The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1901-07-26
MRS. MARTHA PATTERSON.
Last of the Children of Ex-President John
son-Her Death Universally
Regretted.

1 RCSEottCU'
| Mrs. Martha Patterson of Greeneville, th,
last of the children of ex-Presldent Andrew
Johnson, whose death has cast a gloon
over entire East Tennessee, one OF
the most universally beloved and highly
esteemed women in East Tennessee Al
her death the last survivor of the family
of ex-President Johnson passes away. OF
the five children, two girls and three boys
she was the eldest, having been born Octo
Der 20, 1928. The members of the family
died on the following dates aud at the
ages Indicated: Andrew Johnson, died
July L, 1875, at the age of 6S. His wife,
! Eliza McCardle Johnson, died January IS
1876, at the age of &c. Charles Johnson
was thrown from q horse and killed In
Nashville, April 4, 1868, at the age OF
33. Robert Johnson died April D. 1859, Al
the age of 33. Andrew Johnson, Jr., died
| March II, 1879, at the age of &c. Mrs
Mary johnson Stover died April 10, 1888,
! at the age of 81.
1t will thus be seen that Mrs Patterson
| is not only the last of the family, but
| unlike the rest, she attained unto an e1-
| treme age, being nearly 73 years old. For
| q number of years she has been an in.
| valid and great sufferer, rarely ever leav
| Ing the house, and much of the time being
| confined to her bed. Her powers of en-.
| durance have been the remark of her family
! physicians who more than once during the
past few years have given her up to die.
len years ago the papers announced her
| dying condition, but she rallied.
She was the favOrite child of her father
| according to his own statement made to
Judge David L. Patterson when the latter
wrote her father asking for the hand Of
| his daughter. He spared no pains to see
| that his hrst-born should have the advant-
| ages which contributed to her splendid Wo-
manhood. While Andrew johnson was in
the lower house of congress he placed her
| In Mrs. English's seminary at Georgetown,
where she pursued her studies under tho
direction of the teachers of that once cele-
brated school, and also under his own per-
sonaI supervision She was a frequent
visitor at the White House during Pres-
dent Polk's administration, and a favored
guest of the Polk family, spending much
of her vacations at that residence She
was thus not stranger to Washington
society when it became her duty to preside
over the presidential mansion.
Martha johnson was married to Judge
David L. Patterson, one of the most dis
tingutshed jurists Tennessee has ever pro-
duced, on December 13, 1855. Her wedding
tour extended through the principal cities
OF the South to New Orleans Andrew
Johnson was at that time serving his last
term as civil governor of the State of
tennessee. On their return from this tour
they took up their residence near Greene
vile, where they lived until the fall of 1852,
when they were compelled to leave East
Tennessee for Nashville, where her father
then resided as military governor.
After the election of Andrew johnson as
vice president and upon the assassination
of Mr.. Lincoln, he became president. Mrs,
Patterson and family removed to Washing.
ton, that she might assume the social duties
lot Of her administrator in the White
House, extending over period of about
fGgF nHeb and S9S dfGt
announcement that I'VE are but plain peo-
pie from East Tennessee" and that she
hoped too much would not be expected OF
us socially" read like humor in the light
OF the reports of sumptuous state dinners
6ad he rare aF o bfnr f6s
dq4aughter OF the president, the wife of a
IN 9nited %dh; States senator and the mistress of
with grace and maintained that dignity due
to her position in the social realm it
her most genial employment. With an in
valid mother, who laid claim to the daugh-
dren OIL her own to care for, Mrs. Patter-
son nevertheless gave personal oversight to
the entire management of the White House.
that no one ever presented a card after 9
o'clock on any morning but that they were
rooms of the White House She sought
to maintain that simplicity in her exalted
sphere which had marked her as the wife
OF an East Tennessee judge. With her
own hands she cared for the milk of the
White House dairy and made all the butter
which used on her table When the
time. came for her to retire from Washing
ton to the more quiet walks of private life
she again turned her face toward the
mountains of East Tennessee with pleasure
in anticipation of once more living apart
whom she loved.
Her days of sorrow, however, had just
family's return to Tennessee her G brother
Robert ~ be- died Then in 1879. her father.
Other deaths came as stated above.
Mrs Patterson's last years have been
cheered by her son, Andrew Johnson Pat:
both having been that of children indeed.
Judge Patterson died in 1891. The only
now living is little Martha Landstreet,
daughter Of Mrs Belle Landstreet. deceased,
who was Mrs. Pattersons daughter
Mrs. Patterson possessed much of the
character of her father. The breadth and
sweep Of his reasoning faculties were hers,
were reproduced in her: The devotion which |
she exhibited toward her father. while he
died. was of the highest type Of fiiai af
fection and seemed but little short of ances-
one else ever. did, and the integrity of his
character and her supreme love of truth
dwell. She has done a service not only to
her fathers memory, but to the country as
lection of data % from % Which g must II be ' Written
the biography of Andrew johnson, who is
a central figure In the nations history at
In religion Mrs. Patterson was Protest
ant, being a member of the Methodist |
Episcopal Church, South, but she was as |
broad and charitable in her views as she !
was kind in her nature. 1t will be many !
years perhaps before another of Tennessee's !
daughters shall grace the White House as |
its mistress, but in Martha Johnson Pat |
terson she has had honored representa- tion. |
Andrew Johnson had five children. as !
stated above. five grandchildren and three |
great grandchildren. This is The extent of |
the family history. Mrs. Patterson and
Mrs. Sarah Slower, his daughter, had two |
and three children, respectively. Mrs. Pat
tersOns son, Andrew Johnson Patterson, |
still lives but he is childless Fler daughter |
Mrs Landstreet. is dead. leaving little |
Martha Landstreet, who now resides in |
Greeneville, as one of the et-president's |
OF Mrs. Stover's three childfen Andrew |
Johnson Stover is now living, but is un- |
married. Her oldest daughter, Lille, mar
ried Thomas MalOney and died childless |
Her daughter Sallie married Hon. w. B. |
Bachman, of Blur City, Tenn, and died |
leaving two sons, John and s. B. Bach |
man.
Thus it is seen that the only descendants |
of Andrew Johnson who are now living are |
Andrew Johnson Patterson Andrew John |
son Slower. Martha Landstreet, John and |
s. b. Bachman. The latter three are chill !
dren less than fifteen years of age |
Wiley l.. Morgan, in Commercial Appeal.
fR1t nv son - said fI1e fond nar-