Born February 11, 1829, in Jefferson county, Ohio. His parents were Michael and Jane. (Nixon) Johnston. Andrew was the eldest of eight children and grew to manhood in Ohio, where he received a liberal education at Wooster Academy and Ohio Wesleyan University. When not attending school he assisted his father on the farm and taught school. He was married June 10 1855 to Phoebe Rush, a resident of the same county and in the following September they came to Muscatine county, Iowa, coming to Ringgold county the following year. They took 80 acres of government land, built a log cabin and endured the hardships of the settlers. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in the cause of the Union, and was assigned to Company G, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry. He was rapidly promoted to Lieutenant and then to Captain of his Company. He was mustered out at New Orleans in 1865, having received two wounds during his three years of service, never at any time being obliged to leave his regiment. Returning home he filled many offices of trust in the county. He served one term as County Superintendent of schools, two in the State Legislature, and terms as member of the Board of Supervisors.

Born February 11, 1829, in Jefferson county, Ohio. His parents were Michael and Jane. (Nixon) Johnston. Andrew was the eldest of eight children and grew to manhood in Ohio, where he received a liberal education at Wooster Academy and Ohio Wesleyan University. When not attending school he assisted his father on the farm and taught school. He was married June 10 1855 to Phoebe Rush, a resident of the same county and in the following September they came to Muscatine county, Iowa, coming to Ringgold county the following year. They took 80 acres of government land, built a log cabin and endured the hardships of the settlers. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in the cause of the Union, and was assigned to Company G, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry. He was rapidly promoted to Lieutenant and then to Captain of his Company. He was mustered out at New Orleans in 1865, having received two wounds during his three years of service, never at any time being obliged to leave his regiment. Returning home he filled many offices of trust in the county. He served one term as County Superintendent of schools, two in the State Legislature, and terms as member of the Board of Supervisors.