He received a superior education and studied law, but on the opening of
the Civil War he entered the Confederate service as a private; and his
courage, ability, and character soon raised him to the rank of Brigadier
General, and he saw service in all the battles of northern Virginia, was
wounded at Seven Pines twice, and was in those of Spottsylvania,
Gettysburg, and Harris Hill. His brigade covered the retreat of General
Early from Winchester. At the close of the war he was admitted to the bar
and practiced in Charolotte, North Carolina, for twenty years. In 1887 he
removed to Birmingham, Alabama, where he became president of the
Birmingham National Bank until 1895. Later he was appointed Register of
the United States Land Office at Montgomery. He was a brother of Governor
Johnston of Alabama and one of the leading citizens of the States in
which he lived. (Moreheads of North Carolina)

Mrs. Johnston, a woman of distinguished Christian character and activity,
was for fifteen years greatly devoted to rescue and welfare work in
prisons of her state, and out of this grew her enlistment of the interest
of the Women's Clubs of Alabama and their choice of ther to secure the
State's creation of a Boys' Reform Industrial School, now long successful
operation at East Lake, Alabama, of whose governing board she has been
president since its organization in 1900. During this same period Mrs.
Johnston has been vice-regent of Mount Vernon for Alabama , and has made
most distinguished additions to the collection there. (Morehead Family of
North Carolina)