The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-05-16
Andrew Jackson's Death Bed.

A reporter OF the NASHVILLE American
visited Hannah Jackson, colored, relict
of the Rev. Aaron Jackson, who horecently
died at the age of ninety-two years. He
found her at No. 161 South Summer
street, where she resides with adaughter.
The reporter told Aunt Hannah that he
desired to obtain from her "reminiscences
of her early life in connection with the
Hermitage. She said she was growing
old and could not tell it all as straight
as Aaron Cher late husband) could.
Aaron knew it all, and it was often that
they sat by the fire and talked over old
times, when they were with Marse Jack
son. They were always treated like
white folks. Said she, as the tears trickled
down her cheeks: "Marse Jackson was
father to US servants, he was so good
and kind to us. The morning he died
The house was crowded, and the whole
yard; two hundred and fourteen darkies
were living on his place. 1t was very
distressing. They tried to carry me out
when old marse was dying, and he told
them to let me alone. You see, had
always waited on him and he wasn't go
ing to drive me out. No. he said, let
Hannah remain, if she wants to- and l
did. l wasn't going to surrender my
place to any one, though was SO full of
grief all the time that l could hardly
stay in the room. Every morning Dr..
Esselman told me to get fresh egg, and
mix it with milk and brown sugar, and
let old mare eat it. / did it regularly.
When came in Friday morning with
that egg and brown sugar and milk, l
says to George Harris, is old marse
asleepT He says, mo- George look ed
me in the face and said, Hannah, you
will soon be done totin' this into old
marser.' And then, Saturday morning
| carried it in again. Old marse didn t
take it for some time, and when he did
it was a long swill, like it went down so
heavy. can tell you what felt then,"
and here the aged woman wept like a
| child. 81 knew death was mighty nigh,
when he couldn't take that little bit Of a
morsel. Sunday morning I didn't se.
he knew them all. Yes,' he said,
know you all, though I can't see you.
And they brought him his specs, and he
said he recognized them all. The first
thing knew George Harris cried, 'Oh 7
and it was repeated back to the Kitchen.
Old marse was not dead, but his breath
| otOppCus alCIOWutu lutO lU6 TOOul,
when DR.. Esselman said they must &c
out. The doctor gave him something
and it revived him up, and he lived un.
til eight o clock in the evening. White
and black were all standing in the room
together just before he died. No dis
tinction was shown in the eyes of old
marser. Turning his eyes t. where me
and George were standing, he said
And here's poor George and Hannah
they've been faithful servants to me
l have left it SO you will be taker
care of as long as there is a bit of prop
erty left He then called Mrs. Adam
up and told her he had fully providet
for her and she would not suffer lor any
thing. Just before he died he preached
his own sermon. He said: My friends
Christ is no respecter of persons, ant
what say to one say to all, and hav,
right to the Tree of Life: prepare t.
meet me in heaven, where / am going.
And now all cried out, Look! look
and old marse was dead. His soul wen
right straight up to heaven; 1 know i
did and my husband has gone up t.
meet him, and won't be long here. M,
hust and always said old marser preache,
his own funeral. And he did, toe
George Harris and me were head walters
and we could not help crying bitterl,
when the last spark went out and oil
marser's spirit was taken up into heavel
by the angels of God"