 Douglas H. Johnston was born at Sculliville, Choctaw Nation, October 13,
1856. He is the son of Colonel John Johnston, Sr., a white man, who immigrated
with the Six-Town Choctaws to the Indian Territory from Mississippi. Colonel
Johnston acquired his title in the Seminole War, and was a cousin of General
Joseph E. Johnston, of Confederate fame. He was a land speculator and a
prominent lawyer of Mississippi. On coming to the territory, he was married to
the widow of Isaac Moncrief, a half-breed Chickasaw lady, sister of James S.
Cheedle, by whom he had four sons, viz.: William, Franklin, Douglas and
Napoleon. He was a slave-holder, and, just before the war, opened a large farm
on the South Canadian. After the war commenced he moved to Blue, where he died.
His wife did not live long after his death. Douglas was raised by his half-brother, Tandy Walker. He attended school
at Tishomingo and at Bloomfield. In 1881 he was married to Miss Nellie Bynum,
daughter of Turner Bynum, and sister-in-law to Col. G. W. Harkins. She attended
the Chickasaw schools, but finished her education at Sherman, Texas. In 1884 Mr. Johnston took charge of Bloomfield Seminary, to finish the unexpired contract of Judge Boyd. In 1886 his wife died of consumption, leaving one son, Llewellyn by name, but familiarly known as Ludie. Two years later he made application for the contractorship of Bloomfield Seminary. There were quite a number of applicants at the time he applied, but he was selected by the Board of Education. At that time the law required that the contracts, which were awarded for a term of five years, be confirmed by the legislature. Notwithstanding he was allied to one of the political parties, and party spirit ran high, his contract was almost unanimously confirmed, thus showing, that he commanded the respect and confidence of both political factions.  Bloomfield Seminary
Robinson, Frank M., comp. Industrial Denison. [N.p.]: Means-Moore Co., [ca. 1901]. Page 43.  In Sunday, July 14, 1889 he was married to Miss Bettie Harper
with Judge Simon Kemp of the Chickashaw Nation, officiating; after the
ceremony refreshments, consisting of cake, wine, fruits, and ices, were
served to the small group of intimate friends attending the ceremony.
Mrs. Bettie Harper Johnston had been a teacher at the Academy for
the past 3 years. (The Sunday Gazetteer, July 21, 1889, pg.3) By his last marriage he
has a daughter. Under the skillful management of Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, Bloomfield
Seminary has continually increased in interest in an educational point of view.
It is one of the first schools of the nation. An excellent faculty is in
charge, and the school will surely prove a great blessing to the Chickasaw
people.  Bloomfield Academy History Chickasaw Research Native American Research Biography Index Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message.  |
