My Genealogy Hound

ADAM SAAM JOHNSTON, carpenter, post office Turtle Creek, was born in North Huntingdon, Westmoreland county, Pa., April 21, 1824. His parents, James and Mary Ann (Saam) Johnston, were natives of Westmoreland county, and of Irish and German descent. Adam S. was reared on a farm, and took up carpenter work at the age of eighteen; later he learned the shoemaker’s trade, and alternated these with the changing seasons. In 1850 he married Mary Jane Wood, and bought property in Buena Vista, Allegheny county. In 1855 he sold out and removed to Gibson county, Ind., where his wife died in a few months. He then returned to Allegheny county with his five children. In 1861 Mr. Johnston joined Co. D 79th P. V., which became a part of the Army of the Cumberland. At Perrysville, the first severe battle of the regiment, he was severely wounded in the left leg by a minie ball; at Chickamauga he was made prisoner, and kept in the rebel prisons of Richmond and Danville for 224 days. In April, 1864 he was paroled for exchange, and, his term of enlistment having expired, he was discharged. At that time he was so reduced by the privations he endured that his constitution was permanently impaired. On his return home Mr. Johnston published his diary, kept throughout his military career. The first edition is nearly exhausted, and it should have a continued sale, as it gives a full account of the experiences which cost many a brave soldier his life.

Since the war Mr. Johnston has made his home in Turtle Creek, and built his present home in 1871. For a time he was employed as assistant superintendent of the Spring Hill coal mine, and has since worked at his trade when his health permitted. In 1865 he married Annie E. Scott, who is the mother of five children, three now living, viz.: Harvey Scott, Anna Margaret and Jennie May; Emily Markle and Hattie died when small. Mr. Johnston’s children by his first wife are Sarah (Means), a resident of McKeesport; Mary Ann (Reece), of Wilkins; John, David and Adam Wesley; two others died in infancy. Mr. Johnston served seven years as assessor and one year as supervisor; in politics he is a democrat. The family are associated with the M. E. Church.