Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-10-03
President sohn.on's Father.

Fifty-th years sgo the following cbis-
nary notice Of Preside emit Jobnson's father
(Jan. 10th, 1922 appeared in the Raleigh
IN. C.) Star:
"Died in this city, on Saturday last,
Jacob johnson, who for many years occu-
pied an humble but useful station in so
ciety. He was city constable, sexton and
porter TO the State Bank. In his last i'll
ness he was visited by the principal in
habitants of the city, by all of whom he
was esteemed for his honesty, sobriety, in
dustry and humane, friendly disposition.
Among all to whom he was known and es-
taemed, none lament him more Except,
perhaps, his Telativas) than the publisher
Of this paper, for he owes his life, on .
particular occasion, to the boldness and
humanity of Johnson"
The North Carolina Standard thus ex-
plains the concluding lines in the above
obituary notice
Thomas Henderson was upset in ca
noe, and was 30 near being drowned that
life was nearly extinct when he was recov-
cred. Jacob johnson was GU the bank,
safe and secure. But he saw his friend
drowning before his faee. Thoughtless of
self, he plunged in at the hazard of his
own life. He did finally succeed in saving
his friend. but both were nearly exhausted
when they reached the shore. The state
ment in regard to Jacob johnson being
sesteemed for his honesty, sobriety, indus
try, and humane, friendly disposition ia
coneurred in by tho old inhabitants now
living in this city. The grateful and gen
erous tribute TO his worth and goodness OF
heart ia more to be valued and esteemed
than 'storied urn or animated bust Az
such President johnson may 80 regard it,
and no doubt he does. That peculiar trait
30 marked in the father-of devotion and
attachment to o proved triend-the son
seems to have inherited in an eminent de-
gree. Those who have known him well
and known him long concur in the state
ment that where his friendship and conf
ilenca are once secure he allows no extra
neous influences, no party violence, no
whisperiues of enmity. no rsverses of for
tune, to ALLEVIATE his feelings.
What follows on the same subject from
tho Standard, will no doubt be welcome to
tho Chief Magistrate, for sweet are the
dews Of memory when they fall upon q
pure heart and q conscience at peace
1--WE can well imagine what may be
President Johnson's feelings on reading
this tribute to his fathers worth-pre-
served in the musty files of journal OF
by-gone times. There 1t has remained in
qniet forgetfulness for fifty-three years,
I'LL brought TO light by the greatness and
elevation Of the then orphan boy. Little
did the author suppose that the fatherless
child, with whom he, no doubt, deeply
sympathiEed, would, in process Of time,
acquire name and q reputation common
surate with the limits Of the Christian
world. The following extract, from Mr..
~, -, -
Rentstives, on his great favorite measure,
the homestead delivered April 2sth,
1862, will show the touching affection no
still cherishes for tho land of his birth, in
which repose the ashes of his father:
"1Some object TO this measure, as calcu-
lated to take away the population from the
old StateB. Let me ask the Old Dominion
let mo ask North Carolina-God bless her
for although abe liz not, az the Romans
would call it, my alma mater, yot she ia
my mother Although poverty-gaunt
and haggard monster -expatriated me
from her limits, to seek q home in my
adopted State, where every fibre, every
tendril Of my heart, Is entwined with tbs
interests of her people-yet still North
Carolina Is my native State, and in my
heart respect and love her,
Strange TO say, the very paper contain
ing the above obituary is in mourning fol-
the terrible disaster Of the burning Of the
Richmond Theatre in 1914, and the pro-
csedings Of meeting Of coincidence on the
par, OF the citizens of Raleigh, presided
over by Col, VIM Polk. In the same pa
per is an obituary notice Of the death OF
the mother Of VIM. CASTOR. Such is life
One generation pssseth away and another
succeeds. Fifty-thres years from to-day
all who are now the bury actors on this
theatre Of life will have passed to thai
bourne from which there ia no return, ant
another generation will have taken theft
places-Rnd another, and another, in ont
continual cycle "--Nattaadi htsIligsnoey.