Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/737

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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Mr. Johnston. They then attempted to put their proposed plans into operation but failed to do so on account of the defection of four of their number.

In 1881 the contest was renewed. This time the Re-adjusters were successful, electing a governor and a majority in both houses. They passed the Riddleberger bill, scaling the debt down and reducing both interest and principal. The senatorial elec- tion came on at the session of 1881-1882. Senator Johnston was again nominated by the Democrats but they were outnumbered and the Re-adjusters elected Mr. Riddleber- ger to succeed him.

During the closing term of his service in the senate Mr. Johnston did much to make possible the Centennial Celebration at York- town. The old Continental Congress had adopted a resolution in 1781 for the erection of a monument at Yorktown in honor of the French people for the aid ailorded the colo- nies in the revolution and to commemorate the surrender of Cornwallis. This had been neglected for over a century. A bill was introduced providing for the erection of a monument and also providing for an appro- priate centennial celebration. It was largely through Mr. Johnston's influence that this bill passed the senate. A committee com- prised of senators and representatives was authorized to conduct the celebration and Mr. Johnston was made chairman of this committee. The success of the celebration was due in a large measure to his untiring efforts.

After the expiration of his term in office, Mr. Johnston retired to private life. He lived in and for a time practiced law in Washington, acting as attorney for the Northern Pacific Railroad. - During this period of his life he contributed articles to various magazines, his most frequent con- tributions being to the "Century" and the "North American Review." His health failing, he went to Richmond to reside with his son, Dr. George Ben Johnston, at whose home he died on the 28th of February, 1889.

George Ben Johnston, M. D., LrL. D. Dr.

George Ben Johnston was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, July 25, 1853, and spent the early part of his life in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. He is the son of Senator John Warfield Johnston and Nick- etti Buchanan (Floyd) Johnston. His family

has furnished many noted \'irginians, from whom lie has inherited an intense patriot- i.'-ni and desire to serve his native state.

lie received his first education at the Ab- ingdon Male Academy and later at St. Vin- cent's College, Wheeling, West Virginia. He attended the University of Virginia, two years in the academic department and one years in the medical department, and grad- uated in medicine at the University of the City of New York in 1876. He then prac- ticed in Abingdon. Virginia, for a period of two years, where he was associated with Dr. v.. M. Canii)bell. a man of wide repu- tation in his section. In 1879 he performed the first operation ever performed in Vir- ginia under Listerism, the beginning of an- tiseptic surgery. Fie served several years as adjunct professor of materia medica in the Medical College of Virginia, and in 1884 was elected professor of anatomy. This position he held until 1888 when he resigned on account of the press of a large general l>ractice. Up to this time and for some years afterwards he devoted himself to gen- eral practice and had one of the largest fol- lowings in the city. His surgical work de- veloped out of this was due to a natural aj^titude.

In 1893 he was elected professor of didactic and clinical surgery in the Medical College of Virginia to succeed Professor J. S. Dor- sey Cullen. He entered upon his duties im- bued with a large ambition for the institu- tion and has devoted some of the best efforts of his life to its welfare. In 1896, at his suggestion and to meet the requirements of an advanced curriculum, the chair of sur- gery was divided. Dr. Johnston retaining the title of professor of the practice of sur- gery and clinical surgery. Dr. Lewis C. Bosher being elected to the chair of prin- ciples of surgery. In 1914, however, he re- signed his professorship in the college, but was appointed a life member of the board of visitors.

Dr. Johnston's connection with the Medi- cal College of Virginia formed an interest- ing chapter in its history. At the time of his election in 1893 the course extended over two years only, there was no hospital and about three clinics a week were given, com- posed entirely of walking cases drawn from the dispensary. In accepting the chair of surgery one of his conditions was that a properly equipped hospital should be con-