Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-06-23
Andrew johnson, the New Vice
PresIdent,


President,
He was born in Raleigh, N. O., Dec. 20,
1908. When be was four years of age be
lost his father who died from the effects of
exertioDs to save friend from drowning,
At the age of ten he was spprenticed to a
tailor In his native city, with whom he
served seven years. His mother was un.
able to afford him any educational advan-
tages, and he never attended school day
In his life. While learning his trade, how
ever, he resolved to make an effort to edu-
cate himself. His anxiety to be able to
read Was particularly excited by an Incl
dent which iswortby of MENTION A gen
tleman IN Raleigh was in the habit ofig6-
into the tailor's shop and reading while
the apprentice aad journeymen were at
work. He was an excellent reader, and
his faVerite book was volume of speeches
principally of British statesmen. johnson
became interested, and his first ambition
was to equal him as a reader, and become
familiar with those speeches. He took up
the alphabet without an instructor; but by
app iying to the journeymen with whom he
worked he obtained a little assistance.
Having acquired knowledge of the letters
he applied for the loan Of the book which
he had so often heard read. The owuer
some Instruction on the use of letters in
the formation of words Thus his first ex-
ercises in spelling were in that book. By
perseverance he soon learned to read, and
the hours which he devoted to education
were at night after he was through his
daily labor upon the shop board. He now
applied himself TO books from two to thre
hours every night, after working from ten
to twelve hours at his trade. leia-u
Having completed his apprenticeship in
the autumn of 1924, he went to Laureus
Court House, s, O., where he worked as
jnnrneyman for nearly two years. While
there he became engaged to be married,
but the match was broken of by the vic.
lent opposition of the gIrl's mother aud
friends, the ground of objecsion being Mr..
Johnson's youth and want of pecuniary
means. 10 May, 1926, hereturned to Raleigh
where he procured journey work. aud re.
mained until September. He then set out
to seek his fortune in the West, carrying
with him his mother, who was dependent
upon him for support. He stopped at
GreenVille, Tenn. and commenced work as
jourueyman. h remained there about
twelve months, married, and soon after
wards went still further westward but
failing to find suitable place to settle, he
returned to Greenville and commenced
business. Up to this time his educa-
tton Was limited TO reading, as he had never
had an opportunity of learning to write or
cipher; but under the instructions of his
wife he learned these aud other branches.
The only time however he could devote to
them vasin 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 re- elected
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 legislature. 10
the SESSION of that year he took decided
ground against q scheme of internal i'm I.
provements, which he contended would not
only prove fsilure, but entail upon the
state q burdensome debt. The lneasure
was popular, however, and at the next eIec
tion (lS39) he was defeated. He became a
candidate again in 1889. By this time
many of the evils which he had predicted
from the internal improvement policy
which he had opposed fsur years previous
were fully demonstrated, and be was elected
by large msjority. In ls49 he served AZ
presidential elector for the state at large on
the democratic ticket. He canyassed q
large portion of the state, meeting upon
the stump several of the leading Whig ora.
tors. 1n ls4l he was elected to the state
senate. :
In 1913 he was elected to Congress
where by successive elections he served
until 1883. During this period of service
he was conspicuous aud active in advocat.
ing, respectively, the bill for refunding the
foe imposed upon General Jackson at New
Orleans in 1915. the annexation of Texas
the tariff of ls46, the war measures of Mr
Polk's administration, and a homestead
bill. In 1853 he was elected governor oi
Tennessee, after an exciting canvass, In
which he was opposed by Gustavus A
Henry. he was re. elected in 1855, aftel
another active: contest, his competitor be.
| ing Meredith P. Gentry. At the expira.
tiou of his second period as governor, il
1867, he was elected United States seustol
for full term, ending March 8, 1863.
Net0 American Cyelopedia.