The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-05-18
ANDY. Y.JOBNSON's ROMANCE.
The Courtship OF n Tailor Who Re-
came President--A Laurens Wo-
man Rejected the Future Chief
Magistrate.
Nation al Magazine.

"uRlStFates
National Magazine
, Three. e.quarters OF q century ago, il
the little village of Laurens, in tht
State OF South Carolina, there livet
and laboreC at the tailor's trade
young man who was destined to play
an important part in the affairs OF hi
nation. OF humble origin and having
had practically no educational advan
tages, he had in his character the ele
ments of true manhood, and by force o
9rai power anu ability attained the
highest position OF honor and trust in
the republic.
Andrew johnson left his home in
North Caroliaa by reason of some
trouble with his employer and went tc
the then ultra-eXclusive and aristo
cratic village of Laurens. tie had nc
influential family connections, and
was as poor as the traditional church
mouse, his worldly possessions consist
ing only Of the clothes he wore. To
one acquainted with the social condi-
tons Of the autebellum South, the
| difficulties incident to obtaining recog-
milton by man handicapped as John
son was can be readily imagined. The
sterling worth of the young tailor,
however, made itself felt, and demand.
ed the admiration and respect soon
accorded him even by those who were
| wont to consider one not to the manner
born deserving of but condescending
notice.
| Soon after reaching Laurens John
son secured a position in tailoring
. establishments, and this he held with
perfect satisfaction to his employers
until his return to his North Carolina
home. He was a painstaking laborer
and took commendable pride in 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 G. Young, prominent
lawyer and politician of upper Caro-
lima, and is now treasured by his de-
scendants as one of their most precious
posse ssions The fact that the cost is
still in good state CT preservation
may possibly bo taken as an evidence
Of the excellence and durability of the
work.
JUhnsons stay at Leurens, brief as
it was, marked Il very important epoc
in his life. 1t was there that he met
his first love, Miss Sarah Word, a
charming young woman Of education
and refinement, who saw IN the modest
and retiring young journcyman tailor
Il man OF charact r and strength and
promise. Johnson's regard for Miss
Word was reciprocated, and the young
people entered into an engagement to
marry. They were thrown constantly
In each others society, aEd the future
president Of the United States once
assisted his fiancee in laying, stuiling
and quilting quilt. This is now own
ed by Mrs. j. F.. Bolt, of Laurens,
granddaughter of Miss Word, who
subsequently married William Hance.
~
Words initials, IS. W. which were
made, stuffed and quilted by johnson.
unassisted. The enthusiastic young
lover was very desirous Of placing his
own initials beside those OF his sweet
heart, but this Miss Word would rCt
permit. This quilt was on exhibition
at the Atlanta exposition in 1896, and
attracted much attention.
The irresistible tendency that young
men in love have to carve their sweet
hearts names on everything movable
and immovable 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
it was the chair in which Miss Word
was accustomed to sit on tho porch of
her homo. This chair is now in the
possession Of Mrs. Bolt.
Having satisfactorily adjusted the
trouble with his former employer in
North Carolina, johnson decided to
return and resume his place. Before
leaving Laurens, as token of his af-
fnctionate 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 leav-
ing the woman he loved for an indeh-
mite time, and not ashamed of his
lowly calling gave her something that
would be constant reminder Of him
and his work. After leaving Laurens
differ ences arose between Miss Word
ar d Johnson and their engagement was
terminated but the tailor's goose was
never returned, aud is now owned by
Mrs. Bolt and valued above price on
account OF its romantic history nj 1873
Word rejected the tailor and married
William Hance, q saddler. The tailor
became president Of the United States.
JohnsOn's biograpners have all main
tained that in early life he was un-
couth, illiterate and ignorant, with no
refinement 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 firmly fixed that it is
generally accepted as historic fact,
and school children are told the ro-
mantle story OF how man who after
ward became President was taught to
read and write bv q woman who was am
bilious for his advacement. This story
may be n beautiful object lesson on the
grand possibilities of American youth,
but it has the fatal defect of being un-
true. When JObnsonlivcd in Laurens,
he could both read and write, and was
considered young man OF exceptional
intelligence. NJ SO Word, to whom he
was engaged, is authority for the state
Inent that she received many notes
and letters from him, and that he
! wrote q good business hand. She has
also frequently said that he was man
OF more than ordinary Intelligence, of
| elegant address and brilliant conver-
sationalist. AS Miss Word was, by
virtue of her relations to him, closely
J associated with Johnson, the correct
ness of her statements can neither be
doubted nor con tray"ned. More than
this, Colonel II. B. Crews, one of the
oldest citizens OF Lauren and husband
of Miss Words daughter, says that
over half a century ago, when he frat
went to Laurens, he had frequently
heard from old residents that Johnson
was great reader-in fact, a veritable
bookworm. He had often been seen
=