Above copy of tin type submitted by Zane Thomas McIntosh.
Above sketch appeared on the cover of The Cumberland Presbyterian December 17, 1896.

Above photograph submitted by Janet J. Johnston

Rev. Johnston is with his wife, Eleanor Steele Johnston and their son, James Richard Johnston.
Photograph taken about 1865

Sunday, July 22, 1877, was one of the saddest days in the somewhat eventful history of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in California, for on that day one of its greatest, purest, holiest, noblest, and most useful ministers fell asleep and was gathered to his fathers, with those other sainted men, Anderson and Miller, and the innumerable company "around the throne of God forever." The news of this sad event will be a startling and painful surprise to very many dear friends and brethren who had fondly hoped that half a score of years at least might yet be added to a life already crowned with great and useful deeds, and full of the noblest heroism and self-sacrificing devotion to the cause of Christ. It has mantled our own beautiful coast with sorrow, for our loss is very great.

While the whole Church has lost one of its most loyal sons and most laborious and self-denying laborers, the death of "Uncle Tom," as hundreds of our people old and young loved to call him, is peculiarly our loss. It seems irreparable. Among the many brave and beloved men now living, or the dead of blessed memory, whom God has given our beloved Church, he has given us but one "Uncle Tom." If in his great and wise purpose toward our little Zion, it should please our Father in heaven to give us another like him, we must accept it as a token of the divine mercy toward us. But concerning the loss of our beloved brother and affectionate father in Israel, let not our selfish sorrow drown us into forgetfulness of the great and good example which has been bequeathed us, or the blessed hope, the sublime assurance, of an everlasting reunion with our brother in the paradise of God. "For we sorrow not as those who have no hope." He is of the blessed "dead who die in the Lord," and his works do follow him. We shall meet again. It is now too soon, and our hearts all too sad to attempt anything like a detail sketch of the pure life and noble character of Brother Johnston. A volume, it is believed, will in due time be prepared by some one deemed competent among us which will record some of the labors and incidents of his great life. Any information suitable for such a volume will be thankfully received by the writer of this, subject to the order of whoever may attempt the work. For the present we must content ourselves with a few particulars:

The full name of our deceased brother was Thomas McConnell Johnston. He was born near Russellville Kentucky, July 8th, A.D. 1811, of Scotch-Irish parentage. His paternal grandfather fell a martyr to American liberty in the battle of Yorktown. Mr. Johnston in early life gave his heart to Christ, and consecrated his life to the cause of the great Redeemer. He never removed or desired to remove, so far as I am informed, the offering from the alter. While still a very young man he was led by the Holy Ghost to enter upon the work of the Christian ministry. Such a man as Bro. Johnston could never have been induced by an influence less than this to undertake a work for which he never ceased to esteem himself the most unworthy of all the Lord's servants. The record of the ministry thus begun is on high. Its just praise is in all the churches. They will not let it be forgotten. But Uncle Tom's best memorial is in the hearts of the people. He is in their hearts "to live and die with them." This last remark is especially true of the people who composed the churches to which his latest toils and cares were given. They loved him as a father. Old people and young, people of middle age, and children of tender years vied with each other in their unfeigned love for "Uncle Tom." The demonstrations of grief at the large funeral at Winters excelled anything I ever witnessed on any similar occasion.

Brother Johnston's marriage with Miss Eleanor Steele occurred sometime during the year 1837, in Greene County Mo. near the present city of Springfield. Seven children were the result of this marriage, all of whom with their most deeply stricken mother, survive their faithful and affectionate father; whose lamented death is the first to occur in the family or its immediate branches representing some twenty-five grand-children.

