Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-04-17

contact with him afording the gratifying as
safe in his hands.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF HIS EX-
CELLENCY PRESIDENT AN
DREW JOHNSON,
Andrew johnson was born in Raleigh. North
Carolina, December 90, 1903. When he WAS
four years of age he lost his father, who died
from the effects OF exertions to save frieno
from drov ming At the age Of ten he was ap-
prenticed to q tailor in his native city, With
whom he served seven years His mother wa
unable to afford him any educational advan-
tages, and he never attended school a day in
his life. While learning his trade, howe yer,
he resolved to make an effort to educate hill
self His anxiety to he able to read was par
ticulariy excited by en- incident which is
worthy OF mention. gentleman OF Raleigh
vas in the habit of going into the tailor's shop
and reading while the apprt 1tice and jour.
neymen were at work. He WIS an excellent
reader, and his favorite book was a volume
of speeches, principally Of British states
men. 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 wi.nout
an Instructor: but by applying to the jour-
neymen with whom he worked, he obtai ned
a little assistance. Having acquiI I'd q
knowledge OF the letters, he applied for the
loan of the hook which he had sc often heard
read. TIE owner made him present OF 1t,
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 rsad, and
the hours 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 tv D to three hours every
night, after working from ten to twelve hours
at his trade Having completed his appren.
ticeship in the autumn OF 1924, he went to Lau-
rens Court House, South Carolina, where he
worked as journeyman for nearly two years
While there he became engaged to be married
but the match was brt ken off by the violent
opposition Of the girls mother and friends, the
ground Of objection being Mr. Johnston youth
and want of pecuniary means. In May, &c.
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 lis mother, who
was dependent upon him for support. He
stopped at Greenvllle. Tenns ssee, and COM
menced work as jcurneyman. He remained
there about twelve months, married, and soon
afterward went still further westward; but
failing to find suitable place to settle, he re.
turned to Green willie 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 under the
instructions Of his wife be learned these and
other branches. The only time, however, he
could devote to them was in the dead 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
in 1S2n In that
year he was chosen Mayor, which position he
held for three years. In 1895 he ives elected
to the Legislature. In the session Of that year
he took decided ground against scheme Of
internal improvem ents, which he commended
would not only prove a failure, but entail upon
the State burdensome debt. The measure
was popular, however, and at the next election
OS37) he was defeated. He became q candi.
date again In 1899. 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 large majority. In 1910
he served as presidential electcr for the State
at large ON the Democratic ticket. He can.
vassed q large portion Oh tine State, meeting
upon the stump seye- al of the leading Wing
orators. In 1e41 he was elected to the State
Senate In 1913 he was elected to Congress,
where, by successive elections. he served until
1852. During this period Of service he was
conspicuous and active In ady coating, respec.
lively, the bill for refunding the fine I'm posed
upon General jackson at New Orleans In
1915, the annexation Of Texas, the tariff Of 1876.
the war measures of Mr. Folks Administra.
ton. aud a homestead bill. In 1859 he was
elected Governor Of Tennessee, after an ex-
citing canvass, in which he was opposed by
Gustavus A.. Henry Ee was reelected in
1856 after another active contest, his COMPETE
tor being Meredith p. Gentry. At the expira-
ton Of his second period as Governor, IL 1857,
he was elected United States Senator for q full
term, ending March ,, 1868
On the 9TH OF March, 1862, Senator johnson
was appointed military governor OF Tonnes
see, with TIE rank OF brigadier general. He
Immediately entered upon hts dutiss, ana
probably the most eventful and memorable
period Of his life vas the three years ending
on the Sd Of March. 1865. when he resigneo nls
position Of provisional governor-ioI III 'u~
period he had the proud satisfaction Oh Know.
u that his State had passed through tne most
terrible ordeal, and finally emerged oy tho
sdo,,;or ~ amendments to the Federal Con-
.utr,,or eoraver abolishing slavery and the
,i.n, :, Mold property in man. On the 9th OF
yn,. 1874. the National Union Convention at
,ho citv of Baltimore nominated Andrew
Tnsnson for Vice President on the ticket with
sh1aham Lincoln for President. On the 9Th
AZ november OF the same year he was trium.
nhantly elected. On the 9TH Of March, 1885,
be was duly installed As Vice Presitents snd
con was Inaugura ted President Of the United
States, In conseQuencs OF the sudden and an.
expected decsass Of Hon. Abraham lincoln.