The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-02-07
MRS. MARTHA J. PATTERSON.
ONCE EMlsTREss OF WHITE HOUSE

Andrew Johnson's Eldest Daughter
Lying mt the Point OF Death at the
Old Homestead i'm GreenveiIle, Tenn.
Mrs. Martha Patterson, the oldest
child Of President Andrew johnson,
is lying at the point of death at the
family homestc I'd In Green ellie quiot
old town in East tennessee. She is now
in her seventy-secOud year. Her health
has been falling for some time, and her
death has been expected momentari Y
for two or three weeks.
Mrs Patterson was the mistress OF
the White House during her fathers
administration and was therefore "the
first lady of the land at that time
The following is a biographical sketch
Of this interesting old lady, which has
been approved by a membsr Of the
family:
Mrs. Martha j. Patterson, wife OF
Senator David t. Patterson, and eldest
child OF President Andrew johnson,
was born October 25, 1928, in q build.
ing on Main street near Snupps opera
house, known as the Russell property
about 100 yards from the ow famous
tailor shop where President johnson
pursued the humble calling Of max ny
ClObuCo. sue VAS uuTGuTSu ana
taught by her gifted father and
devoted mother, and in the schools Of
the town she received the rudimen,s
Of an education which she finished AZ
a college in Georgetown, ID. g. In her
childhood she WAS thoughtful ana
studious, helpful to her parents ana
seemed to care little for the sport and
rOmp OF school children. Thus dis
posed to voluntarily assume responsi-
bilites, she was developing an intellect
and character which would be capab G
OF meeting with the heavy demands
that were TO made upon her in after
life. She attended school in GGOrge-
town during the administration of
President Polk, and being an intimate
acquaintance Of the Presidents family,
she was privileged to visit the execu
t:.5 household frequently. She often
spoke OF how, on the occasion Of those
visits, SIZE would oe oppressed by the
dignity of the surroundings ; but being
OF Obsorvant habits and Possessed OF q
retentive memory, she was building
better than she knew, by watching
closely the customs and manner Of en-
tertainmeIt. down to the smallest de-
tail.
After returning to her homo from
school she was married. December l3
1856, to Hon. David II. Patterson, then
promising young attorney and cir
cult Judge, and afterwards United
States Senator from Tennessee. Mr.
Patterson was elected Judge in the
same election In which Mr.. Johnson
was elected Democratic Governor o.!
the State
the ticket with Mr.. l. ncoln and his
a, haff al Ia fop in nll
Upon Mr.. Lincoln's death Mr.. johnson
by constitutional provision assumed
the responsibilities of the chief execu
tive of the United States. Upon his
elevation to the presidency, Mrs. John
son being an invalid, the responsibili.
ties of thas executive household natu-
rally fell upon Mrs. Patterson, whose
husband was then United States Sena
tor.
When she entered the White House
she remarked THAT they were but
plain people from the mountains of
Tennessee" and she hoped that not
too much would bs expected of them.
Thus she showed that the sudden
elevation had not disturbed her modest
ideas and imbued her with arrogance.
No lady Of the White House ever en-
tered upon bcr duties with the domestic
u
more dilapidated condition than did
Mrs. Patterson. And this conditi
was no r, hectiOn upon her immediate
predecessor, but due entirely to the
exigencies OF the disastrous war
through which the country had just
passed. Congress Immediately apDro-
priated $4,000 for repairing and re-
furnishing the White House, and Mrs.
Patterson, knowing the depleted con.
dition OF the public treasury, and how
the government was continually plum
dered by agents, assumed the care and
direction Of this work herself, thus
making this money do almost double
what would have been accomplished
by an unscrupulous agent. This work
was 80 successfully done that Mrs.
speaks OF it thus: Through.
out the White House there existed |
not single evidence OF tawdry gaudi
ness or cOarseness In color or quality,
and from cellar to garret ~ was over
hauled and adorned by the unaff cted
hostess Who called herself plain per-
ION from East Tennessee
While Mrs. Patterson displayed such
'fiicieroy In the management of the
,cOnom'J atf airs OF the household, she
vas equally at home In the reception
md dining rooms. The newspapers
'f that period were emphatic in their
praises of her receptions and dinners.
The public receptions were always
Itte ended by unprecedented crowds and
he state dinners were conducted with
hat quiet elegance which always char.
cterlzes the entertainments of the ar
istic and resOurceful. "Simple but
legant in her apparel, never descend.
ng TO, q disregard OF place, yet not