The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-02
DEATH OF ANDREW JOHNSON.
His Winding Sheet the Stars And
- Stripes.
IN MEMoRIAM.


his name was the most familiar in palace
or howell, among the rich and poor, Of any
living American. No honester, truer-heart-
ed man ever lived than Andrew johnson.
All his life he was the champion of meas
ures calculated to raise up the lowly, pro-
tect the weak and repress the grasping
schemes of the monicd and monopoly
classes.
Andrew johnson was born at Raleigh,
North Carolina, Dec. 90, 1903, and was
nearly CT years old at his death. His
paernts were very poor. When he was
four years of age he lost his father, who
died from the effasts of exertion to save
friend from drowning. At the age of
10 he was apprenticed to tailor in his ma
tive city, with whom he served seven
years. His mother was unable to afford
him any educational advantages, and he
never attended school day in his life.
While learning his trade, however, he re-
solved to make ali effort to educate him
self. His anxiety to be able to read was
particularly excited by an incident which
is worthy OF mention. A gentleman of
Raleigh was 10 the habit of going into the
tailor's shop and reading while the appTen
tce and journeymen we're at work, He
was an excellent reader, and his favorite
book was volume Of speeches, principally
of British statesmen. johnson became
interested, and his first ambition was to
equal him as reader and become familiar
with those speeches. He took up the al
,,hahok itlfnuk h,,k 1,,o
plying to the journeymen with whom he
worked, he obtained a little assistance.
Having acquired knowledge of the let
tiers, he ap piled for the loan of the book
which he had often heard read, The own
ner made him present of it, and gave
him some instruction on the use of letters
aud the formation of words Thus his first
exercises in spelling were in that book.
BY perseverance he soon learned to read,
and the hours which he devoted to his
education we're at night after he was
through his daily labor upon the shoI
board. He now applied himself to books
from to hours every night after work
ing from 10 to II hours at his trade
Having completed his apprenticeship ia
the autumn of 1924, he went to Laurens
Court House, s. g., where he worked as
journeyman for nearly 2 years. While
there he became engaged to be married
but the match was broken off by the VIC
lent opposition Of the girls mother anC
friends, the ground of objection being Mr.
Johnson's youth aud want of pecuniary
means.
In May, 1926, he returned to Raleigh
where he procured journey work, and re
manned until September. He then Sc
cut to seek his fortune in the west, carry
ing with him his mother, who was depend
ent upon him for support lie stopped q
Greeuville, Tenn, and commenced work a
journeyman. He remained there abou
IL months, married, and soon afterwar
went still further westward; but failing [
find satisfactory place to settle, he r,
turned to Greenville and commence
business.
Up to this time his education was lin
tied to reading, as he had never learned
write or cipher; hut under the instruction
of his wife he learned these and othC
branches. The only time, however,
could devote to them was in the dead
night.
The first .office which he ever held WI
that Of alderman of the village, to whiC
he was elected in 1923. He was re-electe
to the same position in 1929, and again
1880. In that year he was chosen mayo
which, position he held for years.
1855 he was elected to the legislature.
the session of that year he took decide
ground against q scheme of internal il
provements, which he contended won
not only. prove failure, but entail up,
the state burdensome debt, The me
sure was popular, however, and at Il
next election (l837) he was defeated. I
became candidate again in 1889, |
this time many of the evils he had predi,
ed from the internal Improvement poli
which he had opposed years previous
were fully demonstrated, and he was elet
ed by large majority.
In 1910 he served as a president
e!ector for the state at large on the Den
cratic ticket lie cauvassed a large pc
ton OF the state, meeting upon the stun
several of the leading Wing orators.
1871 he was elected to the state sena
In 1913 he was elected to congress, whel
by successive elections, he served I'm
1853. During this period of service
was conspicuous and active in advocatir
respectively, the bill refunding of fine il
posed upon Gen. Jackson at New Orlea
In 1915, the annexation of Texas, t
revenue or free trade tariff of 1916, t
war measures of Mr.. Folks admiuistratic
and homestead BILL In 1858 he "
elected governor of Tennessee, after
exciting canvass, in which he was oppos
by Gustavus A. Henry. He was re-ele
ed in 1855, after another active contest.
competitor being Meredith p. Gentry.
the expiration OF his I'd period as govern,
in 1857, he was elected U. s. senator fol-
full term OF six years, ending March
1868 lie was not destined to serve @
that term, for, the war coming on betwe
the states, he became the foremost adv
cate of the Union and was urged by Pre-
dent Lincoln to accept the office of militia
governor Of Tennessee. His great inf
ence with the people of his state, and
unfinching and powerful opposition
secession kept Tennessee in the Union.
At the presidential election of 1864
was nominated by the Republicans for vi
president of the United States ON the I
ket with Mr.. Lincoln, and elected. HeU
never Republican minute in his Ii
and never pretended to be.
never anything but u Democr
he was put on the ticket and elect
| war Democrat.
lie was inaugurated vice president, vi
Mr.. Lincoln as president, March 3, 1St
One year later. however, he became pre-
dent, by the tragic death of Mr.. Linco
vi the subsequent events of his renal
able history all our readers are familiar
OF his vigorous policy as president, of
attempted impeachment, and Of his reti
ment when Gen. IGrant was elected. Il
fall he was elected United States sena
from Tennessee, and his death now crea