Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Tuesday 14 April 1891, page 5


SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. J. JOHNSTON.

[By Telegraph.] Woodside, April 13.

Mr. James Johnston, of Oakbank, yesterday afternoon was found by a domestic about 7 p.m. in a sitting position on the sofa quite dead. The suddenness of the event has cast a sad

gloom over the whole neighborhood. Mr. James Johnston arrived in South Australia with his father in the beginning of 1839, and at once took up his residence at Oakbank, his father having been one of the original holders of the Onkaparinga special survey. About the first malthouse erected in the colony was esta-blished by the Messrs. Johnston at Oakbank on the site now occupied by the well known brewery. The death of Mr. James Johnston is in startling contrast to that of his brother and partner, Mr. Andrew Galbraith Johnston, who passed away a few years ago after terrible suffering from cancer in the throat. Mr. James Johnston was one of the best-known men in the south, as his firm have business connections and valuable hotel property in all the principal centres of the district. For many years he had taken a leading part in the politics, the commerce, the educational institutions, and the amusements of the district. He has done much to secure the return of nearly all the members for Onkaparinga since the concession of con-stitutional government. He subscribed largely to the Woodside and Mount Barker Institutes, and was one of the founders of the Mount Barker Agricultural Society ; while, with his brother Andrew, he did very much to assist the Onka-paringa racing Club to success. The constancy with which he has adhered to the district in which he fixed his residence more than half a century ago is manifested by the fact that although 44 annual shows have been held under the auspices of the Mount Barker Agricultural Society he was only absent once. Mr. John-ston took a greet deal of interest in the acclimatisation of useful birds and fish. He stocked the district about his home with Californian quail, and filled the Onkaparinga with perch, while in other ways he strove to introduce valuable stock into the colony. Everything likely to advance the prosperity of the southern or eastern districts found a firm friend in Mr. Johnston, who was liberal both with his purse and his labor until added years rendered it necessary that he should conserve his strength. Two years ago, just after the death of his partner, Mr. Johnston had a serious illness, but a year's holiday in England seemed to have set up his strength again, and to the last he carried his age exceedingly well. At a complimentary banquet given to him before his departure for the Continent in 1889 many complimentary things were said con-cerning the rectitude and the usefulness of his career, and there was the ring of true sincerity about all the utterances. Mr. Johnston leaves a widow, who is a sister of Lady Milne, one son (Mr. John Disher Johnston, a partner in the Oakbank Brewery) and several daughters, only one of whom is un-married. His fifth brother is also living, three others having pre-deceased him. Although for some time Mr. Johnston had retired from the active public life of the dis-trict in which he lived he will be greatly missed by a very large circle of friends, while the loss of his genial presence and liberal help will be long and widely regretted.