Throughout the month of March, the Salisbury Post has taken a look back at the feminine figures in local history that have stood out against the backdrop. The women that have been covered this month have ranged in social status, titles and occupations, but each had something in common — they made Rowan County and those around them better for having lived.

Information on this figure was compiled by Elisabeth Strillacci in the Spirit of Rowan 2023 edition.

Sarah Reeves Johnston might have been the original liberal, by today’s standards.

Born in 1822 in Rowan, Johnston was a successful school teacher in her home county. But during the Civil War, she began taking care of all soldiers who needed it, regardless of whether they were Union or Confederate.

Unfortunately, that branded her as a Union sympathizer, and all of her students were withdrawn from her classes. According to the history that still exists, she went so far as to bury soldier Hugh Berry of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in her back yard to keep him out of an unmarked grave. His body was later moved to the National Cemetery here in Salisbury.

Today’s figure will be the final one as the Post’s next issue will hit newsstands on April 2. A special thanks to all who submitted figures for our coverage.