Brother Johnston's death occurred at the residence of his eldest son, Finis E. Johnston, Esq., in Napa City, but agreeable to his own request he was buried at Winters in Yolo County. The church at Winters, has been one of the most successful of all our Church enterprises. For this remarkable success the church and community are indebted, under God, to "Uncle Tom." This was the last and crowning work of his life. It was fitting, therefore, that by his own wish this church should have the custody of his precious dust. Rev. C. Yager, who has long enjoyed companionship with the deceased, preached the funeral sermon to an audience overflowing the church. The sermon is justly considered one of the speaker's best efforts. Perhaps it is the best compliment that could be paid it, to say that it was appropriate to the solemn and interesting occasion. The shepherdless flocks to whom he ministered and the bereaved relatives have the most gratifying assurances of the unfeigned sympathy of a very large circle of friends, who weep with them for the loss of one who was so much to all of them as our beloved and lamented "Uncle Tom." But his work is done; he has finished his course and entered into rest. The best monument we can build to him will be the imitation of his virtues and the fostering and perpetuation of his work. By these, "he being dead yet speaketh."
SAN JOSE, CAL.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, August 16, 1877, page 1]

Thomas McConnell Johnston was a native of Kentucky. His ancestors were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. When a mere lad Thomas lost his father and all opportunities for an education. But by hard work he mastered the rudiments of an English education which later on developed into large general knowledge of men and things. Soon after his father's death young Johnston was apprenticed to a blacksmith, with whom he shortly afterward emigrated to Missouri, settling in Johnston County where he continued for some time at the anvil. This was in the early "thirties," perhaps in '31. Mr. Johnston's conversion and call to the ministry followed closely his arrival in Missouri and, like Saul of Tarsus, "immediately he conferred not with flesh and blood," but began to tell the story of the cross. In due time he was licensed and worked through the hard career of a circuit rider, going southward as far as Cane Hill, Ark., and westward to the Indian nation. Everywhere he was heard with pleasure, regarded as an acceptable preacher and "much people was added unto the Lord."

During one of these long excursions Mr. Johnson [sic] accompanied the late Dr. J. B. Logan. The two missionaries alternated in the preaching, until Mr. Logan was laid aside for a time with illness, when Mr. Johnston finished the "Campaign" alone. Dr. Logan said to the writer that he had never heard Mr. Johnston preach what he would call a poor sermon. In addition to his other missionary duties Mr. Johnston also served the American Tract Society as its colporteur, and closely connected the two in all his work. Though always of remarkable modesty and gracious dignity he was possessed of a strategic quality, illumined by genuine humor that often became resourceful to him, as shown by the following characteristic incident. He had halted in front of a corner, or cross-road drinking place on day, and offered to sell some of his books to the hangers on. No one seemed inclined to buy, but rather to make light of him. As he was about to resume his journey one man jocularly proposed to him that if he had a history of the devil he would buy it. Without a moment's hesitancy Mr. Johnston opened his treasures and brought forth a copy of the English Bible, assured his customer that this was the unabridged and original history of his Satanic Majesty. The volume was purchased and the missionary went his way. Years afterward, when the incident had nearly passed from his mind, that student of diabolic biography, now wholly unknown to the missionary, met and reminded him of the incident, making himself known as a regular minister of the gospel won to God by that history of the devil.

After many years of faithful pioneer work in Southwest Missouri, Mr. Johnston, in 1859, made the overland journey by stage to California. There had already been some correspondence between himself and the Rev. Young A. Anderson, of St. Helena, relating to the publishing of a church paper on the coast. The Rev. Jonathan Blair had urged this upon him a year or two before. And when the new synod was organized, soon after Johnston's arrival, he was encouraged to proceed with the enterprise. From that time forward his life and the synod's paper are indissolubly linked. He became a power in those misunderstood days of small things. Commencing with a monthly pamphlet, "The Pacific Cumberland Presbyterian," at Alamo, Contra County, in 1861, the paper grew to a large, first-class weekly, owning a cylinder press and a full newspaper outfit, within less than twelve years. None but Mr. Johnston, and those of his household who wrought and suffered with him, knew, or ever can know through what perplexities he conducted that important enterprise. But the time came when even he could endure the strain no longer. The burden was transferred. Then followed a few fruitful years of pastoral work of which the vigorous church at Winters, in many respects the "best church" in our denomination west of the Missouri, is a conspicuous memorial. Near the beautiful church of this congregation, in the quiet village cemetery, the remains of "Uncle Tommy" rest. Out from the humble sanctuary, draped to his memory, after fitting words of funeral service, conducted by that other veteran, Father Yager, since gathered to his fathers, the fallen shepherd was followed by his tearful flock, and by the whole community, and reverently committed to the Father's care. Mr. Johnston was a man of great purity and piety of life. He was a man of tears and prayers. As a prince he had power with God and with men and prevailed. He did his work faithfully and committed all to God. He rests from his labor and his works do follow him.
St. Joseph, Mo.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, December 17, 1896, pages 8-9]

