Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel: Notes on Family (1870+), Part IV

From John B. Jackson Map of Columbia, ca. 1850, copied in 1931.*

[Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel: Notes on Family (1870+), Part IV. My rough transcription. Additional paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.

 
Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original documents, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

Benjamin was a most singular child – so silent, so shy, so reserved that even Mother did not understand or appreciate him. He showed such an utter aversion to learning, & gave so little indication of mind, that the parents feared he was absolutely deficient & made no effort to force him to learn.

He spent his days in quiet rambles, in silent reverie, or, more frequently, in hanging over the great deep spring with a pin hook, fishing for minnows, & richly rewarded for his trouble, if he got a single little fish in a day. All at once, however, when he was a lad of twelve, he awoke from his mental slumber – began, under Mother’s instruction, to acquire the rudiments of education, & made astonishing progress. In a couple of years, he was at the [Abingdon] Academy, side by side in his studies with Joe, who had been attending school several years, and had made good progress.

From that time, Benjamin was a devoted and successful student. His perseverance was unyielding. One winter, not being able to find any one to teach him Greek, he resolved to learn it without assistance – he got somebody to give him the sound of the letters, & with that aid only, he soon became proficient in the language. 

When quite young, he was sent to South Carolina College, then one of the very finest institutions in the country. There, after three years’ study, he took the first honor. He then went to teaching, & at the same time studies Law under the direction of cousin William Preston. As soon as he was licensed to practice, he was taken into cousin William’s office as a partner, and became an intimate of his household. He rose rapidly at the Bar, and attracted notice as an eloquent public speaker while yet very young.

At the time of the Nullification movement, he took a zealous part in favor of State rights and made political speeches which were much admired for rigor & clearness. The most eminent men of the State looked upon him as one destined to the highest distinction. But alas! He died of “country fever” before he had completed his 26^th year – died calmly, with his finger on his pulse.

Benjamin Johnston had talents of the highest order. In addition to mental endowments of exceeding excellence, he possessed an extraordinary capacity for sculpture and painting, which was evinced in childhood. Without ever having seen any person attempt to draw, he, by dint of persevering effort, learned to draw exquisitely, & to paint in water color. Had he devoted himself to that, he might surely have attained high eminence.

He was the best, the purest boy I ever knew. I never saw him hurt any creature, & never heard him speak ill of any person.     

When we would, as children be strolling about the fields, I have often seen him turn out of the road to avoid frightening a bird, or step carefully aside to spare the little ants’ nests. As to a vulgar or profane word, such never passed his lips as long as I knew him -- & I can’t recall any instance of his deserving correction. 

It was the boast of “our boys” that not one of them was ever whipped at school, though they sometimes were under teachers who were noted disciplinarians.

My father was extremely strict in the exercise of his authority, having been brought up after the Scottish fashion, and also taught in the army the virtue of subordination. He inculcated the highest sense of truth & honor: & taught us all to endure pain or privation without complaint.

In our early days, he had abundant means: yet we were never pampered or allowed to be waited on. The boys went barefoot: in all kinds of weather they were out of doors: and they hunted deer over hill, mountain & “knob” on foot, often walking as much as twenty miles in a day over a wild & rugged country. These early habits made them universally athletic and healthy – and to Joseph, in his military career, they were invaluable.

Of all my father’s eight sons, but one has handed down the name – the son & only child of brother John. He has eight children, two of whom are sons. William, his oldest son, was drowned in the river at Wheeling, when he was about 18 years of age [in 1869]. He was all that is most loveable in a youth, & gave promise of uncommon excellence. Dear Willie! [H]ow many fond hopes were laid in his grave!

[Above: pages 21-23; skips original page 24.]

[Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Benjamin Franklin Johnston November 18, 1808-November 5, 1834).
Mother = Mary Valentine Wood Johnston (1769-1825).
Joe = Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891).
Cousin William Preston = William Campbell Preston (1794-1860). 
My father = Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831).
Brother John = Dr. John Warfield Johnston (1790-1818).
John = Senator John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889).
William/Willie = William Floyd Johnston (1852-June 3, 1869).

*Red circles indicate possible locations of E. W. & A. S. Johnston's store(s). A clickable version of the full map can be found here, at NOVA NUMISMATICS. ]