HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.



and made two crops of whisky, when he was elected City Clerk and
gave up distilling. He is now serving his fourth term, and it is due
to him to say, that he has, by systematic improvement in books and
forms, so simplified the work that it is now a pleasure where it used
to be irkesome. Mr. Johnston's strict attention and intelligent capacity,
will, no doubt, secure him the clerkship so long as he may choose to
accept it.
    On the twenty-ninth day of April, 1869, Mr. Johnston married
Miss Margaret Gobin, a lady of most excellent domestic character,
and unto them have been born six children, four of whom are living.
Eugenia, Joseph Russell,. Robert Evans and Gilbert Ludson. Miss
Eugenia is of the sweet girl graduate class, and is greatly admired for
her excellent character and womanly graces. The other children are
promising. Mr. Johnston has been, throughout life, an active, intelli-
gent man of business, and, by his honesty, sincerity, and open frank-
ness, numbers a host of friends. He is an active member of both the
Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias Lodges.
    COLONEL JACKSON M'CLAIN was born in Henderson
County, on the fifth day of October, 1816. His father, James Mc-
Clain, was born in Henderson, and was a leading farmer and influen-
tial citizen to his death, in 1839. His mother was Miss Butler, her
father also being a farmer. Colonel McClain was educated at the
common and private schools of his county, and being a young man of
strong mind and retentive memory, he learned rapidly and with ease
to himself. At the age of twenty-three, his father died and left his son
with his large estate to look after, and the younger members of the
family to educate and raise. He performed these arduous duties with
signal ability, and to the satisfaction of all parties concerned.
    Colonel McClain is a very large land owner, and has farmed it
for a great many years on a large scale. The war robbed him of a
large number of valuable slaves, but, notwithstanding that, with his
usual indomitable will-power, he has annually, with the uncertain labor
at his command, grown large crops. He is a continual thinker, apply-
ing his mind to the successful management of his business affairs.
He is a man of sound judgment upon all matters, and his long and
eventful career has proven it. In 1841 he was married to Miss Mary
Watson, and unto them was born one child, Annie. She married Col-
onel A. H. Major, a highly educated gentleman, and he died several
years past, leaving a family of four children, Kate, Jackson, Samuel
and Ella. Mrs. McClain died, and again, in 1869, Colonel McClain
married Miss Carrie S. Hunt, of Warsaw, Illinois. She died a few



813