Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-01-04

rOau from Jne ClLy, anu WlInln lew
weeks it will be in position. The cost
is about $4,000. The general design Is
an arch spanning the two graves, siiri
mounted by a shaft. The height will be
about twenty-eight feet, and the weight
about twenty-seven tons. Two o. the
pieces weigh about seven tons each and
the contractor is trying to devise way
to. get them over the field from the
railroad, about third of a mile.
Along the Tennessee e. Virginia Rail-
road the monument will be visible for
about two and half miles. This road
passes through the edge of G'eenville,
but the johnson home is not visible from
it. Passengers through Greehville can
now have an almost interrupted view of
his grave and monument for all time,
standing so conspicuously as it does
upon the cone-shaped hill back of town.
The bones of three Presidents now
rest in Tennessee soil-JacksOn, Polk
and Johnson.
In going TO the johnson tomb from
Greenville one passes the graves of
Southern soldiers who died in Johnson's
house during the war while the Confed-
crate troops used it as a hospital. A
y
removed to Knoxville.
He left all his property in excellent
repair. The house where | stop was
built by him few years ago, and every
thing about it is as neat and clean as n
pin. The front lower story is a store,
the second contains many of his books
and papers, and the third is used by
the Masons, of which lodge he was
a member. Back from the main build
ing is an L of two stories, with broad
porch facing south. 1t is divided into
pleasant rooms, and is kept as a board
ing-house. 1t is something to lodge in
house built and arranged under the
personal supervision of Andrew John
son. The yard is ornamented with trees,
put out by the ex-President. Immedi-
ately back of this L, and fronting one
of the cross-streets, is the Office where
johnson spent much of his leisure time,
and where most of his books and some
of his papers now are.
Many amusing stories are told of his
work on this house. If what was done
did not suit him, he had it torn down
and rebuilt. One day a carpenter be-
came angry at so much learning down
and reconstructing, and broke OUT " l
don't believe you know what you do
want" to which johnson replied:
"Well, I'll be hanged if don't know
what l don't want
He died, leaving property to the value
of perhaps 100000. He was the very
personification of pecuniary honesty,
and through all his long and stormy
life not even his bitterest enemies ever
accused him of making a cent out of
his official positions beyond his lawful
salary. The stain of misappropriation
never attached to him. Nor would he
ever accept even a present while in of
fetal position, so strict were his ideas
of what was right and proper in public
servants. Nor did he ever ask for an
increase of salary either for himself or
any OF his friends, nor did he evervote for
an increase. The doubling of the Pres
ident's salary he thought wrong, as he
found no difficulty in living upon lit
tie over one-half of his salary, as Pres
ident, of $4,000, and thought that
enough for anybody, and that more led
to extravaganza in high places.
When the Jay Cookies went down
they carried the bulk of Johnson's es-
tate, about $4,000, representing the
earnings of lifetime. Part of this he
recovered before his death, and his
heirs have received some since, but still
the loss of the remainder is considera-
BILE. OF Tennessee bonds he owned
several thousand dollars, and if the
Legislature don't repudiate the whole
debt the bonds may ultimately be worth
fifty cents on the dollar.
should have said in the proper place
that the monument over his remains
will simply bear the inscription: can
drew johnson, Seventeenth President
of the United States with date of birth
and death.
In accordance with his oft-repeated
request the American flag was wrapped
around his body at burial. There is
something touching in this, and shows
the innate patriotism of the man.
Buried with him, also, was copy OF
the Constitution of the United States
which he had made life study. The
copy used was in book form, and its
pages marked with pen and pencil, as
he studied them again and again.
Among the papers in the office is 6
large envelope upon which is written
across the back in Johnson's handwrit
ing: $4,000 offered for two appoint
ments to office" His disgust was showr
in this particular Endorsement. Inside
was a curious proposition from a United
States Senator, now dead, to the effect
that his State was close, that it was
very important to the Presidents poll
cy'' that the election be carried, tina
Z" the Radicals had bushels of money
and that "we' could make a raise o
$4,000 in one Congressional district j
the President would appoint two young
men, named, to unimpOrtant offices
the salaries of which were less than tn,
contribution. But their parents wer
wealthy, and would shell out $4,000 t,
the campaign fund if these two appoint
ments were made.
but they learned something of him be
fore they got through with him.
He is dead, but his memory will liv
as long as American history is written
He had enemies and traducers, but il
all that was ever said against him hi
honesty was never called in question
1t is something to have been forty year
in public life and never accepted pres
= ent while in office, or asked for an in
crease in salary, or voted for an increase
or sanctioned needless expenditure G
the peoples money. He had faults; lie
them be buried with him. His virtue
will ever be examples worthy of emula
tion by American youths. Cor. Cinctn
) natl Commercial.
IN ~ d. III