Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-01

sKEIcH OF ANDREW IoHNsoN.

A special 10 the APPEAL from Green
vile announces the death yesterday, at
that place, Of Ex President Johnson, in
the sixty-sevsnth yesr of his age; the
sad event being the immediate result of
the paralysis with which he was seized
on Wednesday, while sqjourning at the
home of his daughter, hrs.
Brown. Mr.. Johnson was born
in Raleigh, North Carolina, December
20, 1903. When he wss four years Of
age be lest his father, who died from the
effects Of exertions to save friend from
drowning, At the sge Of ten he was
apprenticed to g tailor in his native city,
with whom iTs served seven wears. His
mother was unable to sff0rd him any
educational advantages, and he never
attended school day in his life. While
learning his trade, however, he resolved
TO make an effort to educate himself.
His anxiety 10 be able to read was pag-
ticularly excited by an incident which
is worthy Of mention. A gentleman Of !
Raleigh was in the habit of going into
the tailor's shop and reading while the
apprentice and jOuTneymeu were at
work. He vas an excellent reader, and |
his faVorite book was q volume Of
speeches, principally Of British states
men. Johnson became interested, end |
his fist ambition was to equal him |
as reader and become familiar with |
those speeches. He took up the alpha
bet without an Instructor; but by ap-
plying to the iourneymen with whom
he worked he obtained q little assis1-
ance. aavip g acquired q knowledge Of
the letters, he applied 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 exercises in spelling we're
Ia that book. By perseverance he soon
learned to read, ana the hours which he
devoted to his education were at night
after he was through his daily labor upon
the ehop-board, He now applied him.
self TO books from two to three hours
every night, after working from ten to
twelve hOuIs at his trade. Having com
pleted bis apprenticeship in the autumn
of 1924, he went to Lsureus Courthouse,
South CA!Ciina, where he worked as q
JDurneyman fer nearly two years. While
there Es became engaged TO be married,
but the match was broken Oft by the
violent opposition Of the girls mother
and friends, the ground OF objection
being Mr.. JOhnsOn's youth ard want Of
pecunisry means. IL May, 1925, he re-
turned to Raleigh, where he procured
and remained until Sep
tember. He then SET cut to seek his for
tune in the west, carrying with bim his .
mother, who was dependent upon him
Tor support. he stopped at GFeeuYille,
tennessee, and commenced work as
lOuTneyman. He remained there about
twelve months, married, and soon after :
ward went still further westward: but ,
falling to find suitable place to settle.
he returned to GreenVilie and com.
menCed business. Up to this time his |
education was limited to reading, as he 7
had never had an opportunity OF learn '
ing to write or cipher; but under the in :
StructiODs Of his wife he learned these (
and other branches. The only time, s
however, he could devote to them was {
in the dead hour Of night. The first ,
office which he ever held was that of !
alderman OF the village, to which he {
was elected in 1925. He was reelected {
to the same position in 1929, and again /
in 1880. IL that year he was chosen |
mayor, which position he held for three 7
years. II 1888 he was elected to the '
legislature. In the session of that wear /
he took decided ground against a scheme i
1f internal improvements, which be- '
cOntenCei would not only prove q fail 3
lre, but entail upon the State 3 burden I
some debt, The measure was popular, I
however, and at the next election IS37) | 7
be was defeated. He became candi. /
date in 1889. BY this time many OF the 9
evils he had predicted from the internal ! p
policy which be had op- /
posed four years previous were fully ! 0
demonstrated, and be was elected by q
large msjOrity. In 1910 he served as Q
Presidential eiectOr Tor the State at- t
aTge On the Democratic ticket. He can {
yasse1 large portion Of the State, 4
neeurg upon the stump several Of the t
eading Wing orators. In 1871 he was b
elected to the State senate. Ia I843 he :
;essiye elections, he served until 1853 :
During this period OF service ne was con- d
5picuous and acti7e in advocating, re. +
'pectively, the bill for refunding the fine e
imposed upon General Jackson at New o
OueaLs il 1915, the annexation CT b
Texas, the tariff OF 1916, the war meas b
III, OF Mr.. P0ik's administration, and Il
, Homestead bill. In 1853 he was elected J,
yDVgFECT OF Tennessee after an exciting n
'anvE-s, in which he was opposed by .
Justavus a. Henry. He was To elected
n 1855, after another active contest, bis
being Meredith p Gentry. n
At the expiration of his second period s
IS governor, In 1857, be was elected il
United States senator for full term, d
ending March 3, 1862 II the exciting b
Presidential election Of 1860 he was il
elected an eleoJOr from the State-at, b
srge on the Breckenridge ticket, and l