In 1850 Living Ohio, Clermont, Ohio, Age 25.

In 1860 Living Rushville, Schuyler County, Ill. 1157

The Rushville Times
The first issue of The Rushville Times was on 30 May 1856. Stockholders were Hon. L. D. Erwin, Leonidas Horney, Peter Campbell, Joseph Montgomery, DeWitt Clinton Johnston, Charles Neill, James L. Anderson, John Scripps, Enoch Edmonston, John Hugh Lawler and Charles Wells. All the members, with the exception of John Scripps, were prominent Democrats, and it was their desire that Schuyler County should have a paper that would support the Democratic party. The stockholders selected DeWitt Clinton Johnston the first editor of The Rushville Times. Johnston was a lawyer and Methodist minister and before coming to Rushville had edited three newspapers in Ohio. He was later elected County Judge in Schuyler County. When Johnston retired on 2 February 1858, he was succeeded by Andrew J. Ashton, who was editor until 9 May 1860, when he retired. A. D. Davies was the next editor. Mr. Davies was a talented editor and had married a daughter of ex-Governor Ford. After being editor for three years, he abandoned his family in Rushville and left for parts unknown and was never heard from again. J. C. Fox assumed editorial charge, and was succeeded as editor in 1866 by E. A. Snively. During most of this time, a lien was held by Charles McCrosky, who foreclosed on his lien forcing the sale of the newspaper. The Rushville Times was sold at Sheriff's sale and was purchased by Edwin Dyson, whose first issue was 2 July 1868. (http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilschuyl/newspapers.html)

Margaret Johnston is said to be buried next to her husband Dewitt. She is buried in the Rushville City Cemetery but I couldn't find a listing for Dewitt. However the database I viewed was for 1901 - 1921 and Margaret died March 16, 1901.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilschuyl/rushcem3.html

Schuyler County, Illinois 1861 Militia Roll Record
D. W. C. Johnston is listed
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilschuyl/1861militarycensus1.html

I have the 1860 census record for DeWitt and his young family in Rushville, IL. He is 36 years old, Margaret 33, James 7 and Harold 1. DeWitt and James have Ohio as place of birth and Margaret is Germany and Harold, Illinois. In 1850 he and Margaret are married and living in Ohio Twp, Clermont Co., Ohio with Elizabeth Bower (Bauer) age 12. Elizabeth was born in Ohio. So the Bauers lived in Ohio before 1838.

These are not the obit in their entirety but there is enough info here. I didn't get them on line but had someone willing to do look ups for me get them.

Rushville Weekly Times--January 31, 1866

Judge De Witt C Johnston,--Died at his residence in Rushville, Illinois, on Sunday morning, January 28, 1866, aged 41 years, 9 months and 4 days. The funeral will take place from his late residence at 11 o'clock today (Wednesday). Next week we will publish a proper obituary notice of the deceased.

Rushville Weekly Times--February 7, 1866

(This one is quite long--a note says that the paper gives the age in this edition as 41 years, 9 months and 26 days. This is a discrepancy from the above obituary. I will try to highlight what is here.)

"Dewitt Clinton Johnston was born at New Richmond, Ohio, April 2, 1824. His father, Dr. James T. Johnston, was one of the most eminent physicians in Southern Ohio; his mother Mary Whetstone, was the daughter of one of the early pioneers, and her sister Ruth is said to have been the first white child born in what is now Hamilton County, Ohio. At the age of five years he lost his mother, and he passed the terrible cholera season of '32 alone with his father, doing all the domestic work that was done and giving out medicines left in his care while his father was laboring with his patients. He has often been heard to remark that he succeeded admirably until it came to doing the washing; but then his genius failed."

Received collegiate education at Oxford, Ohio, Cannonsburg, and Washington, Pennsylvania. " he was at Cannonsburg with Vallandingham, and while Vallandingham received the palm as the best debator, Mr. Johnston was chosen to deliver the valedictory on account of his polished oratorical powers. His success was complete, and the last words had scarcely been uttered when his enthusiastic class-mates and the students lifted him up and bore him in triumph from the hall."

