"James, son of William Johnston & Jane Whitehall Johnston held leading town offices, and engaged in settling estates. He was very accurate and exact in all business transactions. In 1885 his grand list in Ryegate was $28,420, it being the largest in town, while he had considerable taxable property in other towns. He was probably the wealthiest man in Ryegate." Gazetteer of Caledonia and Essex Counties, 1764-1887.