The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-02-06
Andrew johnson as an Apprentices.

Mr. Litchford, en- old journeyman tailor
Raleigh, thinks it was in 1915 that candy"
as he called him, was bound apprentice to J,
j. Selby. He is described as a Wild "harum.
scarum boy" But he had no sun honorable
traits about him" He was exceedingly rest
less, and his activity in climbing fences, trees.
&c, with the natural sequence thereof Of tear,
ing his clothes, was great source of trouble
to his mistress. On account of his propensi.
ties in this direction, she once made him
coarse, heavy shirt of homespuu goods, and
obliged to wear a whole under garment.
In 1924 he "cut," not because he was sent
to corn-feld to work, as some one has said,
but on account of a "scrape with lady By
the name of Wells, who had two right smart
daughters" With another boy, named Gray,
son, an apprentice in rival shop, Andy
"chunked the old ladys house. one Satur.
day night Next day she heard who it wa4.
and threatened to 'persecute them on Mon
day" They heard of it and "cut." Mr..
Litchford believes ''he knew his A B C's
when he came to the shop, but | think |
taught him to read" Mr.. Litchford con,
tinued, "and he deserves unabounded credit,
for some people say as how they have grand
start, and / reckon he started underground
He went to South Carolina, and returned
after year and half, during which time he
had earned his living with his needle. On
his arrival he applied to Mr.. Litchford, then
keeping an establishment of his own, for
work, but he didn't get it because he had been
"advertised' as runaway, and the law prs.
vented any one from harboring him.
Mr.. Selby had, during Andy's absence,
sold out and moved into the country; bat,
with desire to make due amendS for his
misdemeauor, the runaway walked twelve
miles to see him, and tried to make arrange
ments to pay him for his time. Mr.. Seby
required security, and Andy could not get it.
He told Mr. Litchford that he wonld not let
him be security if he would, and so he de,
parted again, this time going to Tennessee.
Mr.. Litchford next heard Of him as member
OF Congress from that State, but didn't be-
lieye it was "his boy Andy until he saw il
advertised in the papers about the mechanics
in Congress, and saw the word tailor after
his name" A pamphlet copy of one of his
speeches sent to Mr.. Litchford under his
Congressional frank, is yet in possession OF
the latter.
After his first session he returned to Raleieh
and made speech, pitching into Parson
Browulow and Gales, the editor of the Reois.
ter" 1t seems that Brownlow, political
opponent of johnson at that time, had sent
CoASo AOt G2te5 IurUl66ed
them, and hence Johnson's attack on him and
Brownlow. The citizens of Raleigh at thnt
time thought it something remarkable that
the tailor apprentice" Of their recollectiou
should be able to make such a speech, bat
Johnson told Mr.. Litchford chow it was"
His wife had "learned him" while he was on
the tailor's board working for his bread IN
tennessee. During this visit Mr. johnson
asked Lltchford to show him his fatber's
grave, and he did So It has but a plain.
gray stone at the head, and simply marked
u. j., and is nearly hidden from view bT
the overgrowth Of weeds and brambles.
The house in which President johnson was
born is still standing, and is an object of no
little curiosity to the many strangers who visit
Raleigh. 1t is small frame building, story
and half high, containing only two or
three rooms. Relic-mongers have already
commenced tearing off the weather beaten
sideboards.