The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-06-21

sketch Of the Past Career feur next Vice Presi-
er.f dent ''ll ai 81

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sketch Of the Past Career ofeur next Vice Presi-
Sr+s dent t-aa .l'
Hi.&NFF'a s1di G7Ils-f l7 ensi'as sd 81.
From the American Cycloledis. ~
Andrew Johnson, Of Tennessee, was
born in Raleigh, North Carolina, De-
cember 20, 1908. When he was four
years of age he lost his father, who died
from the effects Of excrtions to save a
friend from drowning. At the age Of
ten he was apprenticcd to tailor in his
native city, with whom lie served seven
years. Hismother was unable to afford
him any educational advantages, and he
never attended school a day in his life.
While learning his trade, however, he
resolved to make an effort to educate
himself His anxiety TO he able TO read
was particularly excited by All incident
which is worthy of mention. A gen
tleman of Raleigh was in the habit Of
going into the tailor's shop and reading
while the journeymen and apprentice
were at work y He was an excellent
reader, and his favorite book was n vol
ume of speeches, principally of English
statesmen. Johnson became interested
and his first ambition was to equal him
rs a reader, and become familiar with
those speeches. He took up the alpha
bet without an instructors; but by APP
plying to the journeymen with whom he
worked, be obtained little assistance.
Having acquired knowledge of the let
ters, he applied for the loan of the book
which he had so often heard read. The
owner made him present of il, and
gave him some instruction on the use OF
letters in the formation of words. Thus
his first exercises in spelling We're in
that book. BY perseverance he learn
ed to read, and the hours which he de.
voted to his education were at night af.
ter he ives through his daily labor upon
the the shop board. lie now applied
himself to books from two or three
hours every night, after working from
0to ~ hours ut his trldo.
/ Having completed his apprenticeship
in the autumn Of 1924, he went to Lau
rens Court House, 5. c., where he
worked rs journeyman for nearly
two years. While there he became en-
gagged to be married, but the match was
broken off by the violent opposition OF
the girls mother and friends. the ground
of objection being Mr.. Johnson's youth
and want of pecuniary means. In
/ May, 1920, he returned 10 Raleigh,
where he procured jorneyman work, and
remained until December He then set
out to seek his fortune in the Wcst, car
rying with him his mother, who was
dependant on him for support. He
stopped ut Greenville, Tenn, and com
mcnced work as journeymm. He re-
manned there about twelve months, mar
/ Red. and soon after went still further
westward; but failing to find q suitable
place to settle, he returned to Green
vile and commenced business. ii set
Up to this time his education was
limited to reading: us he never had al
opportunity oflearning 10 write or ci
phcr; but under the instruction of hi,
wife he learned those and other branch
es. The only time, however, he could
devote to them was in the dead of night
! The first Office he ever held was that o
Alderman of the village, to which he
was elected in 1928. lie was re-elect
ed to the same position in 1929, and
again in 1880. In that year he was
chosen Mayor, which position he held
for three years.
! In 1885 he was elected TO the Legis
lature. In the session Of that year h,
took decided ground against n scheme
ofintenal improyements,w which he con
/ tended would not only prove failure
I but entail upon the State a burdensom,
debt. The measure was popular, how
ever, aud ut the next election q s37) ht
was defeated. lie became candidate
again in 1880. BY, this time. many o
the evils he had predicted from the in
tcrnal Improvement policy which wa,
adopted four years previous were full,
demonstrated. and he was elected by
large majority.
In 1910 he served as prcsidentia
elector ofthe State atlarge on the Dem
oerat ticket lie canvassed a large por
ton of the State, meeting upon tn,
stump several of the leading Wing ora
tors. In ls4l he was elected to tn,
State Senate. In 1912 he was elected
i to Congress, where by successive elec
tons, he served until 1853. Dm.ins
this period Of service he was conspicu
ons and active in advocating, respect
lively, the bill for refunding the fine i'm
posed upon Gen. Jackson at New Or
leans in 1915, the annexation of Texas
the tariff Of 1916, the war measures o
Mr.. Polk's administration, and a home
stead bill.
n In 1853 he was elected Governor O