Sinopsis

I was born near Ottawa, Illinois, January 6th, 1852, of Scotch-Irish descent.
My great-great-grandfather Johnston was a Presbyterian clergyman, who
graduated from the University of Edinburg, Scotland. My mother's name
was Finch. The family originally came from New England and were typical
Yankees as far as I have been able to trace them. My father, whose full
name I bear, died six months previous to my birth. When two years of age
my mother was married to a Mr. Keefer, of Ohio, a miller by trade and
farmer by occupation. Had my own father lived he could not possibly have
been more generous, affectionate, kind-hearted and indulgent than this
step-father.
And until the day of his ...