Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-06-03
JOHNSON'S ROMANCE.
THE couRTSHlP OF A TAILOR WHO
BECAME PRESIDENT.
Miss Sarah word Rejected the Future
CHIEF Magistrate For u saddler-story
M a Tailor's Goose-Johnson Was Not
Ignorant and Illiterate.

the tailor's trade young man who was
destined to play an important part in the
affairs of this nation. OF humble origin
and having had practically no educational
advantages. he had I'm his character the ele-
ments Of true manhood, and by force of
brain power and ability attained the high
est position of honor and trust In the re-
public.
Andrew johnson left his home I'm North
Carolina by reason of some trouble with
his employer and went TO the then ultra
exclusive and aristocratic village OF Lau-
rens. He had no influential family con-
nections, and was as poor AS the tradi-
tional church mouse his worldly posses
sions consisting only Of the clothes he
wore. To one acquainted with the social
conditions of the antebellum south, the
difficulties incident To obtaining recogni-
ton by man handicapped as johnson
was can be readily imagined The sterling
worth of the young tailor, however, made
itself felt, and demanded the admiration
and respect soon accorded him even by
those who were won't 10 consider one not
TO the manner born deserving OF Dut con-
descending notice.
Soon after reaching Laurens johnson
secured a position in IA tailoring establish
ment, and this he held with perfect salts
faction To his employers until his return
to his North Carolina home. He was a
painstnking laborer and took commend
able pride I'm doing his work as perfectly
as possible A coat cut, fitted and made
by johnson Is still in existence. 1t was
made for Colonel Henry &. Young, n
prominent lawyer and politician of upper
Carolina, and Is now treasured by his de-
scendants as one of their most precious
possessions The fact that the coat is still
in good state of preservation may posi-
| bly, be taken as an evidence of the excel
lence and durability of the work.
.Johnson's stay at LauTCns, brief as IL
was, marked very important epoch in
his life Ii was there that he met his first
love, Hiss Sarah Word charming young
woman OF education and refinement, who
saw in the modest and retiring young jour
neyman tailor IA man of character and
strength and promise .Iohnsons regard
/ for Miss Word was reciprocated, and the
! young people entered into an engagement
| to marry They were thrown constantly
in each Others society, and the future
president Of the United States once assist
ed his flancee in laying stufiing and quilt
ing quilt This quilt is now owned by
! Mrs. j f. Bolt of Laurens granddaughter
of Miss Word, WHO subsequently married
| William Hance. On either end of the quilt
are Miss Word initials, -. W., which
were made, stuffed and quilted by Johnson,
unassisted The enthusiastic young lover
was very DESTROYS of placing his own mi
! tails beside those of his sweetheart, but this
Miss Word would not permit. This quilt
was on exhibition at the Atlanta exposition
in 1896 and attracted much attention.
The irr, sistihle tendency that young men
in love have To carve their sweethearts'
names on everything movable and immov-
able in their immediate vicinity was not
wanting in Johnson On the back of an
old split bottomed chair he engraved the
inscription IS W-lS20" 1t is needless
to say that 10 was the chair in which Miss
Word was accustomed TO sit on the porch
of her home. This chair is now in the
possession Of Mrs. Bolt.
Having satisfactorily adjusted the trou-
Bile with his former employer in North
Carolina, johnson decided To return and
resume his place. Before leaving Laurens,
as token of his affectionate regard, he
gave To Miss Word his dearest possession,
the goose with which he had worked at his
trade This act shows the tender simplicity
of the young tailor He had no false pride
about the matter He was leaving the
woman he loved for an indefinite time and
not ashamed Of his lowly calling gave her
something that would be IA constant re-
mindcr Of him and his work. After leav-
ing Iaurcns differences arose between Miss
Word and Johnson and their engagement
was terminated, but the tailor's goose was
never returned, and is now owned by Mrs.
Bolt and valued above price on account of
its romantic history. Miss Word rejected
the tailor and married William Hance, a
saddler The tailor became president of
the United States.
Johnson's biographers have all main
tainod that in early life he was uncouth,
illiterate and ignorant, with no refine
ment or grace of manner. 1t has been
stated that he could neither read nor write,
and that his wife taught him both after
marriage. This error has become so firm
~ fixed that IL is generally accepted as a
historic fact, and school children are told
the romantic story of how man who aft
erward became president was taught Ia
read and write by wife who was ambi-
tious for his advancement This story
may be beautiful object lesson on the
grand possibilities of American youth, but
IL has the fatal defect of being untrue.
When johnson lived in Laurens, he could
both read ana write, and was considered a
young man of exceptional intelligence.
Miss Word, to whom he was engaged, Ii
authority for the statement that she re
ceiyed many notes and letters from him,
and that he wrote good business hand.
She has also frequently said that he was a
man Of more than ordinary intelligence, OF
elegant address and IA brilliant converse
tionalist As Miss Word was by virtue OF
her relations to him, closely associated
with johnson, the correctness Of her state
ments can neither be doubted nor contra.
vened. More than this, Colonel Il. Is.
Crews one of the oldest citizens of Lau
rens and husband of Miss Words daugh
ter, SAYS that over half IA century ago,
when he first went To Laurcns he had fire.
quently heard from old residents that
Johnson was great reader-in fact, Il
veritable bookworm. He had often been
seen seated on his tailor's board with d
book by his side, reading and studying.
From this evidence it would appear that
the story of johnson being in early life IN
uncouth ignoramus must be abandoned as
absolutely false. The facts prove just tn,
contrary, tina he was young man of rare
Intelligence and Observation-Disclosures
Magazine.
The stingiest man in the world is h,