The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-10-01
Former Vice Presidential Presidents.

Previous TO the accession of General Arthur, o
all the Vice Presidents of this great Republic
from the days of Washington to the present time
but three were fortunate enough to attain to tn,
high distinction of the Chief Magistracy, because
of the circumstance, that but three President!
only died while in ofiice-General Harrison Gen
eral Taylor and the illustrious Abraham Lincoln
OF our Vice Presidential Presidents John Tyler
was the first. Just one month after the inaugural
ton of General Harrison. he succeeded that brave
and able man, who died April =, 1871, in the
SEVENTEEN year of his age. Mr.. Tyler was born
i'll Charles City County, Virginia. 1890. He
entered William and Mary College at twelve
years of age, graduated at seventeen, and was ad
mitted to the Bar at nineteen when he began the
practice of the law, soon obtaining very large pat
rOnage. AT twentyone he elected to the
State Legislature, and was subsequently reelected
five times. In lSl6 he entered Congress, where he
distinguished himself during long career. In
1925 he was elected Governor of Virginia and in
1877 was sent Senator to Congress, in which ca
party obligations that was censured by some at
the time. In 1910 he was elected Vice President
of the United States, and. already stated be-
came President in 1871. The most important act
of his Administration was the annexation OF
Texas, March l, 1915. At the close of his term OF
office he retired into private life, and, without
glory uncomfortable traces of injustice OF inca
pacity, he died at Richmond, January H. 1862
Millard Fillmore was the next Vice President
who succeeded to the Presidential chair -an oc-
currence which took place July 9, lS50-on the
death of General Taylor. He was born at Sum-
mer Hill, Cayuga County, New York in 1900; and
because OF the limited means of his family. his
early education was much embarrassed. He was
apprenticed to a wool carder, but by application,
and an earnest love of knowledge, he soon at
tracted attention. and secured the friendship and
patronage of Judge Wood an eminent lawyer in
his native County. who not only offered him a
desk in his office, but generously pro-
posed to assist him while qualifying
himself for the profession of the
law. Both offers were gratefully accepted,
possible upon his benefactor, sought to meet
part of his expenses by teaching in a school where
he found employment. In 1871 he removed TO
Erie County and pursued his legal studies at Buff
falo. In 1927 he was admitted as attorney, and in
1929 became a counsellor in the Supreme Court,
entering in 1870 into partnership with an old
he commenced his political career a Represent-
atlye OF Erie County in the State Legislature,
member OF Congress-. In 1S47 he was
elected to the important post of Comp
troller of the State of New York, and in 1S4S was
ldents chair, from which, as already observed,
he stepped into that of the President in 1850 The
early part of his Administration was embarrassed
by the slavery question and the Lopez expedition
against Cuba; but still during his term of Office
the country prospered and was at peace at home
and abroad, and California was admitted a new
State into the Union. In 1850 he was brought for
ward again by his party a candidate for the
Presidency, but without success. He was travel
ing in Europe at the time the principal courts of
which received him with much distinction. After
his retirement from public life he resided in
Buffalo, where he died in 1874.
Our third Vice Presidential President was An
drew Johnson, who succeeded to the Presidency
on the assassination of the illustrious Abraham
Lincoln, on the 1ith day of April 1865 He was
born at Raleigh N. c.. and seems to
have had no opportunities of education. At ten
years of age he was apprenticed to a tailor whom
he served for seven years. At the expiration of
this term he worked as Il journeyman at Laurens
Court House, s. c., for two years. and in 1S40 was
Presidential elector, and canvassed the State for
Mr.. Vanburen, the Democratic candidate. In
1841 he was elected to the State
Senate, and in 1S43 to Congress,
where, for ten years. he supported the Democratic
party. In 1853 he was elected Governor of Ten
nessee and in 1857 became Senator of the United
States, and advocated the union policy of the Re-
publican party. On the occupation of Nashville
Dy the Federals in 1852 he was appointed Military
Governor of Tennessee by President Lincoln, and
elected Vice President. Although previously
popular with his party, on his accession to the
Presidential chair the tide of opposition set in
against him, and difficulties multiplied around
him, until he was impeached In 1868 for an al
legged infringement of the Constitution. He was
acquitted, however, Chief Justice Chase presiding
at he trial. On the expiration of his term of Of
flee he sought to be reelected Governor OF Ten
nessee and United States Senator, but unsuccess
fully. He died in 1873.