year working with surveyors in Butler Co., then removed to Greensburg where he married Elizabeth Freame, grandaughter of Capt. James Johnston, Ranger on the Frontiers who had settled near New Alexandria, PA. Elizabeth Freame (b. Franklin Co.)had been a neighbor in Salem Twp. near the property of James Irvine.
The young couple then operated a hotel in Greensburg, then removed to Pittsburgh where Alexander trained to be an Iron Master. He and his wife then moved back to Westmoreland Co. and bought a large tract of land and opened an iron forge on the banks of the Loyalhanna.
Between 1812 and 1815 Alexander Johnston built a large stone manse with a red roof called "Kingston House" (named for the patent on the land). The house was positioned in a rather odd manner for its locale, facing east towards the mountains, but this due to his being a Freemason,and they built their homes faces "east". But the house is now considered one of the finest examples of early Pennsylvania architecture, and still stand (2013).
The iron forge soon failed. Alexander Johnston then bought into the Stoystown and Greensburg Turnpike Road Company and became one of its principal shareholders. He and his sons helped set up toll booths and repair the road between Stoystown and Greensburg. And he then turned his house into a stagecoach inn for settlers heading west into Ohio (the inn of his friend George Graham in Stoystown and his inn were considered key stopping off points for Ohio settlers, the former even mentioned in histories of Ohio). The house was also frequented by Presidents and was known for a wonderful "punch" served to visitors.
Alexander lived a more transquil life after 1830, finding work as sheriff and other public positions in the ocunty. His many sons were commended for their service to the country, two or more of which attended West Point. Two served in the Mexican War (along with a grandson Thomas Johnston Barclay also raised in his household) - and his son Col. John Williams Johnston is noted for his service during the Civil War.
Father of 11 children (some of whom are linked below):
Isabella Johnston 1800-1841 (Mrs. John Young Barclay)
Thomas Johnston 1802-1835 (died in Little Rock, AR)
William Johnston 1804-1805
Alexander Johnston 1805-1845
William Freame Johnston 1808-1872 (Governor of PA)
Andrew Armtrong Johnston 1812-1885
Edward Johnstone 1815-1891
James Johnston 1818-1885
John Williams Johnston 1820-1902
Anna Elizabeth Johnston 1823-1908
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