Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-04-21
Rnnaihsnf Iahnnan.

Andrew Johnson now President Of the
United States, We copy from the New
American Cyclopedia. The sketch
closes with his entrance into the Senate,
since which time his career Is familiar tn
the public. Like his predecessor, he is
emphatically self-madc man, and pre-
eminently one Of the people: .....aE
"ANpREw JOHNSON. United States
Senator from Tennessee, born in Raleigh.
North Carolina, December 20, 1908.
When he was four years of age he lost
his father, who died from the effects of
exernons to save friend from drowning.
At the age of ten he was apprenticed to
tailor in his native city, with whom he
served seven years. His mother was uu-
able to afford him any educational adj
vantases, and he never attended school a
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 in
cident which is worthy of mention. A
gentleman Of Raleigh was in the habit of
going into the tailor shop and reading
while the apprentice and journeymen were
at work. He was an excellent reader,
and his favorlte book was volume of
speeches, principally of British states.
men. johnson became interested, and
his first ambition was tn equal him as a
reader and become familiar with those
speeches. He tnok up the alphabet with
out an instructor; but by applying to
the iourneymen with whom he worked,
he obtained a lirtle assistance. Having
ACQUIRED a knowledge of the letters, he ap-
plied 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 exer-
cises in spelling were in that book. By
he soon learned to read, and
the hours which he devoted to his educa-
ton 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 a journeyman for nearly two
years. While there he became engaged to
be married, but the match was broken of
by the violent opposition Of the girls
mother and friends, the ground Of objec-
ton being Mr.. Johnson's youth and want
Of pecuniary means. In May, 1926, he
to Raleigh, where he procured
journey work. and remained until Septen-
Der. He then set out to seek his fortune
in the West. carrying with hun his mother.
who was dependent upon him for support.
He stopped at Greenville. Tennessee, and
commenced work as journeymanA He
remained there about twelve months, mar
ried, and soon afterward went still fur
Their westward; but failing to find suit
able place to settle, he returned to Green
vile and commenced business. Up to this
time his education was limited to reading.
as he had never had an opportunity Of
to write or cipher; but under the
instructions of his wife he learned these
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 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. In the session Of that
year he took decided ground against a
scheme of internal improvements, which
be commended would not only prove fail
IRE. but entail upon the State burden
'ome debt. The measure was. popular,
however, and at the next election (l837)
he was defeated. He became candidate
lgain in 1889. BY this time many OF the
evils he had predicted from the internal
Improvement policy which he had oppos-
ID four years previous were fully demon
,trated. and he was elected by a large
In 1910 he served as Presiden-
.ial Elector for the State at large on the
ticket. He canvassed large
portion of the State. meeting upon the
stump several Of the leading Wing orators.
In lS4l he was elected to the State Sen
ate. In lS43 he was elected to Congress,
where. BY successive elections, he served
until 1858. During this period of service
he was conspicuous and active in advocat-
ing, respectively, the bill for refunding
the fine imposed upon General Jackson at
New Orleans in 1915. the annexation of
Texas, the tariff of 1886, the war measures
Of Mr.. Folks administration, and home
,Roal I'LL T. IREQ L. alarSod Inv
ernor Of Tennessee. after an exciting can
Vass, in which he was opposed BY G. A.
Henry. He was reelected in 1856, after
another active contest, his competitor be-
ing Meredith P. Gentry. At the expira-
ion Of his second period as Governor, in
1857, he was elected United States Sena-
tor for full term, ending March 8, 1868"