12 for 26: Introducing Thomas Newton Johnston

A new month, a new surname. My great-grandfather, Thomas N. Johnston, was born 25 July 1885 in Texas to Reuben M. Johnston and Olivia Jane Jones. The tombstone photo showing his birthdate is consistent with other records created in his lifetime:[1]

• July 1885, living with his parent Reuben M and Jane Johnson in 1900[2]
• 25 July 1885, as stated on his WW I draft registration card[3]
• 24 July 1885, as stated on his WW II draft registration card[4]
• 25 July 1885, as stated on his death certificate. His wife, Rose Johnston, was the informant.[5]
• 25 July 1885, on the funeral notice.[6]

However, his place of birth has conflicts:

• The obituary and death certificate said he was born in Montague County.[7]
• The WW II draft card he supplied the information for said Coleman County.[8]
• His parents were living in Comanche County in 1880, making this his likely place of birth.[9]

Likely the same informant provided the information for the tombstone, death certificate, and funeral notice. He would have given his own birthdate for the two draft registrations. Possibly one of the parents gave the census information.

He married Nell L. Hutson on 6 June 1907 in Comanche County. The minister, J. R. Fagan, performed the ceremony.[10]

They had six children, five living to adulthood. Tom started out as a farmer, renting a farm in Gustine.[11] By 1918, he worked at the Higgenbotham lumber yard.[12] By 1930, they lived in Stephenville, Erath County.[13]

Nell died suddenly on 14 July 1919, leaving five young children, the youngest only 18 months old.[14] However, Tom did not remarry until 12 December 1931 to Zilpha Etelka Morris.[15] She was the only grandmother my mother knew.

From draft cards, we learn he was 5’10” and weighed 165 pounds in 1942. He had hazel eyes and a ruddy complexion. In 1918, he had sandy hair.

Zilpha died 8 July 1947 in Stephenville.[16] He married a third time to Queen Rosetta Jones on 4 December 1948.[17]

After his retirement, he opened a woodworking shop and did custom cabinetry. He died on 20 February 1951.[18] His obituary from the Stephenville Empire-Tribune is as follows:

"Tom Johnston Dies Tuesday.  

      Thomas N. Johnston, 65, long time manager of Higgenbotham's Lumber Yard here and a carpenter for the past five years, died at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday at his home.
     Born July 25, 1885 in Montague County, Mr. Johnston came here from De Leon 26 years ago.
      Funeral services to be arranged by the Stephenville Funeral Home, are expected to be sometime Friday with burial in the West End Cemetery.
     Survivors are his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Mildred Bay of McAllen and Mrs. Beryl Russell of Sacramento, Calif.; three sons, Thomas N. Johnston, Jr. and Hal Johnston of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Luther Johnston of Santa Barbara, Calif.; three sisters, Mrs. R.E. Huling and Mrs. Edna Couch of Gustine and Mrs. Lawrence Couch of Seymour, and four brothers, R.A., W.A., O.D. and Loyd Johnston all of Gustine, and seven grandchildren."

My grandmother referred to him as Daddy Tom on the back of photos.

My mother and her cousin with Daddy Tom

Next up: Thomas’ parents, Reuben & Elizabeth Johnston.

---

[1] Thomas N. Johnston tombstone photo, West End Cemetery, Stephenville, Texas, taken by Ken Jones; imaged, Find a Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12464454/thomas-newton-johnston : viewed 31 Jul 2026). The author has also seen the stone in person.

[2] 1900 U.S. census, Comanche, Texas, Justice Prec 3, ED 30, sht 1b, household 12, fam 12, Reubin M Johnson.

[3] "U.S., WW I Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918," imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6482/images/005152530_04600 : accessed 31 Jul 2026), Local Board, Comanche Co, Texas, order no. 2106, Thos. N. Johnston.

[4] "U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards 1942, " database and images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1002/images/004145598_02405) Texas > Johnson, Charlie-Miller, Ellis Watson > Johnson, Thomas-Jones, Audley Edward > image 2405 & 2406 of 3657.

[5] "Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982,” imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2272/images/40394_b062379-00722 : viewed 31 Jul 2026) > Erath > 1951 > Jan-Mar > image 31 of 61, no. 7051, Thomas Newton Johnston; citing Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Austin.

[6] “Tom Johnston Dies Tuesday,” Stephenville Empire-Tribune, 23 Feb 1951, p. 1, col. 5.

[7] "Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982,” imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2272/images/40394_b062379-00722 : viewed 31 Jul 2026) > Erath > 1951 > Jan-Mar > image 31 of 61, no. 7051, Thomas Newton Johnston; citing Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Austin. Also, “Tom Johnston Dies Tuesday,” Stephenville Empire-Tribune, 23 Feb 1951, p. 1, col. 5.

[8] "U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards 1942, " database and images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1002/images/004145598_02405) Texas > Johnson, Charlie-Miller, Ellis Watson > Johnson, Thomas-Jones, Audley Edward > image 2405 & 2406 of 3657.

[9] 1880 U.S. census, Comanche Co, Texas, pop. sched., ED 30, p 95a, fam 173, M. Reubin Johnston.

[10] Comanche Co, Texas, marriage records, v. 5, p. 563, Tom N Johnston to Nell Hutson, 1907; imaged in "Texas, Comanche County, marriage records, 1856-1951," imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YSZS-4R3 : accessed 31 Jul 2026), IGN 004478682, image 577 of 668.

[11] 1910 U.S. census, Comanche, Texas, Justice Precinct 3 (part of), ED 7, sheet 1a, p. 168a, dwelling 8, family 8, Thomas N. Johnston.  

[12] "U.S., WW I Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918," imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6482/images/005152530_04600 : accessed 31 Jul 2026), Local Board, Comanche Co, Texas, order no. 2106, Thos. N. Johnston.

[13] 1930 U.S. census, Erath Co, Texas, pop sched, Stephenville, ED 2, sheet 3b, p. 40b (stamped), dwelling 55, family 63, Thomas T Johnston.

[14] “Mrs. Tom Johnson Dead,” Comanche Chief, 18 Jul 1919, p. 5, col. 3. No death certificate has been located for her.

[15] Erath Co, Texas, marriages, v. R, p. 150, T.N. Johnston to Mrs. Zilpha E. Burford, 1931; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PQ9-7FN : accessed 31 Jul 2026), IGN 4820400, image 80 of 808.

[16] “Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982,” imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2272/images/40394_b062310-00089 : accessed 31 Jul 2026) > Erath > 1947 > Jul-Sep > image 4 of 29, no. 29386, Zilpha Etelka Johnston; citing Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Austin.

[17] Erath Co, Texas, marriages, v. U, p. 30, T.N. Johnson to Mrs. Rose Rushing, 1948; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPQ3-PG : accessed 31 Jul 2026), IGN 004820732, image 775 of 1389.

[18] "Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982,” imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2272/images/40394_b062379-00722 : viewed 31 Jul 2026) > Erath > 1951 > Jan-Mar > image 31 of 61, no. 7051, Thomas Newton Johnston; citing Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Austin.

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