Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-06-11
Ion. John c. Burch, of Nashville,

Hon. John I. Buren, OF NasbVIlie,
Tenn
6th-The family of Ex-President
Johnson, in carriages.
7th-Invitcd guests, in carriages.
8th-Citizens.
Promptly at 11:3O the procession
took up the line of march. and as it
moved along through the streets the
multitude followed to the hilltop,
where stood the monument, veiled
with the flag of the Union, the stars
and stripes.
The burial ground Of the "Great
COmmOuern is situated about three
fourths Of mile from the town of
Greeneville. upon the top Of q dome
like hill. From this point one can
look down upon the quaint town nest
ling among the hills, the scene OF the
dead Statesman's early tolls and tri-
umphsx~while off to the east lies the
long range of blue amountains which
separate North Carolina, the land OF
his birth, from East Tennessee, his
adopted aud dearly loved home. The
monument standing in the centre of
the picturesque spot selected many
years ago by MIR. Johnson. can be seen
20 miles all around. Mr.. Johnson ad-
mired greatly the spot he selected for
the last resting plac' of himself and
family. and once offered to purchase
sufficient quantity Of the ground
adjoining for a public cemetery
The exercises commenced with the
presentation speech 10y Ar. Van Gun
den, Of the firm of Van Gunden,
Young & Drum, the designers and
makers of the monument
At the conclusion of Mr.. Van Gun
den's remarks the monument was IN
yelled amid profound silence, and the
eyes Of the vast multitude rested for
the fist time upon the structure
which will stand for ages as a memo
rial of the virtues and Integrity Of
Tennessee's favorite son. The mOnu-
ment was beautifully draped with
wreath5 Of evergreens and flowers.
THE MONUMENT,
the design of which was selected out
Of many offered and made i'm Phila-
delphia, was ordered by the three
children Of Mr.. johnson. and paid for
by them. The base is of Maine gran
ite. an OblOng square nine feet six
inches in length by seven feet three
inches in width. The two pier blocks
Of the base are each of the following
dimensions: Length, seven feet three
inches; width, two feet; height, two
feet three inches. The capstOne Of
the base is eigh feet six inches long,
six feet six inches wide, and two feet
high, so cut Rs to present the appear
ance of an arch of thirteen stones,
representing the thirteen original
States Of the Union. Beneath the arch
ie theremains Ofthe eX-President. and
by h side, covered aitO hy the arch. is
the last resting place of the wife who
WAS his sharer Ufall his troubles and his
Joys; lis faithful helpma'e in the hard
struggle with poverty and adversely,
and the beloved comp MON of the
later years Of we'll won distinction and
honor
Resting upon the base is the die
block, which is Of Italian maTb e
four feet four inches square and four
feet high. On the face are the in
scriPtions Q the tight, above the
grave Of the eX President, is the fol
lowing:
ANDREW JOHNSON.
SEVENTEENTH PRESIDENT
Or THE UNITED STATES.
Born DECEMBER % 1908.
DIED july 81. 1875.
His Faith jn the People Nerer
IVuUcrcd." D."
Over the grave of his wife ls the
following.
ELIZA JOHNSON,
BORN OCT,4 4, 1910.
DIED JAN, - 1876.
In Memory Of our Father and Mother
Immediately above the die stone is
the pedestal, which is also of Italian
marble, in shape OCiagonai with
moulding around the top. Upon its
front is carved an open Bible, and on
the book a hand in bas relief. as in
the act Of taking the oath Of office
Immediate ely above is a scroll with
the inscription Constitution of the
United States" Upon the pedestal
rests the OctagOnal shaft of the upper
half of which is carved in festoHns.
has relief, the United States flag. The
whole is surrounded by the emblem Of
the Union. u bald eagle with out
SllttCIltu " iilEs, lliGdSu- lux lOLl lNtN
from tip to tip.
The height of the entire structure is
twenty-spven feet and four inches.
The inscriptions are all in raised
letters and faultlessly executed. The
and symmetry of The
are excellent and reflect
great credit upon the designer, Mr.. {.
Van Gunden, of Philadelphia, who Is
justly proud of his masterpiece.
Immediately in front Of the monu-
ment, and at distance Of a few feet
from il and each other are beautiful
Italian marble garden vases to be used
as receptacles for the floral tributes OF
the admirers Of tne dead Statesman.
Near the grave Of their father lie the
bodies of his two sons, Charles and
Robert. Above them have been erect
ed tasteful head and foot stones APP
Inscribed.
The graves of parents and SONS are
by a neat iron fence, four
feet six inches high, making a circu-
lar enclosure of thirty-siX feet in di-
ameter. The total cost Of the monu-
ment was IS 900.
Hon John G.. Burch Of Nashville,
in neat speech, then introduced the
orator of the day. Hon Geo. w.
Jones. of Fayetteville, who had been
for forty years the intimate friend of
the eX-President. The address was
one of great length and ability.
Drowned.
Brown Shoemake was drowned in
T1hucIv rivar C,tnrIoy n {, orpco,,