The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-24


Raleigh in his boyhood, he returned here
before he became president. AS matter
of fact after he left here, a runaway Gor
such he was) he never saw Raleigh again
until the eventful time in 1866, when he
came here to revisit his birthplace and
see the monument unveiled. Some new in
formation on this subject has been OBJ
tanned and is an interesting contribution
to the history of the life of the president.
In an interview with Miss Hannah
Coley, of Raleigh, she said
President Andrew Johnson was born
in the loft of the kitchen of my great
grandmother, and was named by my grand
mother, Mrs. Hannah Stewart, whose
maiden name was Paddison He was born
the night after my grandmothers' mar
riage to John Stewart, who was one of
Raleigh's first merchants. She and her
husband had been at a ball given in hon
or of their marriage. and on their return
home my grandmother, before removing
her ball dress, went to the kitchen. climb
ed the queer little crooked stairs leading
to the loft, and upon first sight OF the
baby named him Andrew. The house,
which now stands on East Cabarrus street,
then stood at the corner of the square only
a few yards from the southern entrance OF
the capitol grounds, and was the proper
tv of my grandmother. Some years alter
the birth Of Andrew Johnson the house
was removed to it's present location, where
If is now one Of the sights OF Raleigh.
Andrew Johnson's mother was named Pol
w. and she was the weaver for my great
grandmother's family. His father was
hostler on the premises. When the United
States troops came to Raleigh, in April,
1866. my grandmother was living and
very soon after the army arrived Presi-
dent Lincoln was assassnated and Andrew
Johnson came to be president. Some OF
the leading Federal officers heard that
| The la.ly who had named their president
was then living here and number OF
them sought her out, and called to see her.
| One remarked:
MADAM, we will soon go to Washing
ton and we will tell the president that we
have had the honor of seeing and talking
/ to the lady who named him. What shall
we suggest to him to send you?'
my grandmother, who was a devoted
Confederate in sentiment replied:
| 81 do not wish him to send me any
/ ~
for me is to release my grandson, George
Whiting. who was captured at Gettysburg,
and who has been a prisoner at Johnston
Island about two years and a half.
s:In 1866 President Johnson came to Raj
eigh He went to the house of DIR. f. J.
Haywood, Sr., and requested him TO ao-
company him to see the lady who had
raraed him. but my grandmother had died
" - ~ Up1
This interview contains some valuable
| facts, and some others were obtained from
ex-Congressman John Nichols, of Raleigh,
who said:
when Andrew Johnson was 4 boy 1t
was the custom, in fact one might per-
haps say it was the law. that boys learn
ing a trade should be bound out, OR in
deatured, to masters OF the trade. who
were technically and personally known as
masters. Young Andrew was a very wild
boy, what would be called bad boy, al
WAYS UP to some mischief and getting in
to fights, and he carried this to such an
extent that some persons might have term
! ed him a bully He was robust, athletic
| and brave Parents did not like for their
boys to associate with him, because they
never knew when there would be some
| row. vet for all this Andrew was not mean,
but was honorable, and although wild,
and, in fact, almost reckless, was consld-
cred by his fellows the soul of honor and
would never allow n big boy to impose
upon little one. 1t was in consequence
| Of some of these characteristics Of Andy
that his mother, on the advice OF friends
(his father having died when he was very
youngj decided to put him out to learn
trade. In selecting trade two things
were to be considered, one beng to have
him in Il place where he would be kept
off the streets and the other to place him
under a strict master. James I.ltchford
was then the town tailor: a man OF great
industry and sterling integrity. with an
iron will aud plenty of nerve, the force
of both of which were not lnfrequently
impressed on the mind and the person OF
this young apprentice. AS Andy approach
, ed manhood he became restless under the
confinement in the back room OF tailor
shop and his spirit chafed under what he
considered the tyrannieal exactlons OF
martinez. lie made IN his mind TO run
away and only needed an excuse and an
opportunity to take this step. Both ex-
cuse and opportunity came in due time,
and Andy awaited himself of their benefits
He lived at the home of his master or en-
ployer, and while in the kitchen one morn
ing he got into a fight with the negro
cook coming out victor III this combat
His conduct was Immediately reported to
his master, who, following the custom of
the time, hurried to the scene with a
switch, with which he gave good thrash
ing to his pugnacious apprentice. This
made the opportunity and the excuse for
Andy to break his apprentice bond and
fee, so gathering a change of clothing and
some much priced odds and-ends he made
| these into pack and then went to see his
best friend, Neil Brown, who was appren-
tice to halter, and asked Brown to meet
lin at point agreed on, about mile
south of Raleigh, at ! o'clock that day.
Andy intending to take his departure while
his master and the family were at dinner,
this meal being then taken by everybody
at noon. Andy was watching and waiting
| for dinner time to come, when his watch
full master would be at the table, but a.
little incident occurred which fastened his
departure. He saw the hated negro cook
| taking the dinner from the kit chen