According to the biography of Rev. A. A. Young's, Mr. Johnston accompanied Mr. Young from LaFayette county, Mo., to the vicitage of Springfield in February, 1836. After a missionary tour through the Southwest they returned home and were ordained April 23, 1836. The same authority asserts that they were present at the meeting of the Presbytery in the dwelling house of Alfred Moore but the author mistaken as to the date of that meeting and the records make no mention of Mr. Young until the second meeting, and Mr. Johnston is first mentioned at the third session. However, Mr. Johnston's name is signed to the first minutes as "recording clerk" and he appears either in this capacity or as "stated clerk" until the division of the Presbytery. his field of labor was in the new Presbytery of Springfield, and when he left that Presbytery in 1848 it was "Resolved that this Presbytery deeply lament the loss of the counsel and support of Bro. T. M. Johnston who has been the faith (in Christ) of this Presbytery." Mr. Johnston assisted in the organization of the First Churches of Springfield and served that church as stated supply. He also ministered to the new Providence church.
[Source: Presbyterianism in the Ozarks: A History of the Work of the Various Branches of the Presbyterian Church in Southwest Missouri, 1834-1907. By E.E. Stringfield. Presbytery of Ozark, U.S.A., 1909, page 371]

1811
Born - July 8, 1811 - near Russellville, Kentucky
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, August 16, 1977, page 1]

1831
Moved to Johnson County, Missouri
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, December 17, 1896, page 776]

1834
Licentiate
[Source: Life and Labors of the Late Alexander Anderson Young, of Missouri, page 188]

1835
Lexington Presbytery
Spring 1835 ordered to ride Lexington Circuit for six month.
[Source: Life and Labors of the Late Alexander Anderson Young, of Missouri, page 30]

1836
Attended a private theological school in Johnson County, Missouri, in February 1836
[Source: Presbyterianism in the Ozarks, page 342]

"In 1836, he [Robert D. Morrow] again opened a school for the young preachers, [in Johnson County, Missouri] and among his students at this time were A. W. Guthrie, A. A. Young, John M. and Finis E. Foster, J. T. Nelson, and T. M. Johnson [sic], who was afterward distinguished as an able editor of our Church paper on the Pacific coast.
[Source: Historical Memoirs: Containing A Brief History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Missouri, and Biographical Sketches of a Number of Those Ministers who Contributed to the Organization and the Establishment of that Church, in the Country West of the Mississippi River. By Judge R. C. Ewing. Nashville, Tenn.: Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1874, page 67]

1836
Lexington Presbytery
[Source: Life and Labors of the Late Alexander Anderson Young, of Missouri, page 37]

1836
Ordained-- April 23, 1836, by Lexington Presbytery in a called session
[Source: Life and Labors of the Late Alexander Anderson Young, of Missouri, pages 37- 38]
[Source: Presbyterianism in the Ozarks, page 371]

1837
Married - February 16, 1837
Eleanor Steele - married in Greene County, Missouri near the present city of Springfield.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, August 16, 1877, page 1]

1837
Spring 1837 moved to the Spring River country, then Barry, but now Lawrence county, Missouri.
[Source: Life and Labors of the Late Alexander Anderson Young, of Missouri, page 45]

1837
Lexington Presbytery
[Arkansas Cumberland Presbyterians, page 309]

1837
August 3, 1837 - pastor of Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Polk County, Missouri
Neosho Presbytery
[Source: Presbyterianism in the Ozarks, page 294]

1838
Neosho Presbytery - Visitor at meeting - April 1838
He was still a member of Lexington Presbytery
Whereas he had settled in the bounds of Neosho Presbytery he was requested to preach at New Providence, Kickapoo, Shiloh, and Salem congregations.
Recording Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Neosho Presbytery, April 3-4, 1838]

