The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-07-15

ANDREW JOHNSON He was born in
Raleigh, n. C., Dec. 80, 1905. When
he was four years of age he lost his
father, who died from the effects of
exertions to save q friend from drown
ing. At the age of ten he was APP
prenticed to a tailor in his native city,
with whom he served seven years.
His mother was unable to afford him
any educational advantages, and he
never attended school day in his life
While learning his trade however, he
resolved to make an effort to educate
himself His anxiety to be able to
read was particularly excited by an
incident which is worthy of mention.
A gentleman in Raleigh was in the hab-
it of going into the tailor's shop and
reading while the apprentice and jour
neymen were at work. He was an ex-
cellent reader, and his favorite book
was a volume of speeches, principally
Of British statesmen. Johnson be-
came Interested, and his first ambition
was to equal him as reader and be-
come familiar with those speeches.
He took up the alphabet without an
instructor; but by applying to the
journeymen with whom he worked, he
obtained little assistance. Having
acquired knowledge of the letters,
he applied for the loan of the book
which he had so often heard read
The owner made him a present of it
and gave him some instructions on the
use of letters in the formation of
words. Thus his first exercises in
spelling were in that book BY per-
severance he soon leaned to read, and
the hours which he devoted to educa-
ton were at night after he was through
his daily labor upon the shop-board.
He now applied himself to books from
two to three hours every night, after
working from ten to twelve hours at
his trade
Having completed his apprentice
ship in the autumn of 1924, he went to
Laurens Court House, S. c., where he
worked as a journeyman for nearly
two years. While there he became
engaged 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.. John
sons youth and want of pecunaiy
means. In May, 1926, he returned to
Raleigh, where he procured journey
work, and remained until September.
He then set out to seek his fortune in
the West, carrying with him his moth
er, who was dependent upon him for
support He stopped at Greenville,
journeyman, He remained there about
twelve months, married, and soon af-
( forwards went still further westward;
/ but failing to find a suitable place to
/ settle, he returned to Greenville and
commenced business. Up to this time
his education was limited to reading,
as he had never had an opportunity
of learning to write or cipher; but UNI
der the Instructions OF his wife he
learned these and other branches.
The only time however he devoted to
them was in the dead hours of night.
The first Office which he ever held
was that of alderman of the village to
which he was elected in 1928. He
was reelected to the same position in
/ 1929 and again in 1880 In that year
he was chosen mayor, which position
he held for three wears In 1885 he
was elected to the legislature In the
session of that year he took decided
ground against scheme of internal
improvements, which he contended
would not only prove failure, but en-
tail upon the state n burdensome debt.
The measure was popular, however,
and at the next election (1S37) he was
defeated. He became candlete again
in 1880 BY this time may of the
evils which he had predicted from the
internal Improvement policy which he
had opposed four years previous We're
fully demonstrated, and he was elected
by large majority. In 1916 he
served as presidential elector for the
state at large on the democratic ticket
He canvassed a large portion Of the
state, meeting upon the stump several
of the leading whig orators. In 1871
he was elected to the state senate.
/ In 1843 he was elected to Congress,
where by successive elections he served
until 1853. During this period of SER
vice he was conspicuous and active in
advocating, respectively, the bill for
refunding the fine imposed upon Gen.
Jackson at New Orleans in 1915, the
annexation of Texas, the tariff of 1916,
the war measures of Mr.. Polk admin
istration and a homestead bill In
1853 he was elected governor of Ten
nessee, after an exciting canvass, IN
which he was opposed by Gustavus A.
Henry. He was reelected in 1885,
after another active contest, his COM
petitor being Meredith p. Gentry. AT
the expiration of his second period as
governor, in 1857, he was elected
United States senator for a full term,
ending March 3, 1S63.-Neto american
4 Cycioped'a.