Emma Hardesty was born January 9, 1849, in Clark County, Ohio. She came when a baby with her parents to Henry County, Iowa, and afterwards lived in, Louisa and Des Moines Counties. She was married to William Johnston at Washington, Iowa, March 1870, and with her husband moved to Audubon County, Iowa, in 1872 where they lived until 1891 when they settled 6 miles south of Manning in Lincoln Township. In 1908 Mr. and Mrs. Johnston went west to Washington and lived first at Spokane and later at Harrington. Mr. Johnston died two years ago. Mrs. Johnston died at the home of her son, Arthur, while visiting him, January 31, 1913, at the age of 64 years and 22 days The deceased is survived by five sons and three daughters: Frank of Cunningham, Washington; Fred and Robert of Harrington, Washington, Arthur of Medford, Oregon; and B.L. Johnston of Manning. The daughters are Mrs. G.W. Thomas of Medford, Oregon; Mabel and Bessie of Spokane, Washington. The deceased is survived by three brothers: S. Hardesty of Walnut, Iowa; Al of Avoca, Iowa; and Frank of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and by two sisters: Mrs. L. Sanders of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Mrs. Frank Lindsay of Manning.

A loving son, Robert, accompanied the body of the mother from Oregon, to Manning, Iowa, where the funeral services were conducted at the home of the deceased's sister Mrs. Frank Lindsay, February 7, by Rev. E.B. Scoggan in the presence of many bereaved relatives and neighbors. The body was laid to rest in the Lincoln Township Cemetery beside the bodies of her husband and other loved ones.

Thus has passed away another of the old settlers of this community. When Mrs. Johnston came to Audubon County it was all a virgin prairie. Manning was not founded till 8 years later. The hardships of those days were such that only the hardy and courageous would endure them. The desire to have their own home, live independent with faith in the future was all that could allow these hardy pioneers in the prairies of virgin Iowa.