1838
Neosho Presbytery - Present at meeting - October 2-3, 1838
Presented a letter of dismission and recommendation as having been a member of Lexington Presbytery and was received.
Recording Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Neosho Presbytery, October 2-3, 1838]

1839
Neosho Presbytery - Present at meeting - April 2-3, 1839
Moderator
Stated Clerk
Recording Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Neosho Presbytery, April 2-3, 1839]

1839
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting, October 24, 1839
Clerk
Stated Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, October 24, 1839]

1840
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting - April 7, 1840
Clerk
Recording Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, April 7, 1840]

1840
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting - September 29, 1840
Stated Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, September 29, 1840]

1841
Ozark Presbytery
Absent from meeting - March 9, 1841
Recording Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, March 9, 1841]

1841
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting - October 14, 1841
Moderator
Recording Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, October 14, 1841]

1841
Ozark Presbytery
Absent from meeting - December 4, 1841
Recording Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, December 4, 1841]

1842
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting - April 5, 1842
Stated Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, April 5, 1842]

1842
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting-- October 11, 1843
Resigned as Stated Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, October 11, 1843]

1843
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting - April 4, 1843
Clerk
Appointed Treasurer
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, April 4, 1843]

1843
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting - October, 1843
Pastored New Providence congregation
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, October, 1843]

1844
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting - April 2, 1844
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, April 2, 1844]

1844
May 19, 1844, organized First Cumberland Presbyterian Church,Springfield, Missouri and served as its first pastor.
[Source: Book II Section II Missouri Book and Presbyterianism in the Ozarks, page 339]

1844
Appointed a general agent to solicit funds for Spring River Academy in Dade County, Missouri (this locality now in Lawrence County a few miles north of Bower's Mill.
[Source: Presbyterianism in the Ozarks, page 303]

1845
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting - April 1, 1845
Moderator
Appointed general agent for Spring River Academy
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, April 1, 1845]

1845
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting - October 3, 1845
Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, October 3, 1845]

1846
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting - April 3, 1846
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, April 3, 1846]

1846
Ozark Presbytery - [Arkansas Synod]
Present at meeting - October 2, 1846
Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, October 2, 1846]

1847
Springfield Presbytery [Arkansas Synod]
organized April 1847
[Source: Arkansas Cumberland Presbyterians, page 54]

1847
Springfield Presbytery [Arkansas Synod]
Present at meeting - April, 1847
Stated Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Springfield Presbytery, April, 1847]

1847
Springfield Presbytery [Arkansas Synod]
Present at meeting - September, 1847
Stated Clerk
[Source: Minutes of Springfield Presbytery, September, 1847]

1847
Springfield Presbytery [Arkansas Synod]
Present at meeting - October 19, 1847
Stated Clerk of Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of Springfield Presbytery, October 19, 1847]

1848
Springfield Presbytery
Present at meeting - March 17, 1848
Served as clerk
[Source: Minutes of Springfield Presbytery, March 17, 1848]

1848
Springfield Presbytery
Present at meeting - October 6, 1848
Appointed Treasurer for the Presbytery
Served as recording clerk for this meeting
[Source: Minutes of Springfield Presbytery, October 6, 1848]

1849
Springfield Presbytery
Present at meeting - March 30, 1849
Resigned as Stated Clerk, Presbyterial Treasurer and Trustee of Spring River Academy; and asked for and obtained a letter of dismission and recommendation from this presbytery.
[Source: Minutes of Springfield Presbytery, March 30, 1849]

1849
Ozark Presbytery
Presented a letter of dismission and recommendation, from Springfield Presbytery, and was received a member of this-- October 11, 1849.
Pastored Neosho congregation (formerly called New Salem)
Appointed trustee of Spring River Academy
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, October 11, 1849]

1850
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting - March 29, 1850
Pastored Shoal Creek congregation
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, March 29, 1850]

1850
Ozark Presbytery
Present at meeting - October 9, 1850
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, October 9, 1850]

1851
Ozark Presbytery
Absent from meeting - April 3, 1851
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, April 3, 1851]

1851
Ozark Presbytery
Absent from meeting - July 17, 1851
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, July 17, 1851]

1851
Ozark Presbytery
Absent from meeting - October 9, 1851
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, October 9, 1851]

