The Shasta courier., 1865-04-29
President johnson.

The following biographical sketch Of An.
drew johnson, now President Of tho United
States, is copied from the New American
Encyclopedia. The sketch closes with his
entrance into the Senate, since which time
his career is familiar to the public. Like his
predecessor, he is emphatically self made
man, and pre- eminently one of the people:
Andrew johnson, a United States Sena-
tor from tennessee. born in Raleigh, North
Carolina, December 90, 1908. When he was
foury years Of age he lost his father, who died
from the OBJECTS of exertions to save friend
from drowning. AT the oge of ten he was
apprenticed to tailor in his native city,
with whom he served seven years. His
mother was unable to afford him any educa-
tional advantages, and he never attended
school day in bis life. While learning his
trade, however, he resolved to make an effrt
to educate himself. His anxiety to be able
to read was particularly excited by an iEci.
dert which is worthy of mention. A gentle.
man of Raleigh was in the habit of going into
the tailor's shop and reading while the ap-
prentice and journeymen were at work. He
was an excellent reader, and his favorite
book was volume of speeches, principally
Of British statesmen. johnson became inter
ested, and his first ambition was to equal
him as reader and become familiar with
those speeches. lie took up the alphabet
without an instructor but by applying to
the jOurneymen with whom he worked, he
obtained little assistance. Having acqui-
red a knowledge of the letters. he applied for
the loan of the book which he had so often
heard read. The owner made him n present
Of it, and gave him some instruction on the
use of letters in the formation of words
Thus his first exercises in spelling were in
that book. By perseverance he soon learned
to read, and the Eours which he devoted to
his education 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 apprenticeship in the Autumn
of 1924. he went to Laurens Court House,
South Carolina, where he worked as q journey
man for nearly two years. While there he
became engaged to be married. but the match
was broken off by the vinlent opposition of
the girls mother and friends, the ground Of
objection being Mr.. Johnson's youth and
| want of pecuniary means. In May, lo2O.
he returned to Raleigh. where he procured
Journey work, and remained until Septem
ber. He then Set out to seek his fortune in
the West. carrying with him his mother,
who was dependent cpon him for support
He stopped at Greenville, Tennessee. and
commenced work as a journeyman. He re-
mainei there about twelve months, married,
and soon afterward went still further west
ward; but failing TO find n suitable place to
settle, he returned to Greenville and com.
~, ad,
ton was limited to reading. as he had never
had an opportunity of learning to write or
cipher: but under the instruction of his wife
he learned these aEd other branches. The
only time, however, he could devote to them
was in the dead Of night. The first Office he
ever held was that of alderman of the village,
to which he was elected in 1928. lie was
reelected to the same position in 1929. and
again in 1890. 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 he took
decided ground against a scheme of internal
Improvements, which he contended would
not only prove failure. but entail upon the
State burdensome debt. The measure was
popular, however. and ut the next election
(1S37) he was defeated. He lecame can.
didate again in 1885, BY this time many Of
the evils he had predicted from the internal
improvement policy which he had opposed
four years previous were fully demonstrated,
and he was elected by a large majority. In
1910 he served as Presidential Elector for the
State at large on the Democratic ticket. lie
canvassed large portion Of the State, meet
ing upon the stump several of the Wing ora
tors. In 1S4l he was elected to the State
Senate. In 1843 he was elected to Congress,
where, by successive elections. he served
until 1858. During this period of service he
was conspicu-us and active in advocating,
respectively, the bill for refunding the fine
imposed upon General Jackson at New Or.
leans in 1915. the annexation of Texas. the
tariff of 1916. the war measures of Mr.. Polk's
administration, and homestead bill. In
1853 he was elected Governor of Tennessee,
after an exciting canvass. in which he was
opposed by Gustavus A. Henry. lie was re
elected in 1855, after another active contest,
his competitor being Merideth P. Gentry
At the expiration Of his second period as
Governor, in 1857. he was elected United
States Senator for full term, ending March
3, 1863"