Robert LeGrand Johnstone

Robert LeGrand Johnstone

Robert LeGrand Johnstone, 1870-1926

• Father: Robert A. Johnstone b. 19 September 1827, d. circa 1876
• Mother: Cornelia Anne Elizabeth LeGrand b. 29 January 1838, d. 15 April 1922

• Robert A. Johnstone and Cornelia Anne Elizabeth LeGrand appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama. Other members of the household included Robert LeGrand Johnstone, Hampden LeGrand Johnstone and Helen Parker Johnstone. Also in the household were cook Eliza Kop (age 21) and nurse Mary Kop (14).
• Robert LeGrand Johnstone was born on 14 September 1870 in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama.
• Cornelia Anne Elizabeth LeGrand appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in New York City, New York County, New York, at 202 Eighth Avenue. Other members of the household included Robert LeGrand Johnstone, Hampden LeGrand Johnstone, Helen Parker Johnstone and Margaret LeGrand Johnstone.
• Hampden LeGrand Johnstone appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Glen Ridge, Essex County, New Jersey, at Ridgewood Avenue and one domestic servant.. Other members of the household included Robert LeGrand Johnstone, Cornelia Anne Elizabeth LeGrand, Helen Parker Johnstone and Margaret LeGrand Johnstone.
• He was a broker, according to the 1900 census.
• He married Caroline Ann Maclaren, daughter of David Maclaren and Catherine Amelia MacGillvray, on 27 February 1907 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, by license, with Rev. W. Herridge officiating. The marriage was witnessed by Hampden LeGrand Johnstone.
• The following appeared on 10 October 1909 in the Charlotte Daily Observer: (Glen Ridge, N.J., Oct. 9) A military wedding took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Johnstone, 100 Ridgewood avenue, tonight, when Miss Natalie Cameron, daughter of the late Adjutant General Francis Cameron of North Carolina, became the bride of Lieutenant Arthur James Hanlon, formerly of Fort Snelling, Minn., now coach for the West Point military academy football team.
       Miss Cameron is a cousin of Mr. Johnstone. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Dr. Shipman of New York, formerly chaplain at West Point. The bride's only attendant was Mrs. Charles Burnett of Fort Snelling, a sister of the bride, who was matron of honor.
       Lieutenant Edward Hayes of Fort Snelling was best man. The bridegroom and his best man were in full uniform at the wedding. Only the immediate relatives of the couple were present at the wedding.
• Robert LeGrand Johnstone and Caroline Ann Maclaren appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Glen Ridge, Essex County, New Jersey, at 100 Ridgewood Avenue and three domestic servants, living next to his mother.. Other members of the household included Helen Irene Johnstone and Robert LeGrand Johnstone Jr.
• He was a manufacturer, according to the 1910 census.
• Robert LeGrand Johnstone of Glen Ridge, and Arthur W. Cash, of Newark, New Jersey, received a patent for a wrapping-machine on 28 February 1911.
• Nate J. Matthews, of Newark, Robert LeGrand Johnstone of Glen Ridge, and Arthur W. Cash, of Newark, New Jersey, received a patent for a conveyor for wrapping and labeling machines 23 April 1912.
• Robert LeGrand Johnstone was the founder of the Chicle Products Company. The plant consisted of five buildings in a quadrangle about 200 yards behind the Johnston residence at 100 Ridgewood Avenue in Glen Ridge.
• He applied for a passport on 27 February 1919 while living in Glen Ridge, Essex County, New Jersey. Appended to the application is the following letter from Robert LeGrand Johnstone at 1 Broadway, New York City: "Confirming my application for Passport made this day to enable me to travel to Nassau, Cuba and the British West India Islands. I desire to state the purpose is for the benefit of my health and to enable me to attend to certain personal affairs of business (not buying and selling)."
• The passport was amended and renewed on 29 October 1919 for the purpose of traveling to Great Britain and France on commercial business, specifically for the sale and purchase of crude rubber for manufacture of chewing gum.
• He arrived at the Port of New York on 12 December 1919 aboard the White Star Line SS Cedric, having departed Liverpool on the 3rd.
• Robert LeGrand Johnstone and Caroline Ann Maclaren appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Glen Ridge, Essex County, New York, at 100 Ridgewood Avenue and three domestic servants, living next to Robert's mother.. Other members of the household included Helen Irene Johnstone, Robert LeGrand Johnstone Jr., David Maclaren Johnstone and Paul LeGrand Johnstone.
• He was a manufacturer, according to the 1920 census.
• Robert LeGrand Johnstone died on 3 December 1926 at age 56 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• His wife Caroline Ann Maclaren became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at Rosedale Cemetery, Orange, Essex County, New Jersey.
• The following appeared on 5 December 1926 in The New York Times: Robert Le Grand Johnstone, president of the Chicle Products Company of Newark, died last Friday of heart disease in Ottawa, Canada, according to word received yesterday at his home, 100 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge, N. J., where he had resided for the last thirty-five years. He went to Canada on Thursday, apparently in good health, to visit relatives of his wife, who before her marriage was Caroline MacLaren of Ottawa.
       He was born in Huntsville, Ala., fifty-six years ago. Besides his wife he leaves three sons and a daughter. No arrangements for the funeral services had been made last night. They will probably take place in Glen Ridge.
       Mr. Johnstone was a member of the Glen Ridge Congregational Church and the Montclair Golf Club. In July, 1924, he purchased an island in the northern part of Little Narragansett Bay, known as Elihu Island, which has long been a familiar landmark to patrons of the Shore Line expresses of the New Haven Railroad.
• The following appeared on 10 December 1926 in The Independent Press: Robert Le Grand Johnstone, a well known resident of Glen Ridge, where he had lived for the past thirty-five years, died suddenly in Ottawa, Canada, last week [while visiting] Mrs. Johnstone's parents and he had only been there a short time when he was stricken with illness.
       The funeral service was held Monday afternoon at the family home, 100 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge, and was conducted by the Rev. D. Clarence Hall Wilson of the Glen Ridge Congregational Church, of which Mr. Johnstone was a member. The interment was in Rosedale Cemetery.
       Besides his wife, Mrs. Caroline MacLaren Johnstone, Mr. Johnstone is survived by four children, Helen, Robert, David and Paul Johnstone. Former Assemblyman Hampden L. Johnstone is a surviving brother.
       Mr. Johnstone was born in Huntsville, Alabama, fifty-six years ago. He had lived a very active life and was president of the Chicle Products Company of 12 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Newark. He was a charter member of the Colonial Club and a member of the Montclair Golf Club.

• Last Edited: 20 Jul 2014

• Charts: Descendants of LeGRAND John & Margaret Chambers