1851
Pastored Neosho congregation
Resigned as trustee of Spring River Academy
[Source: Minutes of Ozark Presbytery, October 9, 1851]

1852
Ozark Synod
organized October, 1852
[Source: Arkansas Cumberland Presbyterians, page 55]

1854
Ministerial Directory
Member: Neosho Presbytery, Ozark Synod
Address: Neosho, Missouri
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1854]

1859
Moved to California
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, December 17, 1896, page 776]

1860
California Monthly.--A religious Monthly was to have been started in this month by Rev. T. M. Johnson [sic], in California.
[Source: Theological Medium, July 1860, page 509]

1860
Sacramento Synod
He preached the opening sermon and acted as temporary clerk.
October 11, 1860
[Source: Cumberland Presbyterian Quarterly, July 1880, pages 333-353]

1865
Journal of the Church
Pacific Cumberland Presbyterian, Published weekly, at Alamo, California, at $3.50 per annum. Rev. T. M. Johnson [sic], editor, and Rev. T. M. Johnson [sic] & Son, proprietors.
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1865, page 204]

1866
Member: California Presbytery - Pacific Synod
Address: Alamo, California
Attended General Assembly - Owensboro, Kentucky - convened May 17, 1866
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1866]

1867
President - Pacific Board of Home Missions Alamo, California
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,1867]

1868
President - Pacific Board of Home Missions Alamo, California
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1868]

1869
Member: California Presbytery - Pacific Synod
Address: Stockton, California
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1869]

1870
Member: California Presbytery - Pacific Synod
Address: Stockton, California
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,1870]

1871
Member: California Presbytery -Pacific Synod
Address: Monticello, California
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1871]

1872
Member: California Presbytery - Pacific Synod
Address: Monticello, California
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1872]

1873
Member: Pacific Presbytery - Pacific Synod
Address: Monticello, California
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1873]

1873
Pacific Synod Minutes [on microfilm]
October 1873 - Held with the Alamo Church, near Alamo Contra Costa County, Cal.
p. 3-- The retiring Moderator being absent, the last Moderator present, the Rev. T. M. Johnston, called the Synod to order, and a quorum being present, constituted it with prayer.
p. 6 [Oct. 8]-- The Moderator appointed the following Standing Committees: To examine the minutes of Tulare Presbytery-- Revs. T. M. Johnston...
Committee to Report on Sabbath Schools-- Revs. T. M. Johnston...
On Missions-- Revs. ... T. M. Johnston...
p. 7-- The Synod's Permanent Committee on Missions, through their [p. 8] Chairman, Rev. T. M. Johnston, submitted their report which was also referred to the standing Committee on Missions.
...
The closing prayer was offered by Rev. T. M. Johnston.
[Oct. 10]
p. 11-- The members were all present as on yesterday except Revs. T. [p. 12] M. Johnston, ...
p. 13-- Report of the Committee on Missions
...
Rev. T. M. Johnston, in his report as Chairman of the Permanent Committee on Missions, asks to be relieved from the Chairmanship of said Committee
p. 14-- The following is the report of the Chairman of the Permanent Committee on Missions, to which reference is made in the foregoing report:
To the Moderator and members of Pacific Synod of the C. P. Church:
As Chairman of your Missionary Committee, I ask leave to submit the following report:
Since the last report of your Committee, your Committee held one meeting, and made arrangements with Rev. W. N. Cunningham to continue as a General Missionary, and superintend the work so auspiciously begun, and the Committee anticipated that by this time every congregation would be regularly and systematically organized under the recommendation of your Reverend Body and upon the plan agreed upon by your Committee, and that many little rivulets would now have been pouring their streams regularly and systematically into the offerings of God, swelling your Missionary Treasury into a stream of no mean proportions.
But soon after your last adjournment, the "Pacific Observer" was transferred to the Atlantic States, thus depriving your Church of her former medium of communication, and materially blocking up the way of your Committee's agent. The agent wrote to the Chairman of your Committee, asking what he should do. The Chairman advised him (in the absence of any counsel from other members of your Committee,) to pursue his work as vigorously as possible under certain conditions; since which time the chairman has not heard from the agent, the Treasurer nor any member of the Committee.
There has been no meeting of the Committee since your last adjournment, simply because your Committee did not agree upon any time to hold stated meetings, but left it to the Chairman to call meetings of the Committee when it was necessary, and as no member has asked for a meeting, and as the Chairman did not know the address of the Missionary agent, nor the Treasurer, he has had no communication with them, no meeting of the Committee, nor does he know what has been doing. The Chairman is of the opinion that no better plan can be adopted for carrying on the missionary work than the one you have, with a very little alteration. The plan is so simple and so easy that if the members of the Church will not work up to it they will not work up to anything, and I would suggest that you keep it before the minds of the people and urge it upon your ministers.
I suggest also that there ought not to be more than three or five at the most members of said Missionary Committee, and they as nearly together as possible.
I suggest also that the action of the last Synod, which continued me as chairman of the Committee contrary to the original design, be repealed, and the original design be carried out.
Respectfully,
T. M. Johnston
p. 21-- Church Directory
Rev. T. M. Johnston, Monticello, California
p. 22-- Synodical Committee on Missions
Rev. T. M. Johnston, Chairman

