 In the 1972 presidential election, John Ashbrook ran against incumbent Richard Nixon in some state primaries as an alternative conservative candidate.The Village of Johnstown is part of a four thousand acre (16 km2) tract of land deeded to John Brown, a revolutionary soldier, by President Adams for military services in 1800.Brown sold the property in 1810 for $2.50 per acre to Dr. Oliver Bigelow.