The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-06-25
-5--- 1T7MPORIA. KANSAS SATURDAY. JUNEs25. 1864
ANDREW JOHNSON.
From tie New American -Eneyclopedia.


From tie New American Encyclopedia.
Andrew johnson was born in Raleigh,
n. c., Dec.29. 1903. When he was 4
years Of age he lost his father, who died
from the effects Of exertions to SAFE friend |
from drowning. At the age of 10 he was
apprenticed 10 tailor in his native city, |
with whom be served years. His moth /
er was unable to afford him any education |
al 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 Incl
dent which is worthy of mention. A gen.
tleman of Raleigh was in the habit of going
into the tailor,s shop and reading while thei
apprentice and iourneymen were at work
| He was an excellent reader, and his favor
| lite book was a volume Of speeches, princi-
pally Of British statesmen. Johnson be-
came interested, aud his first ambition was
to equal him as reader and become IA
miliar with those speeches. He took up
the alphabet without an instructor; but by
applying to the journeymen with whom ne
worked, lie obtained a little assistance.
Having acquired a 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 instruction on the use of letters IN
the formation of words. Thus his first ex-
ercses in spelling were in that book By
perseverance, he soon learned to read, and
the hours which he devoted to his education
were at night after he was through his dali
ly 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 com
pleted his apprenticeship in the autumn of
1924, he went to Laureus Court House, S.
c., where he worked as a journeymen 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 aud friends, the ground of OBJ
lection being Mr.. Johnson's youth and
r want of pecuniary means. In May, 1928,
: he returned to Raleigh, where he procured
. Journey work, and remained until Septem-
Der. He then set out to seek his fortune
in the West, carrying with him his moth
er, who was dependent upon him for sup
port. He stopped at Greenville, Tenn,
! and commenced work as a j2urneyman. He
: remained there about twelve months, mar
! ried, and soon afterward went still further
. westward; butgfailing to find a suitable place
TO settle, he returned to Greenvl!e and
commenced business Up to this time his
education was limited to reading. as he hat
never had an opportunity Of learning Il
write or cipher; but under the instructions
: of his wife he learned tbess and othe
branches. The only time, however, b
could devote to them was in the dead 0
= night. The first Office which he ever he'll
:, was that of alderman Of the village, whicl
II he was elected in 1928. He was re-elect
" ed to the same position in $780, and agai
=, in 1880. ] Ia that year he was chosen may
: or, which position he held fer three years
In 1885 he was elected TO the Legislature
;. Ia the session of that year he took decides
" ground against scheme of internal i'm
: provment, which he contended would ne
- only prove failure, but entail upon ID
= state a burdensome debt. The messuI
was popular, however, and at the next cleo
. ton II837) he was defeated. lie becam
- a candidate again in 1889. By this tim
NJ many of the evils he had predicted fror
+. the internal improvement policy which |
m had opposed four years previous were FL
- Iy demonstrated, and he was elected by
- large majority. In 1910 he served as pre-!
:, idantial elector for the state at large on tt
an democratic ticket. He canvassed lar,
r portion of the state, meeting upon II
sd stump several of the leading whig orator
on In ! 84l he was elected to the state senat
In l843 he was elected to congress, wher
- by successive elections, he served unit
of 1853. During this period of service
his was conspicuous and active in advocatin
hes respectively. the bill for refunding the &
an. imposed upon Gen. Jackson at New OElea
h. in 1915, the annexation of Texas, the tar
see of 1e46, the war measures of Mr.. Poll
his administration, and homestead bill.
20 1853 he was elee.ed Governor of Tenressc
an. after an exciting canvass, in which he "
for opposed By Gustavus,A. Henry. He v
sed reelected in 1855, after another act
on. contest, his competitor being Meredith
lad Gentry. At the expiration of his seeo
ked period as governor, in 1857, hs was elect
Itch U. S. senator for full term ending MAJ
re- 3, 1868
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