1874
Member: Pacific Presbytery - Pacific Synod
Address: Monticello, California
Stated Clerk
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1874]

1875
Member: Pacific Presbytery - Pacific Synod
Address: Monticello, California
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1875]

1876
Member: Pacific Presbytery - Pacific Synod
Address: Monticello, California
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1876]

1877
Member: Pacific Presbytery - Pacific Synod
Address: Monticello, California
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1877]

1877
Pacific Presbytery - met with Winter's congregation, October 5, 1877.
The following was adopted by a rising vote:
Whereas, God in his Allwise Providence has, since the last meeting of our presbytery, removed from us by death, Rev. T. M. Johnston, a highly respected and useful member of this Presbytery; therefore,
Resolved, That in his death we have sustained an irreparable loss.
2. That we will cherish an affectionate remembrance of his Godly example as a christian and minister of the gospel.
3. That it becomes us to follow in the footsteps of one of such worthy example.
4. That we bow with humble submission to the divine will, and deeply sympathize with his bereaved family.
5. That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded, by the Stated Clerk, to Sister Johnston.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, November 1, 1877, page 5]

1877
Died - July 22, 1877, in Napa City, California
buried at Winters, Yolo County, California
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, August 16, 1877, page 1]

1878
Mortuary List - Member of Pacific Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1878]

The Ladies' Pearl
Vol. VII No. 11
(St. Louis and Alton, July 1860)
On Microfilm
T. M. Johnston, Alamo, Cal., 3.
We are specially pleased to hear from Bro. Johnston. Glad to hear that he and family all arrived safely in the golden land. Hope his residence there may be fruitful of great good.

The Ladies' Pearl
Vol. 8 No. 3, Nov. 1860, p. 94
The Editor's Table
Bro. Johnston is doing a good work for us in California. We wish our brethren near at home were doing as well. Bro. J. says, "It will not do for him to excel Bro. Dooley, or his fair competitor in the sunny South." Yes it will do. We will risk it. We would just as soon have brother Johnston take the lead as any of them.

During the same period the Cumberland Church endeavored to found no less than three educational institutions. The Sonoma College was early organized, and in the years 1860-1872 had the advantage of having as its head on of the most consecrated and able pioneer educators, the Rev. T. M. Johnston, D.D. When he entered upon his work in the college he found it encumbered with a debt of $12,000, which, by indefatigable efforts he cleared away. But event he good evangelicals of the Cumberland Church in those pioneering times refused to remain united. They established also the Union Academy at Alamo, and the San Joaquin College, near Stockton, thus dividing the meager support of the field and diverting the energies of the workers into unseemly wrangling. After a brief career of struggle in which they were at times liberally patronized, and were enabled to accomplish a lasting good in the training of human lives which would otherwise have been destitute of such training, nevertheless, these several institutions having all lost their property by fire within a brief period, and being without endowment, ceased to exist.
[Source: The Presbyterian Church in California, 1849-1927. By Edward Arthur Wicher. New York: The Grafton Press, 1927, pages 252-253]