University of Virginia Library

UNITED STATES SENATOR.

JOHN WARFIELD JOHNSTON.

The subject of this sketch was born at "Panicello," one-quarter of a mile
east of Abingdon, at the home of his grandfather, Judge Peter Johnston, in
the year 1818. He was the son of Dr. John W. Johnston and Louisa Bowen
Johnston. He was educated at the Abingdon Academy, University of South

John W. Johnston.

Carolina, and the University of Virginia. He married
Miss Narcissa Floyd, daughter of Governor John
Floyd and sister of Governor John B. Floyd. He
was licensed to practice law and admitted to the bar
in 1840, and began the practice of his profession at
Tazewell Courthouse. He served as Commonwealth's
Attorney for the county of Tazewell, was elected a
member of the State Senate from the Tazewell district,
and in the year 1859 removed to Abingdon, and
after some years established himself at "Eggleston,"
the name of his country seat, four miles east of Abingdon
(now the county poorhouse). In the year 1869
he became judge of the Circuit Court, which position
he held a little more than ten months, when he resigned to take his seat in
the Senate of the United States. He was three times elected by the General
Assembly of Virginia a Senator in the Congress of the United States from
Virginia, serving from 1870-1883. He died in Richmond in 1890, and his
remains were interred in the Catholic Cemetery at Wytheville. He was
survived by his wife and the following children: Dr. Geo. Ben Johnston,
of Richmond; Joseph B. Johnston, of Richmond; Mrs. Louisa Bowen Trigg,
wife of Daniel Trigg, of Abingdon; Mrs. Sallie J. Lee, wife of Captain Henry
C. Lee; Mrs. Lavalette McMullen, wife of John F. McMullen, of Elliott
City, Maryland, and Misses Letitia Floyd Johnston and Coralie Henry
Johnston.