Isaac Worthington Johnston was one of the few living Union Veterans in 1936. He was of large physique, with flowing white beard and hair.

"Isaac Koon was the last of our Company to die," he said. "We used to talk of the old times and of our comrades in Co. B. There is one veteran living who belonged to Co. A., James McAllister, who belonged to 6th WVa. Regiment. There were 1600 of us discharged at Wheeling, June 10, 1865."

April 19, 1936, Mr. Johnston observed his 87th birthday on his 57 acre farm at Mobley, several miles from Smithfield.

He was born in 1849, 3 miles above Mannington, on Pyles Fork. His father, Jacob Johnston and his mother, Harriet (Smith) Johnston. The family consisted of five boys and four girls, among them, Felix S., who died at Martins Ferry, Ohio, 1936; Martha Va Hill, b. Sept 3, 1854, lived Moundsville and Harriet E. Chamberlain, b. Dec. 15, 1861, and lived in Rayland,Ohio.

Recalling his childhood he said Mannington was first called Man Town, because of three or four bachelors who lived there.

"The first circular saw mill was located at the first railroad bridge above Mannington on the Pritchard farm. Hose Hawkenberry was their first driver. John Robinson 'Lumber King' came to Mannington representing Ins Co. at the time of the first oil boom. He went into partnership with Mr. Marr buying and selling oil barrel staves. My father, grandfather and three of my uncles on my mother's side were in the War."

He married Nancy, the daughter of Ezekiel and Polly Gray, on March 1, 1868, on Teavenbaugh Run, Marion County, by Rev. Mr. Fortney. She died May 17, 1914.

Five generations living in 1936 were: Mr. Johnston, his daughter Mrs. Ella Johnston Hill-Brandt of big Elk, near Wallace, Harrison County; her daughter Mrs. Lossie Hill Hayes, of Smithfield; Mrs. Hayes' daughter, Mrs. Lillian Gilbert and son of Paden City.

Original Source: "Wheeling Intelligencer", republished in "The Echoer", transcribed by K. Torp