The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-02-01
THE PRESIDENT FATHER.

Andrew Johnson was born 1t ReleIgh,
North Carolina, on the Doth Of Decem-
Der. 1908.
The following obituary notice of the
father Of the President IS taken from an
old Releigh IN. {. J paper, dated JaEu-
airy 10, 1872:
Died, in this city, on Saturday last,
Jacob Johnson, who lad for years occu-
pied humble but useful station in So
ciety. He was city constable, sexton,
and porter to the State Bank In his
last illness he was visited by the priuci-
pal inhabitants of the city, by all Of
whom he was esteemed fo- his honesty,
industry, and humane and friendly dis
position. Among all to whom he was
known and esteemed, none lament him
more Except, perhaps, his relatives)
than the publisher of this paper; for he
owes his life, on particular occasion,
10 the boldness and humanity of John
son.
ANDREW JOHNSON AS AN APPRENTICE
Mr.. Litchford, AT old iourneyman tail
or of Releigh, think. it was in ISIS that
- Andy, y as he called him, was bound
apprentice to J, j. Selby. He is de
scribed IS u wild. "harum scarum boy
But had no 9 unhonorahle traits about
him. " He was exceedingly restless,
and his activity in climbing fences, trees,
&C. with the natural sequence thereof of
tearing his clothes. was a great source
of trouble to his mistress. On account
of his propensities i'll this direction, she
once made him coarse heavy shirt OF
homespun goods, and the young gentle
man for short time was obliged to
wear a whole under garment. In 1924
he cut, " not because he was sent TO q
cornfeld to work, as some has said. but
on account of scrape with lady by
the name of Wells, :. who had two light
smart daughters " With another boy
named Grayson. an apprentice in rival
shop, Andy "chunked the old lady 3
house" one Saturday night. Next day
she heard who it was, and threatened to
persecute them on Monday. They
heard of it and {" cut. " Mr.. Litclford
believe. - he knew his A B. Cs when
he came to the shop, but l think l taught
him TO read" Mr. Litchford continued,
" and he deserves nnabounded credit,
for some people say as how they had
a grand start, and l recon he started
underground. " He went to South Car
DINA, and returned after year and 4
half during which time he had earned
his living with needle. On his arrival
he applied to Mr. Litchford, then keep
ing an establishment of his own, for
work but lie didn't get it because lie
had been " advertised as q runaway,
and the law prevented any one from har-
boring him. Mr. Selby had, during
Andys absence, sold ont and moved in
TO the country; but, with q desire to
make due amends for his misdeIn eanor, ,
the runaway walked twenty miles 10 see
him, and tried to make arrangements to
paw him for his lime. Mr., Selby reCc4IY--
ed security, and Andy could notget it
He toIo Mr. i \ taEd- that he ouIdn't
let him be security if he would and so
he departed again, this time going to
Tennessee Mr.. Litchford next heard
of him as member of Congress from
that State. but didn't believe it was {" his
bow Andy" until lie saw it :, advertised
in the papers about the mechanics in
Congress, and saw the word - tailor
after his name" 4 pamphlet copy Of
one of his speeches, sent to Mr.. Ljtch-
/ ford under his Congressional frank, is
yet in the possession of the latter
| After his first session he returned to
Releigh and inside q speech, pitching
! into Parson Brownlow, and Gales, the
editor of the Register. It seems that
/ Brownlow. 4 political opponent of John
/ son st that time. had sent to Gales for
Z :. family items Gales furnished them,
/ and hence Johnson's attack on him and
/ Brownlow. The citizens of Releigh st
/ that time thought it something rcmarEa-
BILE that the "tailors apprentice Of
/ their recollection should be able to MAKE
such speech, but Johnson told Mir.
Litchford = how 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.. John
/ son asked Litchford to show him his
| fathers grave, and he did so 1t has
but plain. grey stone slab at the head,
and simply marked :. j J.. anG is near
/ " hidden from view by the oversrowth
OF weeds and BRAN bes.
TIE house in which President John
son was born is still standing, and is an
/ object of no little curiosity 70 the many
strangers who visit ReleiCh. II IS :,
small frame building, story and = half
high, containing only two or three rooms.
Relic mongers have already commenced
tearing off the weather beaten siding.
In 1928 Mr. johnson was elected al
derman Of Greenville. in Tennessee,
where ne had settled himself; in 1880
he became Mayor, and in 1884 he was
sent 20 the Legislature.
THE PRESIDENT on INTERNAL IMPROVE