1914 Biography - Joseph E. Johnston, Jr.

Johnston, Hon. Joseph Egelston, Jr. -- By earnest and persistent labor, Hon. Joseph Egelston Johnston, Jr., of Shreveport, has succeeded in the business world, and has gained the confidence of his fellowmen and the honor of an election as a representative of his parish in the lower house of the General Assembly. He is a native of Louisiana, born in Monroe, Ouachita parish, March 27, 1878, the second of 9 children born unto Joseph Egelston and Annie (McClendon) Johnston. The father was born in Alabama, in 1847, and died in Louisiana, in 1910. He was a son of Silas B. Johnston, of English descent. He obtained a good education, graduating at Tulane university. Joseph E. Johnston, Sr., was prominently identified with educational work in this state, and although the last 10 years of his life were devoted to the successful practice of law he was better known as an educator. In Claiborne parish he was associated in educational work with Col. J. W. Nicholson, now professor of mathematics in the Louisiana State university. For several years he taught in the schools of Monroe, and later removed to Bossier parish, where he served with ability as superintendent of the parish schools, and afterward engaged in the practice of law. The early scholastic training of Joseph E. Johnston, Jr., was received under the instruction of his father, and at the age of 14 he began clerking in a store on the Red river, north of Shreveport, and there remained during 3 years, gaining his first business experience. Succeeding this, he attended and taught school alternately, and thereby was enabled to graduate from the normal department of the University of Arkansas, with the class of 1900. Returning to Caddo parish, he secured a position with Glassell Bros., general merchants at Belcher, La., beginning on the small salary of $35.00 per month. He remained 1 year, and then resigned to become manager of a plantation store, a position Mr. Johnston acceptably held for 2 years, and was then induced to go with the New York Life Insurance Co. For 3 years he was with this company, and in 1904 he was the vice-president of the ''one hundred thousand dollar club." Mr. Johnston is a thorough believer in life insurance and carries one hundred thousand on his own life. In 1906, Mr. Johnston moved to Shreveport, and soon became identified with the business life of the city. His remarkably successful career in the real estate business began as agent for the Queensborough Land Co., of which he is now vice-president and manager, and in which he is the largest stockholder. He is a builder in the broadest sense of the term and the success which has come to him indicates genius in that direction. In Shreveport he is known as the "builder of Queensborough," a suburban residence section, which has been transformed in 7 years from a virgin forest to a thickly populated suburb. When he took hold of Queensborough, in 1906, there were perhaps 5 houses in the entire subdivision--today there are more than 500, of which he has directed the building of about 300, and it is still growing rapidly. In 1912, Mr. Johnston was elected to the lower house of the General Assembly. It was the first time he had ever been a candidate for a political honor of any sort, but he was chosen over a number of contestants. His election was an expression of the confidence of the people of his adopted parish. During the 6 years of his residence in the parish, he had earned a reputation as a man of ability and energy. His record as a legislator is one of which his many friends have every reason to be proud, for he has met their most sanguine hopes. March 26, 1902, Mr. Johnston was married to Lillian Virginia, daughter of John Hardy Marshall, of Shreveport. Unto them have been born 3 children: Sadie Vasti, Joseph, and Jack Marshall. Fraternally, Mr. Johnston is a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite Mason, a Shriner, an Elk and a Woodman of the World, and also a member of the Shreveport Golf and Country club. He has taken a commendable interest in all public movements, and is one of the foremost citizens of his parish. His business transactions manifest sagacity and a strict regard for probity. He has forged his way to the front from the station of a poor young man to that of a prosperous and well-to-do man of large and extended interests.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches, edited by Alcee Fortier, published in 1914, volume 3, pages 224-225.