Began his study of law in Batavia, Ohio at age nineteen. United with the Methodist Church in Batavia and in 1844 at age 20 was admitted to the conference. During that time there must have been a split in the Methodist church and Dewitt sympathized with the South and in 1845 went to New Orleans and was in charge of the First Methodist Church there. In 1846 his health was failing and he returned north and settled in Hillsboro, Ohio. Due to prejudices of the church against him he left the ministry and resumed his study of law. He remained in Ohio until 1853 when he moved to Rushville.

"On the 30th of May 1856 he assumed control of this paper and conducted it for two years. In 1857 he was elected judge of the county court and acted in that capacity until 1861 when he was elected county clerk which office he filled until last fall."

He married Miss Margaretta Bower (this is the way it was spelled) at the age of 21.

"On Sunday afternoon, January 21, he was suddenly attacked with paralysis on the left side, and the shock was so severe that for two or three days he could not speak. He lingered until Sunday morning, January 28, when he expired. On Wednesday last his funeral obsequies took place at the Methodist church, Rev. Mr. Bruce conducting the services in the solemn and impressive rites of the Episcopal church- to which denomination Judge Johnston united himself in 1864."

There is another paragraph or so with wonderful descriptive remarks of him in every aspect of life.

Enough for now.
Hope you find this interesting.
Elizabeth Hartzler1167

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS, SCHUYLER and BROWN COUNTIES,
Illinois - 1892 Chicago: Biographical Review Publishing Co., Page 600


DE WITT CLINTON JOHNSTON, deceased, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, April 2, 1824. His father, James T. Johnston, was born at Washington, Pennsylvania, and his father and grandfather lived in Scotland, and on coming to America settled in New Jersey. They removed to Pennsylvania and there engaged in farming until they died.

The father of the subject was a graduate of Jefferson College and became a practicing physician in Clermont county, Ohio, but he spent his last days at New Richmond. His wife was a Mary Whetstone, of Hamilton county, Ohio. She died in the same town as her husband.

The subject of this sketch received his education at the public schools of New Richmond, and from private tutors, and graduated from the same college as his father, in the year 1843. He commenced the study of law at Batavia, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar at Hillsborough, Ohio, and practiced there till 1850, when he removed to New Richmond, Ohio, an opened an office and continued there until 1853, when he came to Rushville and practiced there until January 28, 1866.

He married, in 1845, a lady whose maiden name was Margaret Bauer, a native of Bavaria, Germany. Her grandfather had lived in the same country all his life, and so had her father until 1832, when he resolved to try his fortune in the new world: so with his family he set sail from Havre de Grace in the fall of the same year. His father, Conrad Bauer, also came over to America in the same ship. The trip was made in thirty-three days. From New York, where they landed, the older man went to Ohio by the way of Pennsylvania, making the journey by the canal and stage to Pittsburg, and then down the Ohio river. He located in Brown county, and bought a farm and engaged in tilling the soil until his death.

Mrs. Johnston's father was accompanied by his wife and two children, and he located in the same county as his father, bought a farm, and resided there until 1856, when he sold out and came to Illinois, and located in Rushville township. Here he also bought a farm, on section 25, and engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death.

The maiden name of the mother of Mrs. Johnston was Margaret Heigh. She was born in the same locality as her husband, and spent the last years of her life on the home farm.

Mrs. Johnston continued to reside in Rushville for some time after her husband's death, but she now occupies her father's old homestead in Rushville township. She has two sons living, James B. and Harold W. The former is a graduate of the Chicago University and is a practicing attorney. The second son is a graduate of the Illinois College, Jacksonville, where he is professor of Latin. He is also an author, his first work is entitled "Select Orations and Letters of Cicero."

Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were earnest members of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Johnson was a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, of which he was a member. He was an able lawyer and a fine citizen. His record is one of which his family and friends may justly be proud, not only in his capacity as County Judge, but in the occupations of daily life. Having many advantages which other early settlers did not have, he became well-known throughout the State as a legal authority, as well as a man of literary attainments.